The ancient Chinese astrologists worked with to no contact with those of the Greek world. This relative reclusiveness means the constellations we know in the western world are unheard of in Chinese astrology. They have a system totally their own.
The astrologers of ancient China divided their sky into 31 sections or regions. The three subdivisions, which make up the north celestial pole are called the Three Enclosures. The many stars in these regions can be viewed at all times during the year. Each of the Three Enclosures has a name and rules a particular area of the night sky.
The first Enclosure is referred to as Purple Forbidden Enclosure. This section governs the northernmost area of the sky. In ancient China, this was the middle of the sky.
Following is the Supreme Palace Enclosure, which lies to the east and the north of Purple Forbidden Enclosure.
Lastly, the Supreme Palace Enclosure commands the area to the West and South.
The remaining twenty eight regions are together, referred to as the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Together, these sections are contemplative of the movements of the moon in a lunar month. Each of the visible stars in the sky are delegated to one of 283 asterisms. The name of a star is constructed by taking together the name of the assigned asterism and the number of the star.
The Twenty-Eight Mansions are grouped into what is recognized as the Four Symbols. Each symbol holds an equal number of mansions. These symbols are The Azure Dragon of the East, The Black Tortoise of the North, The White Tiger of the West, and The Vermillion Bird of the South.
Each of the Twenty Eight Mansions are identified in both Traditional Chinese and PinYin. While the meaning of the names can be translated into English, the actual names are not.
Cheryl Pierce..
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