ONE MAN, NO EQUALS

Horn/角

Element: Wood Guardian: Wood Serpent of the Horn (角木蛟)

The Horn asterism covers Spica and other stars in the constellation Virgo, as well as some in Centaurus, Lupus, and Hydra. It also used to hold Arcturus (called The Big Horn in Chinese), but that star has since drifted outside of the modern asterism. It represents the horns of the dragon. As the first asterism in the east, the appearance of the Horn in the night sky leads to the phenomenon "龍抬頭"/"The dragon raises its head", and thus it is connected with spring rains. It was considered a fierce but auspicious star spirit, its god being both brave and intelligent. The animal associated with it is the 蛟/jiao, a water dragon or serpent. Ironically, the jiao was considered as either a female or immature dragon, and its signature characteristic was that it lacked horns, or its horns were severely underdeveloped.

Yuan Dynasty sculpture of dragon without horns

Wood Serpent of the Horn: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Neck/亢

Element: Metal Guardian: Metal Dragon of the Neck (亢金龍)

The Neck asterism covers some stars in Virgo, along with the star Arcturus and other parts of Boötes, as well as extra stars from Libra, Lupus, and Hydra. Its god is regal but mild-mannered. It represents the dragon's neck. 亢 originally meant neck, but gained the meaning of a straightened neck, and by extension, something placed high. Since a head held high is a symbol of pride, this word also means "haughty". The animal associated is a dragon, possibly playing on the phrase "亢龍有悔"/"The haughty dragon has regrets." This derives from divinations in the 易經/Yi Jing (I Ching), where a haughty dragon, already at the very top of the world, has nowhere to go but down, and thus, "Pride goeth before a fall". Despite the dragon being the noblest of creatures, this is an unlucky star.

Tang Dynasty gilded dragon

Metal Dragon of the Neck: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Root/氐

Element: Earth Guardian: Earth Tanuki of the Root (氐土貉)

The Root asterism covers mostly stars in Libra and Bootes, along with some in Lupus and Serpens. It represents the dragon's front limbs. 氐 carries the meaning of root, foundation, or linchpin. It is the dragon's vital region, and thus also its weakness. It is an unlucky star associated with sickness, violence, and lust, but also illegal gains. Its god is skilled in arithmancy. The animal associated with it is the racoon dog or tanuki, an Asian canid. The guardian spirit uses the oldest form of the animal's name, which is 貉/he. The more common name is 狸/li, which was originally a word used to refer to wild felines, but became confused with the racoon dog because both were often compared to foxes. East Asian mythology depicts the racoon dog as a trickster and shapeshifter, but less malicious than the fox. The word 貉 also carries connotations of laziness, bumbling, and vulgarity, leading to the phrase, "一丘之貉"/"Racoons from the same hill" meaning two or more people who are just as bad.

Tanuki

Earth Tanuki of the Root: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Room/房

Element: Sun/light Guardian: Sun Rabbit of the Room (房日兔)

The Room asterism covers Acrab and others stars in the "head" of Scorpius, as well as some stars of Libra and Lupus. 房 carries the meanings of a room, a house, or a chamber. Thus, it is the dragon's torso, its "organ chamber". It is an auspicious star. However, its god is extremely domineering Its guardian animal is a rabbit, not Tommy Wiseau. Rabbits were associated with fertility in ancient China, but also longevity, because of the Moon Bunny, or the Jade Rabbit in the moon. They were also associated with physical speed and mental alertness, leading to the saying "狡兔三窟 "/"A sly rabbit has three burrows", indicating an abundance of backup plans and escape routes. 兔兒爺/Lord Bunny, called 長耳定光佛/Long Eared Buddha of Light, is the protector of children. 兔兒神/The Rabbit God, is the god of homosexual romance. Because ancient Chinese culture associated horses with rabbits (the best horses had heads like rabbits, or roman noses), the Room asterism is also the celestial stable, and serves as a guardian of horses.

Chinese hare (domestic rabbits were imported from Europe)

Sun Rabbit of the Room: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Heart/心

Element: Moon/darkness Guardian: Moon Fox of the Heart (心月狐)

The Heart asterism covers Antares and a few neighboring stars. Obviously, it is the heart and bowels of the dragon. The heart is the seat of emotion, and thus the effects of this star are unstable, as ever-shifting as a person's mood. In ancient China, Antares was a symbol of fire and summer, as well as the Shang Dynasty. In one myth, the founder of the Shang Dynasty, Xie, was constantly fighting with his younger brother. As a result, their father exiled Xie to the eastern end of the sky, to watch over the Shang tribe, and his brother to the western end of the sky, to watch over the Xia tribe. "兄弟參商"/"Brothers like Antares and the Belt of Three" means a family torn apart. Antares was also a symbol of kingship, so if Mars appeared in its vicinity, that was an omen of doom and war. The god of this asterism is skilled in all arts, but vindictive and beguiling. The animal associated with the Heart is the fox. Foxes are shapeshifters, tricksters, and seducers in East Asian legends. Chinese sayings referring to the fox describe cunning and trickery, such as sensuality literally being 狐媚/Fox's Charisma.

Fox

Moon Fox of the Heart: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Tail/尾

Element: Fire Guardian: Fire Tiger of the Tail (尾火虎)

The Tail asterism covers Shaula and other stars in the "tail" of Scorpius. Obviously, it is the tail of the dragon. Along with the neighboring Winnowing Basket, its appearance leads to the phenomenon "龍收尾"/"the dragon retracts its tail", which describes the Azure Dragon leaving the sky and the onset of autumn chill. It is generally an auspicious star, but when used for fengshui positioning, it is considered unlucky. Its god is the fiercest of all star gods, capable of frightening other gods without being frightened in turn. The animal associated with this asterism is the tiger, a symbol of ferocity. Tigers were considered the equivalent and the opponent of the dragon. Since dragons governed rain, tigers governed wind. However, the Winnowing Basket is the star most associated with wind, not the Tail.

Tiger

Fire Tiger of the Tail: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Winnowing Basket/箕

Element: Water Guardian: Water Leopard of the Basket (箕水豹)

The Winnowing Basket asterism covers Kaus Media and other stars in the "bow" of Sagittarius, as well as bits of Ophiuchus and Ara. This asterism is considered the origin of the winds and associated with movement. As a result, the ancients imagined it as a constantly sifting winnowing basket. This asterism represents the dragon's poop, though given the wind connection, maybe the dragon is also gassy. Usually an auspicious star, its active nature also associates it with gossip and lies. Its god is independent and hard to control. Its associated animal is the leopard. Leopards were considered fiercer than tigers in Chinese folklore, but also more humble and prone to hiding their abilities. Due to their habitat, leopards are associated with mist.

Leopard

Dipper/斗

Element: Wood Guardian: Wood Goat-Unicorn (Xie) of the Dipper (斗木獬)

The Dipper asterism covers Kaus Borealis and other stars of the back half of the "teapot" of Sagittarius, as well as parts of Aquila and Telescopium. In Chinese Astronomy, Sagittarius is the Southern Dipper, not Ursa Minor. The Big Dipper and Polaris are considered the absolute center of the sky, while the more southward Sagittarius is the first among the Northern asterisms. The Southern Dipper controls the time of a person's birth, as opposed to the Northern Dipper, which controls the time of death. It is the second most important asterism in Chinese astrology. Obviously, it is an extremely auspicious star, controlling everything from lifespan to market profits to test scores. It represents the head of the tortoise. Like other wood element stars, it is a protective deity. Its personality is stubborn but demure, with a rigid sense of morality. The corresponding animal, as seen in the 36 Animals of the Hours, was originally a crab. However, the unwritten rule of the 28 Lunar Mansions is that animals in groups of Wood-Metal, Earth-Sun-Moon, and Fire-Water should resemble each other. Thus the assigned animal became the Xiezhi/獬豸. Xiezhi/獬豸 is a mythical single-horned creature which serves as a symbol of justice. It gained draconic traits in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but originally, it was a goat. The oldest way of writing Xiezhi is 解廌. The second part, Zhi/廌 means any sort of wild-goat, antelope, or goat-like animal, while the first part refers to a court summons. Thus the Xiezhi is a Trial Goat. According to legend, the earliest mode of judgement in China was Trial by Goat, an ordeal where a goat was led in front of conflicting parties, and the one the goat butted was the guilty one. Western Law has the Eagle of Justice, China has the Trial Goat. In time, this Trial Goat was mythologized into a unicorn creature. The Siberian Ibex and Tibetan Chiru are popular guesses for its real-life counterpart.

Stubby little Han Dynasty Xiezhi

Tibetan Chiru

Siberian Ibex

Wood Goat-Unicorn of the Dipper: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Ox/牛

Element: Metal Guardian: Metal Ox of the Ox (牛金牛)

The Ox asterism is located in the "tail" of Capricorn, while also including stars from Lyra and Aquila. It is the location of the famous Cowherd and Weaver Girl stars, and while these lover gods have plenty of salacious myths, this post isn't about them. The Ox represents the tortoise's front limb. It is an unlucky star associated with toil and disease. Its god is a master healer and fortune-teller, but also a gossiper inclined to rile up crowds. Its associated animal is the ox, of course. In Chinese culture, oxen are known as beasts of burden, which is why overworked employees refer to themselves as "牛馬"/"Ox or horse". If someone is willing to "be an ox or a horse"/"做牛做馬", it means they're desperate enough to do anything or accept any type of work. However, oxen are also respected for their patience and loyalty. They pretty much are the farmer's best friend. On top of that, oxen are known to be stubborn and strong, but are also regarded as dimwitted, leading to phrases like "吳牛喘月"/"a buffalo panting at the moon", meaning someone panicking, and "對牛彈琴"/"playing the zither for a cow", meaning "casting pearls before swine".

Chinese Ox

Metal Ox of the Ox: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Girl/女

Element: Earth Guardian: Earth Bat of the Girl (女土蝠)

The Girl asterism is located around Albali and other minor stars in Aquarius, as well as bits of Draco, Delphinus, and Cygnus. It derives its name from its shape, either similar to the character for "girl" or a silkworm rearing room. Its full name is 須女/Xunu, or "working girl". Traditionally, fieldwork was considered men's work, while harvesting silk and crafting textiles was women's work. It is not the location for the Weaving Girl star (Vega), but it functions as her assistant, being a patron of textiles, tailoring, and weddings. It represents the front of the tortoise's shell. It is an unlucky star. Its god is lustful and greedy, and is skilled in healing, fortune-telling, and lying. While the lunar mansion itself is unlucky, its animal, the bat, is a symbol of good luck. In Chinese, the bat is called 蝠/Fu, a homonym for the word for good luck. As a result, bat imagery is used as a good luck charm.

Bat

Earth Bat of the Girl: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

(Don't ask me why neither resembles a typical working girl.)

Emptiness/虛

Element: Sun/light Guardian Sun Mouse of Emptiness (虛日鼠)

The Emptiness asterism occupies stars in Aquarius and Equuleus, along with a few stars in Pisces Austrinus. The word 虛 means emptiness or weakness, but can also refer to a mound or ruin. Thus, this asterism is the inside of the tortoise's shell. It is an unlucky star associated with death and mourning. Its god knows all lucky and unlucky days. Its guardian animal is the mouse. The mouse is considered vermin and connected with theft, greed, cowardice, and villainy. "Thief's brows and rat's eyes"/"賊眉鼠眼" describes a person with a shifty appearance, and "as cowardly as a mouse"/"膽小如鼠" is used to describe cowards. However, mice can also be good luck charms, as they are believe to help the houses they inhabit hoard wealth. Chinese superstitions speak of how mice become swallows if they climb onto the roof and how swallows become mice if they enter the house. A mouse could also evolve into a bat if it studied the mystic arts or if it ate salt.

Mouse

Sun Mouse of Emptiness: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Roof/危

Element: Moon/darkness Guardian: Moon Swallow of the Roof (危月燕)

The Roof asterism covers stars in Aquarius and the "head" of Pegasus, as well as stars in Cygnus and Cepheus. 危 originally meant a high ledge, as well as the fear associated from being on said ledge. Thus it evolved to mean a roof ridge, but the most common meaning is "danger". This asterism is the slope and back edge of the tortoise's shell. As indicated in the name, it is an unlucky star, associated with danger and disaster. Its god is a crybaby, but violent and stubborn. Its associated animal is the swallow. Like the bat and the mouse, the swallow is considered lucky while the asterism is not. Swallows are harbingers of spring and a symbol of joy. Ancient scholars believe they inspired the myth of 玄鳥/the Dark Bird, the protector of the Shang Dynasty.

Swallow

Moon Swallow of the Roof: First depiction from Liang Lingzan's Tang Dynasty copy of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

(Don't ask me why this one is a tiger-man)

Encampment/室

Element: Fire Guardian: Fire Pig of the Encampment (室火豬)

The Encampment and the neighboring Wall used to be part of a single asterism, the Walled Room, which covered the "square" of Pegasus, but was separated into two asterisms to meet the need for 28 mansions. The modern asterism is half of Pegasus, also containing stars in Cassiopeia, Aquarius, Cetus, Pisces, and Pisces Austrinus. This mansion represents the back and tail of the tortoise, containing the sub-asterism 騰蛇/Flying snake. This snake is the very snake pictured as the Black Tortoise's tail. The Encampment is a lucky star. Its god speaks with a thundering voice and understands the transformations involved in the eight trigrams. Its associated animal is the pig. However, the earliest meaning of 豬 is a wild boar, a meaning it retains in Japanese, and in the 36 Animals of the Hours, the boar rules one decan of the Pig zodiac while the domestic pig rules another. The domestic pig has a reputation for stupidity and laziness, but is also a symbol of prosperity and fertility. The wild boar is renowned for its ferocity and strength.

Pig (boar)

Fire Pig of the Encampment: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Wall/壁

Element: Water Guardian: Water Porcupine (or Badger) of the Wall (壁水貐)

The Wall and Encampment asterisms were once the same asterism, but later split in two. The current asterism occupies half of the Pegasus square, as well as stars in Andromeda, Cetus, and Pisces. Like its neighbor, it represents the tail of the tortoise. It is a lucky star. Its god is sensuous and familiar with every aspect of the entertainment industry, being a master flatterer and gambler. The associated animal found in the 36 Animals of the Hours was originally 玃/jue, a monkey or ape from the west of Sichuan. Typos caused the word to become 獗 or 獝, and in the Tangut kingdom of Western Xia, it became 猧, a breed of dog. Finally, around the Tang Dynasty, the animal 貐/yu was assigned to the lunar mansion. In the modern day, this animal tends to be confused with the mythical monster Yayu/窫窳, or the armadillo/犰狳, or even a fish/魚. However, in Tang Dynasty medical almanacs, this animal is clarified to be an abbreviation of 豲貐/huanyu, an archaic name for porcupine. In the modern day, a popular replacement for this confusing animal is the badger.

Porcupine

Badger

Legs/奎

Element: Wood Guardian: Wood Wolf of the Legs (奎木狼)

The Legs asterism contains stars from the shorter "arm" and "body" of Andromeda, along with stars from the smaller "fish" of Pisces, and some extra stars from Cetus and Cassiopeia. It represents the back legs of the tiger. 奎 originally means legs and crotch, and takes the form of a person with spread legs. Due to confusion with the similar sounding 魁/Kui star, it gained the meaning of "excellence". Its god is fierce and cruel. It is an auspicious star. Due to its connection to the Kui star, it rules intelligence, test scores, and the literary field. Its associated animal is the wolf. Wolves were symbols of greed cruelty in China. "狼子野心"/"Wolf's cub with wild ambitions" refers to someone with evil ambitions or schemes. It was often paired with the mythical canid Bei, said to act as a strategist for wolf packs. "狼狈为奸"/"Wolf and Bei commit offenses together" means two or more parties engaged in evil actions. "狼狽"/"Wolf and Bei" also means a disheveled or pathetic appearance. However, astrological treatises also emphasized the wolf's role as a guide for hunters, in that the presence of a wolf means the presence of prey animals.

Wolf

Wood Wolf of the Legs: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Bond/婁

Element: Metal Guardian: Metal Dog of the Bond (婁金狗)

The Bond asterism occupies Sheratan and other stars around the "head" of Aries, along with extra stars from Pisces, Cetus, Fornax, and Perseus. 婁 originally meant a "hollow" or "empty ring", and later evolved the meanings of "bamboo basket" and "ox halter". This final meaning is what grants the asterism its English name. 婁 can also mean "small mound", so it serves as the tiger's rump. It serves as Heaven's granary, so it is an auspicious star, ruling over profits and agriculture. Its god is respectful and skilled in all literary and martial arts. Its associated animal is the dog. Like in the West, dogs were valued as loyal companions and guardians in ancient China. They were commonly used both for guarding and hunting, to the point that there are specific words for ancient dog breeds. However, they were also considered mindlessly loyal or aggressive. Feral dogs were also observed to be dirty and disheveled. As a result, "dog" is a common insult in Chinese. "狗腿子"/"Dog legs" is a word for henchmen. The modern term "舔狗"/"licking dog" means someone who is mindlessly infatuated with something. "狗仗人勢"/"A dog relying on its master's power" means a person taking advantage of a situation. "喪家之犬"/"A dog that has lost its home" means someone pathetic or dispirited. The most common dog breed in China is the Chinese Village Dog, also known as 土狗/Native Dog.

Dog

Metal Dog of the Bond: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Stomach/胃

Element: Earth Guardian: Earth Pheasant of the Stomach (胃土雉)

The Stomach asterism covers stars from the "tail" of Aries, as well as some stars from Cetus and Perseus. It represents the tiger's belly. Like the Bond, it is the location for the Celestial Granary, and thus an auspicious star that governs the accumulation of wealth. Its god is domineering, greedy, gluttonous, and ruthless in pursuing profits. Its associated animal is the pheasant. In Chinese folklore, a pheasant is the larval form of the phoenix, like how the snake is the larval form of the dragon. By studying the mystic arts, the pheasant can evolve into a phoenix. The pheasant was the original symbol of queens and empresses before being replaced by the phoenix. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, empresses wore Phoenix Crowns/凤冠 while lesser noblewomen wore Pheasant Crowns/翟冠. The brown eared pheasant is also well known for dueling during mating season, and thus is a symbol of martial prowess in China and Korea. Warriors would decorate their headgear with tail feathers from both the brown eared pheasant and other pheasant types. The most commonly seen pheasant in China is the common or ring-necked pheasant.

Pheasant

Earth Pheasant of the Stomach: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Hairy Head/昴

Element: Sun/light Guardian: Sun Rooster of the Hairy Head (昴日雞)

The Hairy Head asterism is mainly the stars of the Pleiades cluster, though it also contains some extra stars from Taurus and Perseus. 昴 was originally a word that means "to remain" or "to retain", used to refer to the star cluster. However, because of pronunciation issues, it gained the meaning of "grass shoot" and "fur". It represents the tiger's back and fur. Its god has an unstable temperament and is well-versed in dark arts and flattery. It is an unlucky star connected to violence. Its corresponding animal is the chicken. However, chickens are not chicken in the English proverbial sense. The ancient Chinese knew roosters to be vicious duelists. The rooster was a symbol of masculinity and virility. Roosters were also the harbingers of dawn, so their blood was believed to have anti-evil properties. In Chinese superstition, rooster blood is a stimulant, and people acting energized is jokingly referred to as 打鷄血/"injected with rooster blood". Chickens also eat harmful bugs, including centipedes, so they are used as a protective symbol against poison and disease.

Rooster

Sun Rooster of the Hairy Head: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

(Why the bull head? It is a mystery.)

Net/畢

Element: Moon/darkness Guardian: Moon Crow of the Net (畢月烏)

The Net asterism covers Aldebaran, the Hyades cluster, and other stars in the "head" of Taurus, as well as extra stars extending from the "horns" of Taurus to Auriga and Eridanus. This asterism is seen as the origin of all rain. Like in Ancient Greece, Chinese astronomers observed the heliacal setting of the Hyades in April coinciding with the onset of spring showers. 畢 is a hand net or snare used to catch birds and other small prey. As a result, it is a lucky star associated with hunting and profits. It represents the tiger's torso. Its god is knows about funerary matters. Its associated animal is the crow. Crows were considered ominous, mournful, or annoying birds. "烏鴉嘴"/"Crow's mouth" refers to a foul-mouthed or pessimistic person. Crows were also symbols of loneliness, and were paired with wilted trees or abandoned courtyards in poetry. However, the crow was also seen as a loving bird, since young crows take care of their aging parents. Along with sheep, they were symbols of filial piety.

Crow

Moon Crow of the Net: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Beak/觜

Element: Fire Guardian: Fire Monkey of the Beak (觜火猴)

The beak asterism covers Meissa and other stars in Orion's "head", as well as some extra stars from Taurus and Auriga. It represents the tiger's mouth. It is a unlucky star, as the tiger's fangs catch and crush all who enter. A mouth is also responsible for lying and arguing, and the ancients believed in watching their words. Its god, obviously, is skilled with poetry and writing. Its associated animal is a monkey. Monkeys are symbols both of intelligence and impulsiveness in China. "猴精"/"Sharp as a monkey" is a way of saying someone is cunning. However, monkey-see-monkey-do also applies, and monkeys are depicted as parodying human actions. The Conqueror King Xiang Yu was once mocked as a "bathed and clothed monkey"/"沐猴而冠" for his tactical blunders. "猴子的屁股坐不住"/"A monkey's butt never sits still" describes the energy of the monkey. Like foxes, monkeys and apes are tricksters and shapeshifters in mythology. The monkey most commonly seen in China is the rhesus macaque.

Monkey

Fire Monkey of the Beak: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Belt of Three/參

Element: Water Guardian: Water Ape of the Belt of Three (參水猿)

The Belt of Three is mainly the three stars of Orion's belt, as the word 參 is the formal way of writing "three". However, it also contains the other stars of Orion's "body". It represents the tiger's shoulders and front paws. In the oldest myths, the Belt of Three was one of two brothers who were exiled to opposite ends of the sky because they kept fighting. As it contains many stars associated with warfare and is one of the most recognizable asterisms in the White Tiger, it is a powerful protective star. The three stars of Orion's Belt is also a harbinger of Chinese New Year. They represent the Three Lucky Stars: Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity in folk belief, though according to astronomy treatises, the main "bodies" of these three gods lie in other stars. The Belt of Three is an auspicious star, but unlucky for days of weddings and funerals. Its god has a clever mouth but tender heart, and knows all clever feats of engineering. Its corresponding animal is the ape. 猿 or 猨 originally mean any simian larger than a macaque, but later referred specifically to apes. The lar gibbon is the best-known ape in China. White gibbons are considered symbols of wisdom and longevity. However, monkeys and apes are also symbols of lust. Mythology tells of gibbons and macaques abducting humans and giving birth to human-ape hybrids.

Ape (Lar gibbon)

Well/井

Element: Wood Guardian: Wood Moose (or Jackal) of the Well (井木犴)

The Well asterism consists of the constellations Gemini and Columba, with extra stars from Orion, Canis Minor, Canis Major, and Monoceros. It also contains Canopus, which the ancient Chinese believe to be the southern polestar. To track the movements of Jupiter (he oldest complete Chinese calendars used Jupiter to mark years, though there are records of an Antares-Orion’s belt agricultural calendar), the Moon, and the Sun, Chinese astronomers created 12 stellar regions that roughly corresponded to the 12 constellations of the Western Zodiac. Gemini was the region known as "the Quail's Head", and remains the Vermilion Bird's head crest. This asterism derives its name from its squarish shape. 井 is a well, but can also refer to any squared-off or dug-out area, including an atrium/天井 a square field/井田, and a pitfall/陷阱. The Well is capable of trapping and devouring any danger, including the star gods of an enemy's horoscope. Hence, it is an auspicious star connected to victory in battle. Its god is capricious, lustful, and uncontrollable, constantly coming up with wild schemes. Its associated animal was originally a goose, but due to the unwritten rule of the Lunar Mansions' wood and metal animal resembling each other, it was changed 犴/An. 犴/An can mean a jackal or a moose, but both definitions are foreign loanwords. The original meaning of 犴 was a small village jail, as opposed to 獄, which was a bigger city prison. Both types of prison used guard dogs, hence the dog radical. By the Han Dynasty 𨻼/Bi emerged as a general word for jailhouse. The animal decorations carved on jailhouses and courtrooms were imagined as the draconic creature 狴犴/Bi-An, the "Jailing Beast". The first reference to 犴 as an actual animal is possibly the late Warring States Rites of Zhou, but no details are given on its appearance. 犴 was used to refer to the jackal, which comes from Buddhist missionaries transliterating the sanskrit word for jackal, Shrigala, as "射干"/"Shegan". However, 射 can also be pronounced Ye, and this pronunciation was considered more sophisticated in ancient China (the dang upper class with their posh accents). Thus, the word, with its new pronunciation, mutated into 野干 and 野犴, roughly, Yakan, which is now used in Japan to refer to fox spirits. 犴 has retained the meaning of "jackal", an animal that pre-modern Chinese dictionaries place in either India or Mongolia. Meanwhile, 犴 referring to moose is borrowed from Manchu 犴達罕/Kandahan.

(Personally, I prefer the moose.)

Moose

Jackal

Wood Moose of the Well: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Ghost/鬼

Element: Metal Guardian: Metal Goat of the Ghost (鬼金羊)

The Ghost asterism centers around the Beehive Cluster in Cancer, as well as including extra stars from Vela and Hydra. It derives its name from its hazy appearance, which terrified ancient Chinese astronomers, who gave it the name of 積屍氣/Accumulated Corpse Gasses (the stench of decay emerging from a mass grave). This is a unlucky star connected to deaths and funerals. It represents the Vermilion Bird's eyes. Its god is calm and silent, but vindictive and prone to evil schemes. The associated animal is a goat. While the ancient Chinese domesticated both sheep and goats and referred to them as different types of "sheep", the goat was more readily available to the average person. The Chinese believe the goat to be an ugly creature. Eyes that have visible sclera are called "goat eyes", and considered a harsh and ugly physical feature. Yet neither goats nor sheep are disliked in Chinese culture. 羊 is pronounced "Yang", which becomes a pun on Yang or light energy. The image of three sheep or goats is used to welcome the New Year in a motif called 三羊開泰/Three Goats Bring Harmony. Lambs and kids hunch down to suckle, which brings to mind the image of respecting one's elders, so they are seen as symbols of filial piety. Sheep and goats are also known to be mostly harmless, thus the phrase "肥羊"/"fat sheep" is used for an easy victim.

Goat

Metal Goat of the Ghost: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Willow/柳

Element: Earth Guardian: Earth Water Deer of the Willow (柳土獐)

The Willow asterism consists of stars in the "head" of Hydra and some extra stars from Cancer and Leo. It is shaped like a bent willow. Along with the next two mansions, it belongs to the region of "Quail Fire", or the body of the fiery quail that stretches over the zodiac constellations of Cancer, Leo, and Virgo. It represents the bird's mouth. This asterism governs food, wine, and parties. However, it is prone to negative influences from other lunar mansions, making it an unlucky star. Its god is forceful, resolute, and wiling to fight against injustice. Its associated animal is the water deer, a creature said to be so cowardly that it would fear its own reflection.

Water deer

Earth Water Deer of the Willow: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Stars/星

Element: Sun/light Guardian: Sun Horse of the Stars (星日馬)

All lunar mansions are called "Star Abodes" in Chinese. However, this asterism is THE abode with the Stars. It actually refers to Alphard and its neighboring stars, which makes for a total of Seven Stars. Stars from Sextans, Leo, and Leo Minor are also included in this asterism. It represents the neck of the bird. It is mostly an unlucky star, but the dates it presides over are good for starting construction projects. It is also a patron of embroidery. Its god is relaxed and cheerful, speaking softly but persuasively, and knowing all about natural sciences. Its associated animal is the horse. While respected for their strength and speed, horses are known to be hard to control. Horses are a symbol of the warrior, with "金戈鐵馬"/"Gold billhooks and iron horses" referring to military might.

Horse

Sun Horse of the Stars: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Extended Net/張

Element: Moon/darkness Guardian: Moon Deer of the Extended Net (張月鹿)

The Extended Net asterism covers stars found in Hydra's "tail", as well as stars from Pyxis. 張 simply means "to extend" or "to expand". It originally referred to the act of drawing a bow. As an asterism, it portrays a purse next being stretched out. It represents the bird's crop and gullet. It rules over good food, fine clothing, and jewelry. It is an auspicious star. Its god has a haughty demeanor and a bad temper. Its associated animal is a deer. Deer are symbols of kindness and longevity in China. In Buddhism, they are a symbol of piety. Deer are also a symbol of profits and high status, due to their name sounding like the word 祿/Prosperity. Since deer were a common prey animal for hunters, 逐鹿/chasing deer means to seek dominance. Water deer, horses, deer, and muntjacs were also grouped together as animals that were easy to startle. The deer species most commonly seen in East Asia is the Sika deer.

Deer

Moon Deer of the Extended Net: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Wings/翼

Element: Fire Guardian: Fire Snake of the Wings (翼火蛇)

The Wings asterism is formed from the stars of the constellation Crater and the tip of Hydra's "tail", with a few extra stars from Antila and Vela. This asterism resembles a set of wings. It is the bird's wings, of course. It is believed to light up with bright stars during the reign of a wise ruler. Its god is a haughty and ambitious vigilante prone to violence, but also endowed with knowledge of astrology. This asterism is the location for the celestial orchestra. It is a patron of music and theater, as well as a patron of diplomacy. Nevertheless it is an unlucky, stable star. Its associated animal is the snake. Snakes are feared in China. They are one of the "Five Poisons", five venomous creatures that represent disease and sin. "心如蛇蠍"/"A heart like a viper" means a cruel or villainous heart. Like the fox and monkey, they were tricksters and shapeshifters, but more likely to be evil or hostile to humanity. However, snakes were also seen as the larval form of dragons. By studying the mystic arts, they could evolve into dragons.

Snake

Fire Snake of the Wings: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.

Chariot/軫

Element: Water Guardian: Water Earthworm of the Chariot (軫水蚓)

The Chariot asterism is formed from the stars of Corvus, with extra stars from Hydra and Centaurus. Along with the neighboring Wings, it belongs in the region of "the Quail's Tail", the equivalent to the constellation Virgo. Hence, it represents the bird's tail. This is mostly a lucky star, but it can still be negatively influenced when in conjunction with other stars. It is a patron of music and driving, which can turn into debauchery and traffic accidents when negatively affected. Its god is well-learned and empathetic. Its corresponding animal is the earthworm. It was considered to be a marvel in ancient China, a creature that had no heart and lived on dirt and air alone. Mencius compared it to people with puritanical moral standards. It was another potential larval form for the dragon. It was nicknamed the ground dragon/地龍, and was said to be capable of summoning rain. It was also believed to sing sad songs, possibly the sound of mole crickets or air moving through earthworm tunnels, which caused people to give it the kenning Singing Girl/歌女.

Earthworm