Chinese Jade Motifs for Constellations

by in Jade Appreciation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The constellations or Xiù (宿) are grouped by the four directions, East, West, South, and North. The dragon occupies the East and contains the constellations:

角 (Jiăo) Horn,亢 (Kàng) Neck,氐 (Dĭ) Root,房 (Fáng) Room,心 (Xīn) Heart,尾 (Wěi) Tail
箕 (Jī ) Winnowing basket,(Dǒu) Dipper

The tortoise occupies the North and contains the constellations:

牛 (Níu) Ox,女 (Nǚ) Woman,虛 (Xū) Emptiness,危 (Wēi) Danger,室 (Shì) Room,壁 (Bì) Wall

The scarlet or vermillion bird is in the South and contains the constellations:
井 (Jǐng) Well,鬼 (Guǐ) Demon,柳 (Lǐ) Willow,星 (Xīng) Star,张 (Zhāng) Growth
翼 (Yì) Wings,軫 (Zhěn) Deep emotion
The tiger is in the West and contains the constellations:

奎 (Kuí) Legs,娄 (Lóu) Bond,胃 (Wèi) Stomach,昴 (Mǎo) Hairy Head,毕 (Bì) Net,觜 (Zuǐ) Turtle Beak,參 (Cān) Join – Three Stars