Chinese constellations are different from the western constellations, due to the independent development of ancient Chinese astronomy. Ancient Chinese skywatchers divided their night sky in a different way, but there are also similarities. The Chinese counterpart of the 12 western zodiac constellations are the 28 "Xiu" (宿) or "mansions" (a literal translation). Orion is a remarkable constellation, visible from most places on the globe (but not always the whole year long). ... Astrology: the study of the positions of the celestial objects relative to the Earth and how these positions affect happenings on the lives of cultures, nations and the natural environment. ... Zodiac signs, 16th century , medieval woodcuts The zodiac (from Greek zoon, animal) is an imaginary belt in the heavens extending approximately 8 degrees on either side of the Suns apparent path (the ecliptic), that includes the apparent paths of the Moon and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. ...

The zodiac was divided into four regions, or four symbols (四象), with 7 Xiu in each one of them:

Pinyin (Chinese: 拼音, pÄ«nyÄ«n) literally means join (together) sounds (a less literal translation being phoneticize, spell or transcription) in Chinese and usually refers to HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n (汉语拼音, literal meaning: Han language pinyin), which is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard... Spica (α Vir / α Virginis / Alpha Virginis) is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. ... See VIRGO (physics) for a French-Italian project in physics. ... Libra (Latin for balance, symbol , Unicode ♎) is a constellation of the zodiac. ... This article is about the star. ... Scorpius ( , and Latin for scorpion) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... Sagittarius ( , and Latin for Archer) is a constellation of the zodiac, commonly depicted as a centaur drawing a bow. ... Capricornus ( or ), a name meaning Horned Goat or That which has horns like a goats in Latin, is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... Aquarius ( , Latin for the Water-bearer or Cup-bearer) is the eleventh sign of the zodiac, situated between Capricornus and Pisces. ... Pegasus is a northern constellation, named after the mythological Pegasus. ... Andromeda is a constellation named for the princess Andromeda (which is Greek for Ruler over men), a character in Greek mythology. ... Aries ( , Latin for Ram) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... The Pleiades are an open cluster dominated by hot blue stars surrounded by reflection nebulosity The Pleiades (also known as M45 or the Seven Sisters) is an open cluster in the constellation of Taurus. ... Taurus ( , Latin for bull) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ... Orion, a constellation often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation, perhaps the best-known in the sky. ... In mythology, the Gemini are Castor and Polydeuces. ... In astronomy and astrology, Cancer ( ), Latin for crab, is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac. ... Hydra is the largest of the 88 modern constellations, and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy. ... Alphard is the α star in the constellation of Hydra Alphard (Bayer designation α Hydrae) is the brightest star in the constellation Hydra. ... Crater (Latin for cup) is one of the 88 modern constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. ... Corvus (Latin for Raven/Crow) is a small southern constellation with only 11 stars visible to the naked eye (brighter than magnitude 5. ...

Mythology

The belief of the heavens being governed by these four (sometimes five, completing the elemental cycle of the five Chinese elements; the fifth is at the centre and is a Golden Dragon that binds the universe together) symbols.

The Azure Dragon was associated with the element of wood, the Vermillion Bird with fire, the White Tiger with gold/metal, and the Black Tortoise was associated with water. The fifth element, earth, was associated with the Golden Dragon.

This belief extended from China to Korea and Japan. In Japan, the Four Symbols are refered to as Seiryuu (Azure Dragon), Suzaku (Vermillion Bird), Byakko (White Tiger), and Genbu (Black Tortoise)

References

The concept of these four gods governing the heavens has appeared frequently in anime and manga of Japanese culture. A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) // Anime (アニメ) is a style of animation originating in Japan. ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ...

• Beyblade - The four male leads (later five) all possess powerful spirits in their Beyblades, each one based on one of the Four Guardians.
• Fushigi Yûgi - The "Universe of the Four Gods" (Shi Jin Tenchi Sho) is a land where four priestesses (Miaka Yûki (Suzaku), Yui Hongo (Seiryû), Takiko Okuda (Genbu), and Suzuno Oosugi (Byakko)) are destined to summon one of the four gods.
• Digimon - In Season III (and some of season II), the four Sovereign Digimon are based on the Four Gods (Azulongmon/Qianlongmon - Azure Dragon, Zhuqiaomon - Vermillion Bird, Baihumon - White Tiger, and Ebonwumon - Black Tortoise).
• Yu Yu Hakusho - Four of Yusuke's enemies are named after the Four Gods
• Crest of the Stars, Banner of the Stars - The 28 "root clans" of the Abh are named after the 28 Chinese constellations. For example, Spaurh (Spool) is named after "Subaru" (昴, Pleiades), and Bibauth is named after "Miboshi" (箕, Sagittarius).

Beyblade (ベイブレード BeiburÄ“do) is a spinning top toy produced by Takara starting in 1999/7. ... Fushigi YÅ«gi (不思議遊戯 lit. ... Some of the characters and their Digimon from Adventure 02. ... YuYu Hakusho logo (English manga) YuYu Hakusho (幽★遊★白書 YūYū Hakusho, literally The Playful Ghost White Paper, meaning Ghost Files/Poltergeist Report) is a manga and anime series by Yoshihiro Togashi. ... Crest of the Stars (1999, Japanese: 星界の紋章 Seikai no Monshō) is an anime science fiction (space opera (some parts could classify as military science fiction/military space opera)) series based on a Japanese trilogy of science fiction novels of the same title, the first of which was published in 1996. ... Seikai no Senki (Battle Flag of the Stars), better known in English as Banner of the Stars, are a series of novels written by Morioka Hiroyuki which serve as the sequel for the Seikai no Monshō (Crest of the Stars) Trilogy. ... For information on the Hebrew month, see Ab. ... The Pleiades are an open cluster dominated by hot blue stars surrounded by reflection nebulosity The Pleiades (also known as M45 or the Seven Sisters) is an open cluster in the constellation of Taurus. ... Sagittarius ( , and Latin for Archer) is a constellation of the zodiac, commonly depicted as a centaur drawing a bow. ...

External links

• Chinese Zodiac Chart Find your Chinese Zodiac sign based on your date of birth.
• http://www.chinapage.com/astronomy/astronomy.html
• http://homepages.primex.co.uk/~sproston/sstar9.htm

See also

• lunar mansion
• Five elements (Chinese)