Ziwei enclosure
Chinese historical constellation
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The Purple Forbidden enclosure (紫微垣 Zǐ wēi yuán) is one of the San Yuan (三垣 Sān yuán) or Three Enclosures.[1] Stars and constellations of this group lie near the north celestial pole[2] and are visible all year from temperate latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Asterisms
The asterisms are:[1]
| English name | Chinese name | Number of stars | Western Constellation | Additional notes | Representing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pole | 北極 | 5 | Ursa Minor / Camelopardalis | Consists of :
|
Five Star of North Pole |
| Four Advisors | 四輔 | 4 | Ursa Minor / Camelopardalis | Four assistants of ancient Emperor Chen | |
| Celestial Great One | 天乙 | 1 | Draco | One of the three gods of ancient legend | |
| First Great One | 太乙 | 1 | Draco | One of the three gods of ancient legend | |
| Left Wall | 紫微左垣 | 8 | Draco / Cepheus / Cassiopeia | Consists of :
|
Eight guardian stars in the left |
| Right Wall | 紫微右垣 | 7 | Ursa Major / Draco / Camelopardalis | Consists of :
|
Seven guardian stars in the right |
| Hidden Virtue | 陰德 | 2 | Draco | Hidden matters of the Emperor and prohibited to know | |
| Royal Secretary | 尚書 | 5 | Ursa Minor / Draco | The position of the royal | |
| Female Protocol | 女史 | 1 | Draco | Female officer for the Queen etiquette | |
| Official of Royal Archives | 柱史 | 1 | Draco | Officer which have responsibility to the historical record | |
| Maids-in-waiting | 御女 | 4 | Draco | Wives or concubines | |
| Celestial Pillar | 天柱 | 5 | Draco / Cepheus | Pillar of the local post decree, also responsible for supporting earth | |
| Chief Judge | 大理 | 2 | Camelopardalis | The hearing judge | |
| Curved Array | 勾陳 | 6 | Ursa Minor / Cepheus | Curved matters like a hook, in ancient times was regarded as the Yellow Emperor's harem or Princess of Heaven | |
| Six Jia | 六甲 | 6 | Camelopardalis / Cepheus | Attribution to match from the six decades | |
| Great Emperor of Heaven | 天皇大帝 | 1 | Cepheus | Emperor of Heaven | |
| Interior Seats of the Five Emperors | 五帝內座 | 5 | Cepheus / Cassiopeia | Five parties of the emperor of heaven | |
| Canopy of the Emperor | 華蓋 | 7 | Cassiopeia | Umbrella shelter used by the emperor | |
| Canopy Support | 杠 | 9 | Camelopardalis / Cassiopeia | The handle of canopy | |
| Guest House | 傳舍 | 9 | Camelopardalis / Cassiopeia / Cepheus | Welcome ancient premises | |
| Inner Steps | 內階 | 6 | Ursa Major | Ladder of Connection to the Purple Palace | |
| Celestial Kitchen | 天廚 | 6 | Draco | General officers kitchen | |
| Eight Kinds of Crops | 八穀 | 8 | Camelopardalis / Auriga | Eight kind of crops, refer to rice, millet, barley, wheat, soybean, bean, chestnut, hemp, or the land management officials | |
| Celestial Flail | 天棓 | 5 | Draco / Hercules | Agricultural device for threshing | |
| Inner Kitchen | 內廚 | 2 | Draco | Kitchen designed for the temple | |
| Administrative Center | 文昌 | 6 | Ursa Major | Six government departments or officials | |
| Three Top Instructors | 三師 | 3 | Ursa Major | ||
| Three Excellencies | 三公 | 3 | Canes Venatici | ||
| Celestial Bed | 天床 | 6 | Ursa Minor / Draco | Left child of the bed | |
| Royals | 太尊 | 1 | Ursa Major | Royal, or the royal ancestor | |
| Celestial Prison | 天牢 | 6 | Ursa Major | Aristocratic prison confinement | |
| Guard of the Sun | 太陽守 | 1 | Ursa Major | Minister or the general | |
| Eunuch | 勢 | 4 | Leo Minor | The eunuchs | |
| Prime Minister | 相 | 1 | Canes Venatici | The prime minister | |
| Sombre Lance | 玄戈 | 1 | Boötes | A weapon | |
| Judge for Nobility | 天理 | 4 | Ursa Major | Imprisonment in prison or magistrate noble | |
| Northern Dipper | 北斗 | 7 | Ursa Major | Consists of :
|
The Big Dipper |
| Assistant | 輔 | 1 | Ursa Major | Minister of the North Star (Fǔchú) | |
| Celestial Spear | 天槍 | 3 | Boötes | Weapon guard |
