Nüchuang (女床)
Nǚ Chuáng (Women’s Bed, 女床) is a small asterism consisting of only three stars, located above Tiān Jì (Celestial Discipline) within the modern constellation Hercules. The asterism dates back to around 100 BCE and belongs to the Shi school.
Concordance, Etymology, History
The name Nüchuang literally means “the bed of a woman.” In celestial symbolism and astrological interpretation, it represents the imperial concubines and numerous palace maids of the inner court, or the chambers in which they resided. These attendants were believed to serve the empress and to remain prepared to be called by the emperor.
Identification of stars
The three-star asterism is rather noticeable, thus it remains unchanged through out more than 2 thousand years.
| Star Names or Orders(Qing) | Ho PENG YOKE[1] | Yi Shitong[2]
Based on catalogue in 18th century |
Pan Nai[3]
based on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map |
Pan Nai[4]
based on catalogues in Yuan dynasty |
SUN X. & J. Kistemaker[5]
Han Dynasty |
Boshun Yang[6]
before Tang dynasty |
Boshun Yang[6]
Song Jingyou(1034) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st （Determinative） | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her |
| 2nd | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her |
| 3rd | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her |
Maps (Gallery)
- Nüchuang
Nüchuang on Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido
Nüchuang on Suzhou Star Map
Nüchuang on 18th century star map
Star Name Discussion (IAU)
In 202x, the name of the historical constellation "xxx" was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. ...
Decision: ...
References
- ↑ P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” Vistas in Astronomy, 5(1962), 127-225.
- ↑ Yi Shitong伊世同. Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981: 56.
- ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. figure 55.
- ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. figure 6.3
- ↑ Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 B.-S. Yang杨伯顺, Zhongguo Chuantong Hengxing Guance Jingdu ji Xingguan Yanbian Yanjiu 中国传统恒星观测精度及星官演变研究 (A Research on the Accuracy of Chinese Traditional Star Observation and the Evolution of Constellations), PhD thesis, (Hefei: University of Science and Technology of China, 2023). 297-304.
