Vermilion Bird (Chinese constellation)
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The Vermilion Bird (Chinese: 朱雀; pinyin: Zhū Què) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the Vermilion Bird of the South (南方朱雀), and it represents the south and the summer season. It is often mistaken for Fenghuang, but they are two different creatures. Fenghuang is the king of birds, while the Vermilion Bird is a mythological spirit creature of the Chinese constellations.
The Chinese constellations were not only used by Chinese cartographers, they were also used by Korean and Japanese cartographers as well. In Japanese, the Vermilion Bird is called Suzaku, and it has been depicted in numerous Japanese comic books and animations. In Korean, it is called Ju-jak (주작).
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[edit] The Seven Mansions of the Vermilion Bird
- Well (Chinese: 井; pinyin: Jǐng)
- Ghost (Chinese: 鬼; pinyin: Guǐ)
- Willow (Chinese: 柳; pinyin: Liǔ)
- Star (Chinese: 星; pinyin: Xīng)
- Extended Net (Chinese: 張; pinyin: Zhāng)
- Wings (Chinese: 翼; pinyin: Yì)
- Chariot (Chinese: 軫; pinyin: Zhěn)
[edit] Nature of The Vermilion Bird
The Vermilion Bird is an elegant and noble bird in both appearance and behaviour, it is very selective in what it eats and where it perches, with its feathers in many different hues of reddish orange.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| 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) |
