STARS: Major | All | Constellations | Chinese | About
03♈23 to 02♉42
The 22nd asterism of the Ziwei (Purple Forbidden) Enclosure is named 天廚 Tiānchú, “Celestial Kitchen.” It represents the kitchens for ordinary officials and contains 6 stars in the constellation Draco. [1]
| 2000 | 2050 | IAU | Chinese | Orb |
| 17♈10 | 17♈50 | δ Dra | Tianchu Yi (1) | 1°50′ |
| 00♉09 | 00♉49 | σ Dra | Tianchu Er (2) | 1°00′ |
| 02♉42 | 03♉23 | ε Dra | Tianchu San (3) | 1°30′ |
| 20♈22 | 21♈02 | ρ Dra | Tianchu Si (4) | 1°10′ |
| 06♈09 | 06♈50 | 64 Dra | Tianchu Wu (5) | 1°00′ |
| 03♈23 | 04♈02 | π Dra | Tianchu Liu (6) | 1°00′ |
Tianchu the Celestial Kitchen
03♈23 to 02♉42
The Gan Shi Xing Jing, “Master Gan’s and Master Shi’s star manual” (475 – 221 BC) states: “The six stars of the Heavenly Kitchen are located northeast of the Ziwei Palace, near the north of the Chuanshe Palace, which is the kitchen of the officials.”
The Book of Jin, Treatise on Astronomy (648 AD) states: “The six stars outside the northeast corner of the Purple Palace Enclosure are called the Heavenly Kitchen.” [2]
Ma Duanlin (1317)
The Six Stars of the Northern Wei, outside the Eastern Enclosure of the Purple Palace, are called the Heavenly Kitchen, the kitchen of the emperor and his officials. Seeing them brings good fortune; not seeing them brings misfortune. [3]
Song History (1346)
Tianchu Liuxing are located north of Fukuang; one source states they lie outside the northeast corner — overseeing the preparation and storage of food, corresponding to today’s Guanglu Imperial Kitchen. If these stars disappear, famine will occur; if they vanish entirely, it is an ill omen. If a guest star or meteor transgresses Tianchu, famine will also result. [4]