STARS: Major | All | Constellations | Chinese | About

---

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	Tàiwēizuǒyuán	Left Wall	04♎50	Virgo / Coma Berenices	5
2	Tàiwēiyòuyuán	Right Wall	11♍19	Leo / Virgo	5
3	Yèzhě	Usher to the Court	03♎21	Virgo	1
4	Sāngōng	Three Excellencies	06♎56	Virgo	3
5	Jiǔqīng	Nine Senior Officers	22♍02	Virgo	3
6	Wǔzhūhóu	Five Lords	27♍36	Coma Berenices	5
7	Nèipíng	Inner Screen	23♍20	Virgo	4
8	Wǔdìzuò	Seats of the Five Emperors	20♍52	Leo	5
9	Xìngchén	Officer of Honour	22♍02	Coma Berenices	1
10	Tàizǐ	Crown Prince	18♍58	Leo	1
11	Cóngguān	Retinue	16♍53	Leo	1
12	Lángjiāng	Captain of the Bodyguards	29♍52	Coma Berenices	1
13	Hǔbēn	Emperor's Bodyguard	10♍29	Leo	1
14	Chángchén	Imperial Guards	10♍03	Canes Venatici / Ursa Major	7
15	Lángwèi	Officers of the Imperial Guard	22♍04	Coma Berenices	15
16	Míngtáng	The Hall of Glory	21♍31	Leo	3
17	Língtái	Astronomical Observatory	14♍01	Leo	3
18	Shǎowēi	Junior Officers	03♍29	Leo / Leo Minor	4
19	Chángyuán	Long Wall	04♍28	Leo	4
20	Sāntái	Three Steps	02♌48	Ursa Major	6

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]

References

1. Taiwei Enclosure – Baidu Encyclopedia.
2. The Right Chancellor and the Right Second Chancellor of the Taiwei Enclosure: The Prime Minister’s Residence in the Sky and a Mirror Image of Human Power.