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Ancient Chinese astronomers divided the night sky into three enclosures and twenty-eight mansions. The 太微垣; Tài Wēi Yuán, “Taiwei (Supreme Palace) Enclosure,” is one of the three enclosures and is known as the Heavenly Court and the Southern Palace of the Heavenly Emperor.
Taiwei means “government,” and the Taiwei Enclosure represents the seat of power and governance. It is associated with administering the law impartially, supervising promotions, bestowing virtues, receiving talismans from the constellations, and granting authority to all gods, thus easing doubts and resolving disputes.
The Supreme Palace Enclosure is located northeast of the Ziwei (Purple Palace) Enclosure, south of the Big Dipper, and north of the lunar mansions Yi (Wings) and Zhen (Chariot), covering approximately 63 degrees of the sky. [1]
| # | Asterism | English | 2000 | Constellations | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 太微左垣 (Tàiwēizuǒyuán) | Left Wall | 04♎50 | Virgo / Coma Berenices | 5 |
| 2 | 太微右垣 (Tàiwēiyòuyuán) | Right Wall | 11♍19 | Leo / Virgo | 5 |
| 3 | 謁者 (Yèzhě) | Usher to the Court | 03♎21 | Virgo | 1 |
| 4 | 三公 (Sāngōng) | Three Excellencies | 06♎56 | Virgo | 3 |
| 5 | 九卿 (Jiǔqīng) | Nine Senior Officers | 22♍02 | Virgo | 3 |
| 6 | 五諸侯 (Wǔzhūhóu) | Five Lords | 27♍36 | Coma Berenices | 5 |
| 7 | 內屏 (Nèipíng) | Inner Screen | 23♍20 | Virgo | 4 |
| 8 | 五帝座 (Wǔdìzuò) | Seats of the Five Emperors | 20♍52 | Leo | 5 |
| 9 | 幸臣 (Xìngchén) | Officer of Honour | 22♍02 | Coma Berenices | 1 |
| 10 | 太子 (Tàizǐ) | Crown Prince | 18♍58 | Leo | 1 |
| 11 | 從官 (Cóngguān) | Retinue | 16♍53 | Leo | 1 |
| 12 | 郎將 (Lángjiāng) | Captain of the Bodyguards | 29♍52 | Coma Berenices | 1 |
| 13 | 虎賁 (Hǔbēn) | Emperor's Bodyguard | 10♍29 | Leo | 1 |
| 14 | 常陳 (Chángchén) | Imperial Guards | 10♍03 | Canes Venatici / Ursa Major | 7 |
| 15 | 郎位 (Lángwèi) | Officers of the Imperial Guard | 22♍04 | Coma Berenices | 15 |
| 16 | 明堂 (Míngtáng) | The Hall of Glory | 21♍31 | Leo | 3 |
| 17 | 靈台 (Língtái) | Astronomical Observatory | 14♍01 | Leo | 3 |
| 18 | 少微 (Shǎowēi) | Junior Officers | 03♍29 | Leo / Leo Minor | 4 |
| 19 | 長垣 (Chángyuán) | Long Wall | 04♍28 | Leo | 4 |
| 20 | 三台 (Sāntái) | Three Steps | 02♌48 | Ursa Major | 6 |
Taiwei Enclosure – Supreme Palace
Ancient Chinese astronomers incorporated political order into the framework of cosmic laws. They had recognized the main structure of the Taiwei Enclosure by the 5th century BC. The layout of the Forbidden City forms a wonderful correspondence with the Taiwei Enclosure.
The Taiwei Enclosure symbolizes the Chinese nation’s eternal pursuit of virtuous governance and an orderly civilization over three thousand years. As the Book of Changes says, “Observe the heavens to discern the changes of time; observe human affairs to transform the world.” [1]