08♉33 to 14♉36
The 16th Chinese lunar mansion is named 婁宿 Lóu Su, “Bond Mansion.” It is the 2nd of the 7 mansions of the White Tiger of the West.
The 6th asterism of the Bond Mansion is named 天大将军 Tiāndàjiāngjūn, “Heaven’s Great General.” It represents the great general of the heavens and ten subordinate officers, and is in charge of military affairs. It is composed of 11 stars of the constellations Andromeda, Perseus and Triangulum. [1]
| 2000 | 2050 | IAU | Chinese | Orb |
| 14♉14 | 14♉56 | γ And | Tian Dajiangjun Yi (1) | 2°10′ |
| 14♉36 | 15♉18 | φ Per | Tian Dajiangjun Er (2) | 1°20′ |
| 12♉27 | 13♉09 | 51 And | Tian Dajiangjun San (3) | 1°40′ |
| 10♉07 | 10♉48 | A And | Tian Dajiangjun Si (4) | 1°00′ |
| 10♉29 | 11♉11 | χ And | Tian Dajiangjun Wu (5) | 1°00′ |
| 08♉33 | 09♉15 | υ And | Tian Dajiangjun Liu (6) | 1°20′ |
| 08♉54 | 09♉36 | τ And | Tian Dajiangjun Qi (7) | 1°00′ |
| 10♉33 | 11♉15 | 56 And | Tian Dajiangjun Ba (8) | 1°00′ |
| 12♉21 | 13♉04 | β Tri | Tian Dajiangjun Jiu (9) | 1°50′ |
| 13♉31 | 14♉13 | γ Tri | Tian Dajiangjun Shi (10) | 1°20′ |
| 13♉37 | 14♉19 | δ Tri | Tian Dajiangjun Shiyi (11) | 1°00′ |
Tian Dajiangjun, Heaven’s Great General
08♉33 to 14♉36
General Tian, the Heavenly General, represents the highest military commander of the Heavenly Emperor on the northwestern battlefield. The central star (γ And) is regarded as the great general of the heavens, in charge of military affairs. Early records of the Heavenly General can be found in the Shi Shi Xing Jing (4th century BCE). It states: “The central star is the great general of the heavens, the two stars on the right and left are the general’s flags, and the remaining small stars are the officers and soldiers.” In astrology, it is believed that if the central star, which represents the great general, is shaken, it foretells the outbreak of war and the departure of the great general. [2]
Tiandajiangjun on Suzhou Star Map, 1193
Ma Duanlin (1317)
The twelve stars of the Heavenly General are north of Lou, governing military affairs. The large central star is the great general of heaven; the smaller outer stars are officials and soldiers.
If the great general star is strong, war will break out, and the great general will appear; if the smaller stars are incomplete, war will break out.
According to the Song Dynasty Astronomical Records: The twelve stars of the Heavenly General are 65 degrees from the Great Star, 4 degrees from the Lou constellation. [3]
Song History (1346)
The eleven stars of the Heavenly General, north of Lou, govern military affairs. The central large star is the Heavenly General; the outer smaller stars are officials and soldiers.
Their movement indicates war and the departure of the Great General; the movement or incompleteness of the smaller stars also indicates war; those with upright flags will be defeated wherever they are attacked.
If the five stars encroach upon the Heavenly General, the Great General is worried. If a guest star guards it, the Great General is uneasy, and the army and officials will be defeated due to hunger. A shooting star indicates worry for the Great General. Pale clouds encroaching upon the Heavenly General indicate rapid warfare; red indicates an army’s departure.
According to the Jin Dynasty Records, Tian Da Jiangjun belongs to Tianshi Yuan (Heavenly Market enclosure). [4]