Zhen Asterism – The Chariot

The 28th Chinese lunar mansion is named 軫宿 Zhen Su, “Chariot Mansion.” It is the seventh of the seven mansions of the Vermilion Bird of the South.

The first asterism of the Chariot Mansion is named 轸 Zhen, “Chariot.” It equates to the Western constellation Corvus. Its four main stars depict the chariot.

The next three asterisms of the Chariot Mansion are attached to the Chariot Asterism, and they each contain only one star: Changsha, Zouxia (left linchpin) and Youxia (right linchpin). Together, these first four asterisms are called the Chariot Constellation. ^[1]

2000*	Asterism	IAU	Chinese	Western	Orb
10♎43	Zhen	γ Crv	Zhen Su Yi	Gienah	2°10′
11♎40	Zhen	ε Crv	Zhen Su Er	Minkar	1°50′
13♎27	Zhen	δ Crv	Zhen Su San	Algorab	1°50′
17♎22	Zhen	β Crv	Zhen Su Si	Kraz	2°10′
13♎48	Changsha	ζ Crv	Changsha	Changsha	1°00′
13♎49	Zouxia	η Crv	Zuoxia	Zouxia	1°10′
12♎15	Youxia	α Crv	Youxia	Alchiba	1°20′

Constellation Zhen the Chariot

10♎43 to 17♎22

The Zhen constellation belongs to the water element, is ruled by Mercury, and is associated with the earthworm. It represents the transport of tribute from foreign lands to the Emperor, the accumulation of wealth, and travel of all kinds and by various means. It also presaged favorable winds and an end to storms. ^[2]

The four stars of the Zhen constellation govern the prime minister and his advisors, as well as chariots and carriages. Military movements are determined by observing the stars in the Zhen constellation. It also governs wind and death/mourning. ^[3]

Residing at the tail of the Vermilion Bird, and marking the horizontal beam at the back of the chariot, it is associated with navigation and the control of direction. In ancient times, the constellation Zhen was known as Tianche, the “Heavenly Chariot” that the Sun goddess Xihe carried the Sun. ^[4]

Axe chariot, Eastern Han dynasty, 25-220 AD [Wikimedia Commons]

Zhen Astrology

The constellation Zhen the Chariot symbolizes speed and change, boundless vitality and potential. It makes you quick-witted, adaptable, insightful, efficient and swift in action, seemingly racing against time. ^[4]

You have a calm, steady nature and prefer to keep a low profile, giving the first impression of being gentle, refined, and reserved. But beneath your seemingly honest exterior lies an urgent, intense, perfectionist and realistic core. You can actually be cunning and ruthless, often feigning weakness while secretly reaping the benefits. You also possess a certain pride, as if you are the only one who remains clear-headed in a world of drunkenness. ^[5]

You have great learning skills and are capable of great things. You demonstrate extraordinary talent in your youth, secure your position in middle age, and reach the pinnacle of your career in your later years. Your impatience and thirst for truth make you philosophical. You enjoy art, religion, and learning about the spiritual world, and are well-suited for immigrating abroad and will likely have daughters.

However, the constellation Zhen carries connotations of sorrow and is considered inauspicious. You may become introverted and unwilling to let others cross your boundaries or get too close, isolating yourself in your own world. You may also be prone to jealousy, experience poor health and have a life of ups and downs.

With harsh aspects or a malefic, this constellation brings separation from people, loss of wealth, constant fear and unease every day. ^[6]

Zhen Constellation

Zhen Women.
The Zhen constellation gives women a unique and complex personality and destiny. It makes you a perfectionist, intensely sensitive, gentle, kind, perceptive, quiet, and introverted. You often exhibit practical and conservative qualities, but due to your strong personality and tendency to be jealous, you may sometimes appear hysterical. In your career, you excel and achieve success, leaving your unique mark on the stage of fate. ^[4]

Zhen Men.
Men born under the Zhen constellation are mostly gentle and elegant, sincere and calm, serious and sensitive. ^[6]

Career.
Your timid, low-key nature makes you well-suited to working behind the scenes or in decision-making roles, where you can better utilize your talents, especially in investigation, research, statistics, and analysis.

You are likely to excel in your career and are suited to academic, artistic, technological, service-industry, or management roles in large corporations. Specific careers include teacher, doctor, technician, journalist, commentator, designer, copywriter, and secretary. Greater success may be achieved in the south or abroad.

Wealth.
With the Zhen constellation in your natal chart, you will surely prosper and accumulate considerable wealth if you work diligently. A frugal lifestyle and the ability to save money steadily are key. Cultivating good interpersonal relationships, accessing information effectively, and engaging in positive collaborations will attract the support and assistance of benefactors, further enhancing your financial fortune.

Love and Marriage.
Being born under the Zhen constellation means you pursue pure love, have clear likes and dislikes, value reason, but may not actively express your feelings due to their rationality. You tend to marry late and may experience separation by death.
Zhen Men tend to be sentimental about love life. Due to their strong sense of responsibility, they become devoted husbands who value family after marriage. A small minority, however, may pursue personal entertainment, becoming cold-hearted and fickle.
Women of this constellation are mostly practical and conservative. They pursue pure love and are deeply curious about romance. After marriage, they are virtuous wives and loving mothers. However, due to their strong personalities and jealousy, some may be somewhat hysterical, but most are good people.

Health and Wellness.
People of this zodiac sign tend to be introverted and prone to feelings of loneliness and world-weariness, or they may suffer from anxiety and insomnia due to being overly neurotic. They have weak digestive systems and should pay attention to digestive organ diseases, as well as constipation. They may also experience hormonal imbalances and should avoid eating indigestible foods. ^[6]

War Chariot.
The Zhen constellation is the celestial war chariot. Like modern tanks, they were symbols of a state’s military power. Changes in the constellation foreshadowed the mobilization and outbreak of war. According to the Book of Jin, Treatise on Astronomy, the four stars of Zhen symbolized “chariots and cavalry” and “carrying duties,” that is, war chariots and war missions. ^[7]

MT-LB Combat Chariot

Zhen Transits

Changes in the constellation Zhen foreshadow the mobilization and outbreak of war. When the stars of Zhen are bright, the chariots are ready; if they flicker, the chariots will assemble and set off. ^[7]

With Sun: People born on this day are blessed throughout their lives, and their fortune increases with age. Favorable for buying farmland, enrolling in school, building, weddings, and tailoring. Unfavorable for traveling to the north. ^[6]

A bright and large Zhen star indicates the emperor’s carriage is ready; a shifting constellation signifies the emperor’s distress; a gathering constellation foretells war.

A solar eclipse indicates distress for generals and ministers, and warns officials in charge of carriages and carriages, also signifying unease for the ruler.

A halo around a moon indicates war and the fall of cities; observe the direction from which the moon faces to attack for victory, also indicating the ruler’s displeasure.

A lunar eclipse indicates distress for the queen and high officials. A lunar halo indicates war, drought, and strong winds.

When Saturn invades Zhen, it brings war and earthworks; if it enters Zhen, the army will be defeated; if it moves in retrograde, the empress will suffer; if it moves out, in, out, or stays, war will break out within sixty days, and there will be a great drought.

When Jupiter invades Zhen, it brings fire, plague, worry for ministers, and punishment for those in charge of the treasury; if it enters Zhen, the country will perish; if it guards Zhen, the country will suffer loss; if it does not move for seven days, there will be a pardon, and it also means the ruler will suffer.

When Mars invades Zhen, there will be rebellious armies; if it enters Zhen, generals will cause chaos, floods will damage crops, and the people will spread rumors; if it moves in retrograde, it brings fire and war.

When Venus invades Zhen, war will break out, and the land will be gained; if it enters Zhen, it will bring war; if it guards Zhen, the land will be lost, and the general will suffer; if it rises from the left horn (Spica) and moves in retrograde to Zhen, the land will be lost; if it passes through the sky, the fields will be filled with soldiers.

When Mercury invades Zhen, there will be plague, worry for ministers, and loss of a noble in China; if it guards Zhen, there will be great floods; if it enters Zhen, the world will suffer from fire, and it also means the country will suffer loss.

A guest star entering Zhen signifies war and mourning; its entry indicates land reclamation, high grain prices, and the arrival of envoys from feudal lords; its exit signifies the ruler sending envoys to feudal lords; its presence indicates border wars and famine; its presence indicates military officials’ worries.

A comet entering Zhen signifies war and mourning; its red color indicates the ruler’s misconduct, and also signifies the emperor raising an army and the deposition of princes. A comet in the constellation Zhen also signifies war and mourning, and also signifies the inferior plotting against the superior, indicating the ruler’s worries.

A meteor entering Zhen signifies war and mourning, and within a year, the treasury will be empty; its presence in spring and summer signifies the need for leather goods; its presence in autumn and winter signifies drought and flood. ^[3]