01♒08 to 05♒37
The ninth Chinese lunar mansion is named 牛宿 Niu Su, “Ox Mansion.” It is the second of the seven mansions of the Black Tortoise of the North.
The eighth asterism of the Ox Mansion is also called 天桴 Tianfu, “Celestial Drumstick.” It represents the drumstick of the Heavenly Drum and is composed of four stars of the Aquila constellation. [1]
| 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]