#folkore

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