Chinese Jade Motifs for Constellations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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