Traditional Chinese star names (Chinese: 星名, xīng míng) are the names of stars used in ancient Chinese astronomy and astrology. Most of these names are enumerations within the respective Chinese constellations, but a few stars have traditional proper names.
Name | Romanization | Translation | Western name | Proper name | Western constellation | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
軍南門 | Jūn Nán Mén | Southern Military Gate | Phi Andromedae[1] | Andromeda | A single-star asterism within the Legs mansion. | |
玄戈 | Xuán Gē | Sombre Lance | Lambda Boötis[2] | Xuange | Boötes | A single-star asterism within the Purple Forbidden enclosure. Xuán Gē became the official name. Xuange for this star by approval of IAU in 30 June 2017[3] |
大角 | Dà Jiǎo | Great Horn | Alpha Boötis[4] | Arcturus | A single-star asterism within the Neck mansion. | |
招搖 | Zhāo Yáo | Twinkling Indicator | Gamma Boötis[5] | Seginus | A single-star asterism within the Root mansion. | |
積尸 | Jī Shī | Cumulative Corpses | Messier 44[6] | Beehive Cluster | Cancer | A single-star asterism within the Ghost mansion. |
相 | Xiāng | Prime Minister | 5 Canum Venoticarum[7] | Canes Venatici | A single-star asterism within the Purple Forbidden enclosure. | |
野雞 | Yě Jī | Wild Cockerel | Nu2 Canis Majoris[8] | Canis Major | A single-star asterism within the Well mansion. | |
天狼 | Tiān Láng | Celestial Wolf | Alpha Canis Majoris[8] | Sirius | ||
老人 | Lǎo Rén | Old Man | Alpha Carinae[8] | Canopus | Carina | |
附路 | Fù Lù | Auxiliary Road | Zeta Cassiopeiae[1] | Fulu | Cassiopeia | A single-star asterism in the Legs mansion. Fù Lù became the official name Fulu for this star by approval of IAU in 30 June 2017[3] |
策 | Cè | Whip | Gamma Cassiopeiae[1] | A single-star asterism in the Legs mansion. | ||
土司空 | Tǔ Sī Kōng | Master of Constructions | Beta Ceti [1] | Diphda | Cetus | |
屎 | Shǐ | Excrement | Mu Columbae[9] | Columba | A single-star asterism in the Three Stars mansion. | |
郎將 | Láng Jiāng | Captain of the Bodyguards | 31 Comae Berenices[10] | Coma Berenices | A single-star asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure. | |
長沙 | Cháng Shā | Changsha | Zeta Corvi[11] | Corvus | A single-star asterism in the Chariot mansion. | |
左轄 | Zuǒ Xiá | Left Linchpin | Eta Corvi[11] | |||
右轄 | Yòu Xiá | Right Linchpin | Alpha Corvi[11] | Alchiba | ||
女史 | Nǚ Shǐ | Female Protocol | Psi Draconis[12] | Dziban | Draco | A single-star asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. |
柱史 | Zhù Shǐ | Official of Royal Archives | Phi Draconis[12] | |||
钺 | Yuè | Battle Axe | Eta Geminorum[13] | Propus | Gemini | A single-star asterism in the Well mansion. |
積薪 | Jī Xīn | Pile of Firewood | Kappa Geminorum[8] | |||
帝座 | Dì Zuò | Emperor's Seat | Alpha Herculis[14] | Rasalgethi | Hercules | A single-star asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. |
太子 | Tài Zǐ | Crown Prince | 93 Leonis[15] | Leo | A single-star asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure. | |
從官 | Cóng Guān | Retinue | 92 Leonis[15] | |||
虎賁 | Hǔ Bēn | Emperor’s Bodyguard | 72 Leonis[15] | |||
日 | Rì | Sun | Kappa Librae[16] | Libra | A single-star asterism in the Room mansion | |
騎陣將軍 | Qí Zhèn Jiāng Jūn | Chariots and Cavalry General | Kappa1 Lupi[5] | Lupus | A single-star asterism in the Root mansion. | |
候 | Hòu | Astrologer | Alpha Ophiuchi[14] | Rasalhague | Ophiuchus | A single-star asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. |
積屍 | Jī Shī | Heap of Corpses | Pi Persei[17][18] | Perseus | A single-star asterism in the Stomach mansion. | |
積水 | Jī Shuǐ | Stored Water | Lambda Persei[17] | |||
天讒 | Tiān Chán | Celestial Slander | 42 Persei[19] | |||
北落師門 | Běi Là Shī Mén | North Gate of the Military Camp | Alpha Piscis Austrini[20] | Fomalhaut | Piscis Austrinus | A single-star asterism in the Encampment mansion |
天綱 | Tiān Gāng | Materials for Making Tents | Delta Piscis Austrini[20] | |||
農丈人 | Nóng Zhàng Rén | Peasant | HD 172910[21] | Sagittarius | A single-star asterism in the Dipper mansion | |
鍵閉 | Jiàn Bì | Door Bolt | Nu Scorpii[22] | Jabbah | Scorpius | A single-star asterism in the Room mansion |
神宮 | Shén Gōng | Changing Room | Mu2 Scorpii[23] | Pipirima | A single-star asterism in the Tail mansion | |
魚 | Yú | Fish | Messier 7[23] | Ptolemy Cluster | ||
傅說 | Fù Yuè | Fuyue | G Scorpii[24] | Fuyue | A single-star asterism in the Tail mansion. Fù Yuè became the official name Fuyue for this star by approval of IAU in 30 June 2017[3] | |
天乳 | Tiān Rǔ | Celestial Milk | Mu Serpentis[5] | Serpens | A single-star asterism in the Root mansion | |
月 | Yuè | Moon | 37 Tauri[25] | Taurus | A single-star asterism in the Hairy Head mansion | |
附耳 | Fù Ěr | Whisper | Sigma2 Tauri[26] | A single-star asterism in the Net mansion | ||
天關 | Tiān Guān | Celestial Gate | Zeta Tauri[27] | Tianguan | A single-star asterism in the Net mansion. Tiān Guān became the official name Tianguan for this star by approval of IAU in 30 June 2017[3] | |
太尊 | Tài Zūn | Royal | Psi Ursae Majoris[28] | Ursa Major | A single-star asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure | |
太陽守 | Tài Yáng Shǒu | Guard of the Sun | Chi Ursae Majoris[28] | Taiyangshou | A single-star asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. Tài Yáng Shǒu became the official name Taiyangshou for this star by approval of IAU in 30 June 2017[3] | |
輔 | Fǔ | Assistant | 80 Ursae Majoris[29] | Alcor | A single-star asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. | |
天記 | Tiān Jì | Judge for Estimating the Age of Animals | Lambda Velorum[30] | Suhail | Vela | A single-star asterism in the Ghost mansion |
謁者 | Yè Zhě | Usher to the Court | 16 Virginis[31] | Virgo | A single-star asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure. |
Name | Romanization | Translation | Western name | Proper name | Western constellation | Represent | Romanization | Translation | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
天市左垣六 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán liù | the Sixth Star of Left Wall | Zeta Aquilae[32] | Okab | Aquila | 吳越 | Wú Yuè | The state of Wu and Yue | Left Wall (天市左垣, Tiānshìzuǒyuán) is the asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. |
河鼓二 | Hé Gŭ èr | the Second Star of Drum at the River | Alpha Aquilae[33] | Altair | 牛郎 or 牵牛 | Niúláng or Qiānniú | Niulang, Cowherd | Niulang, the cowherd who fell in love with the daughter of the Jade Emperor in the Qixi Festival Weaver Girl and the Cowherd folk story. Drum at the River (河鼓, Hégŭ) is the asterism in the Ox mansion. | |
紫微右垣六 | Zǐ Wēi Yòu Yuán liù | the Sixth Star of Right Wall | Alpha Camelopardalis[34] | Camelopardalis | 少衛 | Shǎo Wèi | The Second Imperial Guard | Right Wall (紫微右垣六, Zǐwēiyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. | |
Phi Capricorni[35] | Capricornus | 楚 | Chǔ | The state of Chu | These stars is once of members of Twelve States (十二國, Shíèrguó), which is the asterism in the Girl mansion. The Twelve States refer to these ancient states in the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period: Chu (楚), Dai (代), Han (韓), Jin (晉), Qi (齊), Qin (秦), Wei (魏), Yan (燕), Yue (越), Zhao (趙), Zheng (鄭), Zhou (周). | ||||
Iota Capricorni[35] | 代一 | Dài yī | (First star of) The state of Dai | ||||||
35 Capricorni[36] | 韓 | Hán | The state of Han | ||||||
36 Capricorni[36] | 晉 | Jìn | The state of Jin | ||||||
Chi Capricorni[35] | 齊 | Qí | The state of Qi | ||||||
Theta Capricorni[35] | 秦一 | Qín yī | (First star of) The state of Qin | ||||||
30 Capricorni[36] | 秦二 | Qín èr | (Second star of) The state of Qin | ||||||
33 Capricorni[36] | 魏 | Wèi | The state of Wei | ||||||
Zeta Capricorni[35] | 燕 | Yān | The state of Yan | ||||||
19 Capricorni[36] | 越 | Yuè | The state of Yue | ||||||
20 Capricorni[36] | 鄭 | Zhèng | The state of Zheng | ||||||
Eta Capricorni[35] | 周一 | Zhōu yī | (First star of) The state of Zhou | ||||||
老人 | Lǎo Rén | Old Man | Alpha Carinae[8] | Canopus | Carina | 壽 | Shòu | Longevity | One of the "Three Stars", the Shou star is personified as the Old Man of the South Pole, believed to control the life spans of mortals. He is sometimes conflated with Laozi and corresponding gods of Taoist theology. Old Man is the asterism in the Well mansion. |
紫微左垣七 | Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán qī | the Seventh Star of Right Wall | Gamma Cephei[12] | Errai | Cepheus | 少衛 | Shǎo Wèi | The Second Imperial Guard | Right Wall (紫微右垣六, Zǐwēiyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. |
太微左垣五 | Tài Wēi Zuǒ Yuán wǔ | the Fifth Star of Left Wall | Alpha Comae Berenices[37] | Diadem | Coma Berenices | 東上將 | Dōng Shǎng Jiāng | The First Eastern General | Left Wall (太微左垣, Tàiwēizuǒyuán) is the asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure. |
紫微左垣一 | Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán yī | the First Star of Left Wall | Iota Draconis[12] | Edasich | Draco | 左樞 | Zuǒ Shū | The Left Pivot | Left Wall (紫微左垣, Zǐwēizuǒyuán) is the asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. |
紫微左垣二 | Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán èr | the Second Star of Left Wall | Theta Draconis[12] | 上宰 | Shǎng Zǎi | The First Premier | |||
紫微左垣三 | Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán sān | the Third Star of Left Wall | Eta Draconis[12] | Athebyne | 少宰 | Shǎo Zǎi | The Second Premier | ||
紫微左垣四 | Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán sì | the Fourth Star of Left Wall | Zeta Draconis[12] | Aldhibah | 上弼 | Shǎng Bì | The First Minister | ||
紫微左垣五 | Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán wǔ | the Fifth Star of Left Wall | Upsilon Draconis[12] | 少弼 | Shǎo Bì | The Second Minister | |||
紫微右垣一 | Zǐ Wēi Yòu Yuán yī | the First Star of Right Wall | Alpha Draconis[34] | Thuban | 右樞 | Yòu Shū | The Right Pivot | Right Wall (紫微右垣, Zǐwēiyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. | |
紫微右垣二 | Zǐ Wēi Yòu Yuán èr | the Second Star of Right Wall | Kappa Draconis[34] | 少尉 | Shǎo Wèi | The Second Chief Judge | |||
紫微右垣三 | Zǐ Wēi Yòu Yuán sān | the Third Star of Right Wall | Lambda Draconis[34] | Giausar | 上輔 | Shǎng Fǔ | The First Minister | ||
天市左垣一 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán yī | the First Star of Left Wall | Delta Herculis[32] | Sarin | Hercules | 魏 | Wèi | The state of Wei | Left Wall (天市左垣, Tiānshìzuǒyuán) is the asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. |
天市左垣二 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán èr | the Second Star of Left Wall | Lambda Herculis[32] | Maasym | 趙 | Zhào | The state of Zhao | ||
天市左垣三 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán sān | the Third Star of Left Wall | Mu Herculis[32] | 九河 | Jiǔ Hé | Jiuhe | |||
天市左垣四 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán sì | the Fourth Star of Left Wall | Omicron Herculis[32] | 中山 | Zhōng Shān | Zhongshan | |||
天市右垣一 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán yī | the First Star of Right Wall | Beta Herculis[38] | Kornephoros | 河中 | Hé Zhōng | Hezhong | Right Wall (天市左垣, Tiānshìyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. | |
天市右垣二 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán èr | the Second Star of Right Wall | Gamma Herculis[38] | 河間 | Hé Jiān | Hejian | |||
天市右垣三 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán sān | the Third Star of Right Wall | Kappa Herculis[38] | Marsic | 晉 | Jìn | The state of Jin | ||
太微右垣二 | Tài Wēi Yòu Yuán èr | the Second Star of Right Wall | Sigma Leonis[39] | Leo | 西上將 | Xī Shǎng Jiāng | The First Western General | Right Wall (太微右垣, Tàiwēiyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure. | |
太微右垣三 | Tài Wēi Yòu Yuán sān | the Third Star of Right Wall | Iota Leonis[39] | 西次將 | Xī Cì Jiāng | The Second Western General | |||
太微右垣四 | Tài Wēi Yòu Yuán sì | the Fourth Star of Right Wall | Theta Leonis[39] | Chertan | 西次相 | Xī Cì Xiāng | The Second Western Minister | ||
太微右垣五 | Tài Wēi Yòu Yuán wǔ | the Fifth Star of Right Wall | Delta Leonis[39] | Zosma | 西上相 | Xī Shǎng Xiāng | The First Western Minister | ||
織女一 | Zhī Nǚ yī | the First Star of Weaving Girl | Alpha Lyrae[33] | Vega | Lyra | 織女 | Zhī Nǚ | Weaving Girl | After the Qixi Festival Weaver Girl and the Cowherd folk story. Weaving Girl (織女, Zhīnǚ) is the asterism in the Ox mansion. |
天市左垣九 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán jiǔ | the Ninth Star of Left Wall | Nu Ophiuchi[32] | Ophiuchus | 燕 | Yān | The state of Yan | Left Wall (天市左垣, Tiānshìzuǒyuán) is the asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. | |
天市左垣十一 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán shíyī | the Eleventh Star of Left Wall | Eta Ophiuchi[32] | Sabik | 宋 | Sòng | The state of Song | ||
天市右垣九 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán jiǔ | the Ninth Star of Right Wall | Delta Ophiuchi[38] | Yed Prior | 梁 | Liáng | The state of Liang | Right Wall (天市左垣, Tiānshìyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. | |
天市右垣十 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán shí | the Tenth Star of Right Wall | Epsilon Ophiuchi[38] | Yed Posterior | 楚 | Chǔ | The state of Chu | ||
天市右垣十一 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán shíyī | the Eleventh Star of Right Wall | Zeta Ophiuchi[38] | 韓 | Hán | The state of Han | |||
天市左垣七 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán qī | the Seventh Star of Left Wall | Theta Serpentis[32] | Alya | Serpens | 徐 | Xú | The state of Xu | Left Wall (天市左垣, Tiānshìzuǒyuán) is the asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. |
天市左垣八 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán bā | the Eighth Star of Left Wall | Eta Serpentis[32] | 東海 | Dōng Hǎi | Dong Hai | |||
天市左垣十 | Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán shí | the Tenth Star of Left Wall | Xi Serpentis[32] | 南海 | Nán Hǎi | Nan Hai | |||
天市右垣四 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán sì | the Fourth Star of Right Wall | Gamma Serpentis[38] | 鄭 | Zhèng | The state of Zheng | Right Wall (天市右垣, Tiānshìyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Heavenly Market enclosure. | ||
天市右垣五 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán wǔ | the Fifth Star of Right Wall | Beta Serpentis[38] | 周 | Zhōu | The state of Zhou | |||
天市右垣六 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán liù | the Sixth Star of Right Wall | Delta Serpentis[38] | 秦 | Qín | The state of Qin | |||
天市右垣七 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán qī | the Seventh Star of Right Wall | Alpha Serpentis[38] | Unukalhai | 蜀 | Shǔ | The state of Shu | ||
天市右垣八 | Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán bā | the Eighth Star of Right Wall | Epsilon Serpentis[38] | 巴 | Bā | The state of Ba | |||
紫微右垣四 | Zǐ Wēi Yòu Yuán sì | the Fourth Star of Right Wall | 24 Ursae Majoris[29] | Ursa Major | 少辅 | Shǎo Fǔ | The Second Minister | Right Wall (紫微右垣, Zǐwēiyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. | |
北斗一 | Běi Dǒu yī | the First Star of Northern Dipper | Alpha Ursae Majoris[40] | Dubhe | 天樞 | Tiān Shū | The Celestial Pivot | Northern Dipper (北斗, Běidǒu) is the asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. | |
北斗二 | Běi Dǒu èr | the Second Star of Northern Dipper | Beta Ursae Majoris[40] | Merak | 天璇 | Tiān Xuán | The Celestial Rotating Jade | ||
北斗三 | Běi Dǒu sān | the Third Star of Northern Dipper | Gamma Ursae Majoris[40] | Phecda | 天璣 | Tiān Jī | The Celestial Shining Pearl | ||
北斗四 | Běi Dǒu sì | the Fourth Star of Northern Dipper | Delta Ursae Majoris[40] | Megrez | 天權 | Tiān Quán | The Celestial Balance | ||
北斗五 | Běi Dǒu wǔ | the Fifth Star of Northern Dipper | Epsilon Ursae Majoris[40] | Alioth | 玉衡 | Yù Héng | The Jade Sighting-Tube | ||
北斗六 | Běi Dǒu liù | the Sixth Star of Northern Dipper | Zeta Ursae Majoris[40] | Mizar | |||||
禄 | Lù | Status | One of the "Three Stars", the Lu star is believed to be Zhang Xian, who lived during the Later Shu dynasty. The word lu specifically refers to the salary of a government official. As such, the Lu star is the star of prosperity, rank, and influence. | ||||||
開陽 | Kāi Yáng | The Opener of Heat | Northern Dipper (北斗, Běidǒu) is the asterism in the Purple Forbidden enclosure. | ||||||
北斗七 | Běi Dǒu qī | the Seventh Star of Northern Dipper | Eta Ursae Majoris[40] | Alkaid | 搖光 | Yáo Guāng | The Twinkling Brilliance | ||
Iota Ursae Majoris[28] | Talitha | 上台一 | Shàng Tái yī | The First Upper Step | These stars is once of members of Three Steps (三台, Sāntái), which is the asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure mansion. The Three Steps represent three rank official, or triple deck room in the heaven. They are The Upper Step (上台, Shàngtái), The Middle Step (中台, Zhōngtái) and The Lower Step (下台, Xiàtái). | ||||
Kappa Ursae Majoris[28] | Alkaphrah | 上台二 | Shàng Tái èr | The Second Upper Step | |||||
Lambda Ursae Majoris[28] | Tania Borealis | 中台一 | Zhōng Tái yī | The First Middle Step | |||||
Mu Ursae Majoris[28] | Tania Australis | 中台一 | Zhōng Tái èr | The Second Middle Step | |||||
Nu Ursae Majoris[28] | Alula Borealis | 下台一 | Xià Tái yī | The First Lower Step | |||||
Xi Ursae Majoris[28] | Alula Australis | 下台二 | Xià Tái èr | The Second Lower Step | |||||
太微左垣一 | Tài Wēi Zuǒ Yuán yī | the First Star of Left Wall | Eta Virginis[37] | Zaniah | Virgo | 左執法 | Zuǒ Zhí Fǎ | The Left Law Administrator | Left Wall (太微左垣, Tàiwēizuǒyuán) is the asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure. |
太微左垣二 | Tài Wēi Zuǒ Yuán èr | the Second Star of Left Wall | Gamma Virginis[37] | Porrima | 東上相 | Dōng Shàng Xiàng | The First Eastern Minister | ||
太微左垣三 | Tài Wēi Zuǒ Yuán sān | the Third Star of Left Wall | Delta Virginis[37] | Minelauva | 東次相 | Dōng Cì Xiàng | The Second Eastern Minister | ||
太微左垣四 | Tài Wēi Zuǒ Yuán sì | the Fourth Star of Left Wall | Epsilon Virginis[37] | Vindemiatrix | 東次將 | Dōng Cì Jiàng | The Second Eastern General | ||
太微右垣一 | Tài Wēi Yòu Yuán yī | the First Star of Right Wall | Beta Virginis[39] | Zavijava | 右執法 | Yòu Zhí Fǎ | The Right Law Administrator | Right Wall (太微右垣, Tàiwēiyòuyuán) is the asterism in the Supreme Palace enclosure. |