01♒08 to 05♒37
The 9th Chinese lunar mansion is named 牛宿 Niu Su, “Ox Mansion.” It is the 2nd of the 7 mansions of the Black Tortoise of the North.
The 8th asterism of the Ox Mansion is also called 天桴 Tiānfú, “Celestial Drumstick.” It represents the drumstick of the Heavenly Drum and is composed of 4 stars of the Aquila constellation. [1]
Note: Asterism 天輻 Tiānfú, “Celestial Spokes” belongs to the 3rd Mansion Dī, “Root.”
| 2000 | 2050 | IAU | IAU | Chinese | Orb |
| θ Aql | 04♒55 | 05♒37 | θ Aql | Tianfu Yi (1) | 1°50′ |
| 62 Aql | 03♒09 | 03♒51 | 62 Aql | Tianfu Er (2) | 1°00′ |
| 58 Aql | 00♒52 | 01♒34 | 58 Aql | Tianfu San (3) | 1°00′ |
| η Aql | 00♒25 | 01♒08 | η Aql | Tianfu Si (4) | 1°30′ |
Constellation Tianfu, the Celestial Drumstick
01♒08 to 05♒37
The four stars of Tianfu are arranged horizontally northeast of Altair, and some say they are at the end of Zuoqi (Left Flag), representing the drumstick and governing the water clock. When dark, the water clock is out of time. Wu Mi says, “It governs the use of the drumstick.” When it moves, it is used as a military drum; if it is close to Hegu (Drum at the River) and the drumstick is directly opposite, it is used as a drumstick. When Venus and Mars guard it, the military drum is sounded. When a guest star invades it, the water clock is out of time.[2]
The four stars at the flag’s tip, arranged north and south, are called the Heavenly Drum, the drumstick. If the stars are dim, the water clock will be out of time; if they waver, the military drum will be used; the same applies if the drumsticks are aligned. [3]