STARS: Major | All | Constellations | Chinese | About
The traditional Chinese constellation system is divided into 3 large enclosures (垣 Yuán) in the northern sky and 28 smaller mansions (宿 Xiù) in a band around the ecliptic. Each enclosure and mansion contains several smaller asterisms (or constellations).
The 3 Enclosures
- Purple Forbidden enclosure (紫微垣; Zǐ Wēi Yuán) – the middle enclosure.
- Supreme Palace enclosure (太微垣; Tài Wēi Yuán) – the upper enclosure.
- Heavenly Market enclosure (天市垣; Tiān Shì Yuán) – the lower enclosure.
Each enclosure has stars of its eastern and western “walls,” arrayed to the left and right in a ring, their shape resembling a walled enclosure, hence the term “enclosure.”
The 28 Mansions
The determinant star positions are set for 2020, and the dates are set for New York.
| # | Name | English | Star | Degree | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 角 (Jiǎo) | Horn | α Vir | 24♎06 | Oct 17 |
| 2 | 亢 (Kàng) | Neck | κ Vir | 04♏46 | Oct 27 |
| 3 | 氐 (Dī) | Root | α Lib | 23♏57 | Nov 15 |
| 4 | 房 (Fáng) | Room | π Sco | 03♐12 | Nov 24 |
| 5 | 心 (Xīn) | Heart | α Sco | 08♐04 | Nov 29 |
| 6 | 尾 (Wěi) | Tail | μ¹ Sco | 16♐25 | Dec 07 |
| 7 | 箕 (Jī) | Winnowing Basket | γ Sgr | 01♑32 | Dec 22 |
| 8 | 斗 (Dǒu) | (Southern) Dipper | φ Sgr | 10♑27 | Dec 31 |
| 9 | 牛 (Niú) | Ox | β Cap | 04♒19 | Jan 24 |
| 10 | 女 (Nǚ) | Girl | ε Aqr | 12♒00 | Feb 01 |
| 11 | 虛 (Xū) | Emptiness | β Aqr | 23♒40 | Feb 12 |
| 12 | 危 (Wēi) | Rooftop | α Aqr | 04♓02 | Feb 23 |
| 13 | 室 (Shì) | Encampment | α Peg | 23♓46 | Mar 13 |
| 14 | 壁 (Bì) | Wall | γ Peg | 09♈26 | Mar 29 |
| 15 | 奎 (Kuí) | Legs | η And | 22♈39 | Apr 12 |
| 16 | 婁 (Lóu) | Bond | β Ari | 04♉15 | Apr 23 |
| 17 | 胃 (Wèi) | Stomach | 35 Ari | 17♉13 | May 07 |
| 18 | 昴 (Mǎo) | Hairy Head | 17 Tau | 29♉41 | May 20 |
| 19 | 畢 (Bì) | Net | ε Tau | 08♊44 | May 29 |
| 20 | 觜 (Zī) | Turtle Beak | λ Ori | 23♊59 | June 14 |
| 21 | 参 (Shēn) | Three Stars | ζ Ori | 24♊57 | June 15 |
| 22 | 井 (Jǐng) | Well | μ Gem | 05♋34 | June 26 |
| 23 | 鬼 (Guǐ) | Ghost | θ Cnc | 06♌00 | July 28 |
| 24 | 柳 (Liǔ) | Willow | δ Hya | 10♌34 | Aug 02 |
| 25 | 星 (Xīng) | Star | α Hya | 27♌33 | Aug 20 |
| 26 | 張 (Zhāng) | Extended Net | υ¹ Hya | 05♍57 | Aug 28 |
| 27 | 翼 (Yì) | Wings | α Crt | 23♍57 | Sept 16 |
| 28 | 軫 (Zhěn) | Chariot | γ Crv | 10♎59 | Oct 10 |