Azure Dragon (Chinese constellation)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Azure Dragon (Traditional Chinese: 青龍; Simplified Chinese: 青龙; pinyin: Qīng Lóng) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the Azure Dragon of the East (東方青龍), and it represents the east and the spring season. It should not be confused with the mythological yellow dragon (Huang long) that is associated with the Chinese Emperor.

The Chinese constellations were not only used by Chinese cartographers, they were also used by Korean and Japanese cartographers as well. In Japanese, the Azure Dragon is called Seiryuu, and it has been depicted in numerous Japanese comic books and animations. In Korean, it is called Cheong-ryong (청룡).

[edit] The Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon

Like the other Four Symbols, the Azure Dragon corresponds to seven "mansions", or positions, of the moon.

• Horn (Chinese: 角; pinyin: Jiăo)
• Neck (Chinese: 亢; pinyin: Kàng)
• Root (Chinese: 氐; pinyin: Dĭ)
• Room (Chinese: 房; pinyin: Fáng)
• Heart (Chinese: 心; pinyin: Xīn)
• Tail (Chinese: 尾; pinyin: Wěi)
• Winnowing Basket (Chinese: 箕; pinyin: Jī)

[edit] See also

• Azure (color)
• List of popular culture references to the Four Symbols

[edit] External links

• "Star Charts and Moon Stations"
• The Azure Dragon of the East

Chinese constellations
Three enclosures (三垣):
Purple Forbidden enclosure (紫微垣) | Supreme Palace enclosure (太微垣) | Heavenly Market enclosure (天市垣)
Four Symbols (四象) and Twenty-eight mansions (二十八宿):
East: Azure Dragon (青龍): Horn (角) | Neck (亢) | Root (氐) | Room (房) | Heart (心) | Tail (尾) | Winnowing Basket (箕)
South: Vermilion Bird (朱雀): Well (井) | Ghost (鬼) | Willow (柳) | Star (星) | Extended Net (張) | Wings (翼) | Chariot (軫)
West: White Tiger (白虎): Legs (奎) | Bond (婁) | Stomach (胃) | Hairy Head (昴) | Net (畢) | Turtle beak (觜) | Three stars (參)
North: Black Tortoise (玄武): Dipper (斗) | Ox (牛) | Girl (女) | Emptiness (虛) | Rooftop (危) | Encampment (室) | Wall (壁)