Asterism 天街 Tiānjiē – Celestial Street

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05♊35 to 10♊11

The 19th Chinese lunar mansion is named 畢宿 Bì Su, “Net Mansion.”
The 3rd asterism of the Net Mansion is called 天街 Tiānjiē, “Celestial Street.” It represents a street in the sky, through which the sun, moon, and five stars pass. It is composed of 2 stars of the constellation Taurus. ^[1]

Note:
天街 Tiānjiē, “Celestial Street,” is the 3rd asterism of the Net Mansion.
天節 Tiānjié, “Celestial Tally,” is the 4th asterism of the Net Mansion.

2000	2050	IAU	Chinese	Orb
08♊13	08♊55	κ¹ Tau	Tiānjiē Yi (1)	1°20′
06♊04	06♊46	ω² Tau	Tiānjiē Er (2)	1°00′

Tiānjiē – Celestial Street

05♊35 to 10♊11

The Tiānjiē Star Official (asterism) belongs to the Bi constellation. It’s two stars, one on either side of the ecliptic, that represent a Heavenly Street between Bi (the Hyades) and Mao (the Pleiades). Its core symbolic meaning is “the border of the country.” Bi is the country of China (Yang), and Mao is the barbarians (Yin).

The Book of Han, Treatise on Astronomy, states, “Between Bi and Mao is the Heavenly Street; north of the street is the Hu; south of the street is China,” indicating that the two stars of the Heavenly Street in the Han Dynasty’s astronomical system symbolize the division between the Hu and Han. This reflects the ancient concept of dividing the Chinese and barbarians based on celestial phenomena.

According to ancient records, the Heavenly Street had important applications in ancient astrology. After Qin unified the world, the Hyades and the Pleiades were used as the boundary in the sky, and rivers and mountains as the boundary on earth.

The specific divination methods are as follows: when divining China (Yang Kingdom), the sun, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn are used; when divining the barbarians (Yin Kingdom), the moon, Venus, and Mercury are used. ^[2]

Ma Duanlin (1317)

The two stars between Pleiades (Hairy Head) and Bi (Net) are called Tian Jie (Celestial Street), the path of the three lights, and govern the guarding of the passes and bridges. Zhang Heng said that it governs the national borders; south of the street is China, and north of the street are the barbarians. When Venus and Mars guard it, barbarian troops rise up. When it is bright, the kingly way is correct; when it is dark, war breaks out. ^[3]

Song History (1346)

The two stars of Tianjie (the Celestial Street) are located between Mao (the Pleiades) and Bi (the Hyades), or, according to another account, north of the Hyades, marking the division of Yin and Yang. The Dayang Zhan (Great Divination) states: If the moon is near the west of the Celestial Street, the south represents the Central Plains (China), and the north represents foreign lands. It is also called the Way of the Three Luminaries (sun, moon, and stars [five planets]), overseeing the frontiers between China and foreign lands, both within and outside the borders.

If these stars are bright, it signifies that the king’s way is just and upright. If the Moon transgresses the center of the Celestial Street, it signifies harmony and stability in the realm; if it transgresses the outer edge, it signifies leakage, slanderous officials in power, and the people’s discontent; if it does not pass through the Celestial Street, it signifies that government orders are not implemented. A halo around the moon in its constellation indicates blocked borders. If Mars remains here, roads and paths are cut off; if it lingers for a long time, the nation will fall into disorder. If Jupiter resides here with a red coloration, it brings calamity or severe drought. If Venus remains here for long, armies will block roads and paths, and the six barbarian tribes will be destroyed. Alternatively, it may signify a famine among the people. ^[4]