Twenty-eight mansions

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Twenty-eight mansions (Chinese: 二十八宿; pinyin: Èr Shí Bā Xiù) are 28 mansions in Chinese astronomy.

[edit] Introduction

Chinese skywatchers divided the sky ecliptic into four regions, each assigned with an animal, they are Azure Dragon (青龍) on the east, Black Tortoise (玄武) on the north, White Tiger (白虎) on the west, and Vermilion Bird (朱雀) on the south. Each region contains seven mansions, making 28 mansions in total, called twenty-eight mansions. The mansions or xiù are latitudes the Moon crosses during its monthy journey around Earth and serve as a way to track the Moon's progress.

A similar system is used in Hindu astronomy.

[edit] See also

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)