18♋35 to 10♌56
The 22nd Chinese lunar mansion is named 井宿 Jǐng Su, “Well Mansion.” It is the 1st of the 7 mansions of the Vermilion Bird of the South.
The 19th asterism of the Well Mansion is called 弧矢 Húshǐ, “Bow and Arrow.” It represents the bow and arrow that shot the heavenly wolf. It is composed of 9 stars of the constellations Canis Major and Puppis [1]
| 2000 | 2050 | IAU | Chinese | Orb |
| 23♋24 | 24♋06 | δ CMa | Hushi Yi (1) | 2°20′ |
| 29♋33 | 00♌15 | η CMa | Hushi Er (2) | 2°10′ |
| 10♌54 | 11♌35 | c Pup | Hushi San (3) | 2°30′ |
| 10♌56 | 11♌38 | χ Pup | Hushi Si (4) | 1°00′ |
| 06♌04 | 06♌46 | ο Pup | Hushi Wu (5) | 1°10′ |
| 03♌28 | 04♌10 | k Pup | Hushi Liu (6) | 1°10′ |
| 20♋46 | 21♋28 | ε CMa | Hushi Qi (7) | 2°20′ |
| 18♋35 | 19♋16 | κ CMa | Hushi Ba (8) | 1°40′ |
| 00♌19 | 01♌00 | π Pup | Hushi Jiu (9) | 2°00′ |
Hushi the Bow and Arrow
18♋35 to 10♌56
The Bow and Arrow constellation holds significant symbolic meaning in traditional Chinese astronomy. Its main body consists of nine stars resembling a drawn bow and arrow, with the arrow pointing towards Sirius in the northwest. The Bow and Arrow Star Official is also known as “Heavenly Bow,” used to shoot Sirius.
In astrology, the symbolic relationship between the Bow and Arrow and Sirius constitutes an important basis for divination. The Jingzhou Zhan regards the wolf star (Sirius) as a thief, while the Bow and Arrow is a weapon to subdue the enemy. If the “Bow and Arrow is shot at the Wolf, and the arrow is straight, it indicates that there will be no thieves or war. If the wolf star “shakes and brightens” and “changes color,” it indicates that the barbarian army will invade.
In astrological practice, the Bow and Arrow is endowed with the function and symbolism of “being in charge of plotting to prevent theft, and always using arrows to face wolves.” Astrologers believe that “when the Heavenly Bow is drawn, the northern army will rise up,” and associate the changes in the shape of the Bow and Arrow with the northern war. Other celestial phenomena that coincide with the Bow and Arrow are used to predict social unrest, military conflicts or diplomatic events.
The story of “shooting the wolf with an arrow, but accidentally hitting the left shoulder of the constellation Shen (Orion)” described by Xi Meng in the Kaiyuan Zhanjing further reflects the complexity of the relationship between star officials in astrological narratives. [2]
Ma Duanlin (1317)
The nine stars of the Bow and Arrow constellation are located southeast of the Wolf (Sirius) and represent the Heavenly Bow. They are used to guard against thieves and are often directed towards the Wolf.
If the Bow and Arrow wavers abnormally, there will be many thieves; if it is bright, a large-scale war will break out. If the Wolf’s Bow is drawn, harm will extend to the Hu (barbarians), and the world will be in chaos. It is also said that when the Heavenly Bow is drawn, the whole world will be at war, and the ruler and his ministers will plot against each other. Zhang Heng said that when it is full, the world will be at war. [3]
Song History (1346)
The Nine Stars of the Bow and Arrow, southeast of the Wolf Star (Sirius), represent the Heavenly Bow, governing secret plots and strategies to guard against bandits. Its arrows are always directed toward Sirius as part of its defensive function.
Wu Mi said, “When the Heavenly Bow is drawn, northern armies will rise.” He also said, “The world will be at war.”
If this constellation appears unstable, moving or bright and large, banditry increases. If the arrows do not directly point toward the Wolf Star, it also indicates increased theft and rebellion. If the bow is fully drawn, all regions of the realm become rife with rebels and thieves.
The moon entering the Bow and Arrow indicates ministers overstepping their bounds. A halo around the moon signifies a major war.
If a guest star enters Hushi (Bow and Arrows), the southern barbarians will surrender. If it resides in this region, autumn brings rain or snow, causing crops to fail; if it guards the area for an extended time, foreigners suffer from famine; its entry and exit correspond to military forces entering and leaving the realm.
If meteors enter Hushi (Bow and Arrows) region, northern troops rise in war, leading to city massacres and general killings.
If red-colored cloud formations enter this region, the people are alarmed; some sources say northern forces invade China proper. [4]