01♑59 to 07♑48
The 15th asterism of the Tianshi (Heavenly Market) Enclosure is named 屠肆 Túsì, “Butcher’s Shops.” It represents places for banquets and for entertaining guests, and it contains 2 stars in the constellation Hercules. [1]
| 2000 | 2050 | IAU | Chinese | Orb |
| 07♑48 | 08♑30 | 109 Her | Tusi Yi (1) | 1°30′ |
| 01♑59 | 02♑41 | 98 Her | Tusi Er (2) | 1°00′ |
Tusi the Butcher’s Shops
01♑59 to 07♑48
The official name of the Tusi Star Official means “slaughter market” or “butcher’s shops,” but there are common misunderstandings.
The Wu Xian Zan says: “The butcher’s shop is where food is cooked and served, guests are entertained, the market is monitored, and poison is consumed.”
The Book of Sui: Treatise on Astronomy (636 AD) states: “The two stars in the northeast of the Bodu constellation are called Butcher’s Market. They are meant to be places for banquets and entertaining guests.”
The Kaiyuan Zhanjing commentary (724 AD) says: “Butcher’s Market, used to serve guests and entertain them.”
Therefore, the butcher’s shop is actually a restaurant for entertaining guests, combining slaughter, cooking, and entertainment, rather than simply a slaughterhouse. [2]
Ma Duanlin (1317)
The two stars of Tu Si (屠肆) are located northeast of Bo Du (帛度), and govern slaughtering. If they are bright and large, many slaughterhouses are filled with animals. [3]
Song History (1346)
The two stars of Tu Si (Butcher’s Shops) are located northeast of Bo Du (Textile Market), and govern slaughtering and cooking. The Qian Xiang Xin Shu states that they are located 15 degrees within the Tian Shi Yuan (Heavenly Market Enclosure). [4]