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08♓56 to 19♓30
The 12th Chinese lunar mansion is named 危宿 Wēi Su, “Rooftop Mansion.” It is the 5th of the 7 mansions of the Black Tortoise of the North.
The 5th asterism of the Rooftop Mansion is called 臼 Jiù, “Mortar.” It represents military ration mortar and is composed of 4 stars of the constellations Cygnus and Pegasus. [1]
| 2000 | 2050 | IAU | Chinese | Orb |
| 10♓27 | 11♓09 | μ¹ Cyg | Jiu Yi (1) | 1°00′ |
| 08♓56 | 09♓38 | κ Peg | Jiu Er (2) | 1°20′ |
| 14♓25 | 15♓07 | ι Peg | Jiu San (3) | 1°30′ |
| 19♓30 | 20♓12 | 32 Peg | Jiu Si (4) | 1°00′ |
Jiu, Mortar
08♓56 to 19♓30
Ma Duanlin (1317)
The four stars of the Inner Mortar (Jiu), southeast of the Human Star, signify spring mortars. If the stars are upside down, there will be great famine; if they are upside down, there will be great abundance. The Sui Shu states that when a guest star enters the mortar and pestle positions, war will break out, and rice will accumulate throughout the land. [2]
Song History (1346)
The four stars of the Jiu (Mortar) constellation are below the Chu (Pestle) constellation, or, according to another account, east of the Danger (Rooftop) constellation. If the stars of Jiu are inverted or covered, a famine year follows; if upright or upturned, an abundant harvest is expected. If a comet transits here, the people will suffer famine, war will break out, and the world will be in turmoil. If a guest star remains in this position, grain will be gathered throughout the realm.
If the Pestle and Mortar constellations are not clearly visible, the people will suffer famine; if the stars are numerous, the year will be prosperous; if they are sparse, famine will occur; if they move or waver, famine will also occur; if the Pestle constellation is directly opposite the Mortar constellation, it is auspicious; if they are not aligned, the army’s food supplies will run out; if they are aligned vertically, it is auspicious; if they are horizontally aligned, there will be famine. [3]
