Tusi

Tú Sì (屠肆, "Butcher's Shop") is a Chinese asterism consisting of two stars, established by the Wuxian (巫咸) school during the Han dynasty.

Contents

• 1Etymology and History
  • 1.1Identification of stars
  • 1.2Maps (Gallery)
• 2Star Name Discussion (IAU)
• 3References

Etymology and History source

In early China, tusi referred to butcher shops within marketplaces, where whole livestock—such as cattle, sheep, poultry, or aquatic animals—were purchased, slaughtered, and sold by portions. According to the Zhouli (周礼, Rites of Zhou), the hides, horns, tendons, and bones of some animals could be collected as a form of tax after butchering, whereas animals lacking these parts required a separate tax payment. Commentary from the Wuxian school further explains that the butcher's role involved both killing and cooking, serving delicacies to entertain guests. This suggests that some ancient butcher shops may have offered not only raw meat but also prepared foods. The Da Song Tianwen Shu (大宋天文书, Astronomical Treatise of the Great Song Dynasty) explicitly defines Tusi as responsible for “slaughter and culinary preparation” (主屠宰、庖馔), reinforcing the interpretation of this asterism as part of the celestial Tianshi (天市, “Heavenly Market”) system, representing food supply and preparation.

Identification of stars source

Tusi lies in close proximity to another Wuxian asterism, Bodu (帛度, “Textile Ruler”). Some divination texts and star charts place Tusi to the north (or northeast) of Bodu, aligned east–west; others describe it as lying east of Bodu, arranged north–south. In some star charts, the two are depicted together as a square formation. Because both asterisms are small and the diagrams often lack precision, minor shifts in their relative positions are common across sources.

Star Names or Orders(Qing)	Yi Shitong Based on catalogue in 18th century	Pan Nai based on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map	Pan Nai based on catalogues in Yuan dynasty	SUN X. & J. Kistemaker Han Dynasty	Boshun Yang before Tang dynasty	Boshun Yang Song Jingyou(1034)	Boshun Yang Song Huangyou(1052)
1st/Determinative	109 Her	95 Her	95 Her	95 Her	100 Her	87 Her	HIP 87777
2nd	98 Her	102 Her	102 Her	102 Her	89 Her	89 Her	98 Her

Maps (Gallery) source

historical map	modern identification (Yang 2023)	same in Stellarium 25.1
Tusi and Bodu on Cheonsang-yeolcha-bunya-jido	Tusi and Bodu reconstructed in Han dynasty based on the Chenzhuo Star Catalogue, identified by Boshun Yang (2023).	Tusi and Bodu reconstructed in Han dynasty based on the Chenzhuo Star Catalogue, mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Boshun Yang.
Tusi and Bodu on Dunhuang Star Map
Tusi and Bodu on Geziyuejintu	Tusi and Bodu based on the Jingyou Star Catalogue in Song Dynasty (1034), identified by Boshun Yang (2023).	Tusi and Bodu based on the Jingyou Star Catalogue in Song Dynasty (1034),mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Boshun Yang.
Tusi and Bodu on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map (1080s)	Tusi and Bodu based on the Huangyou Star Catalogue(1052), identified by Boshun Yang (2023).	Tusi and Bodu based on the Huangyou Star Catalogue(1052), mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Boshun Yang.
Tusi and Bodu on Suzhou Star Map (1247)
	Tusi and Bodu reconstructed by Yang based on Tianwen huichao star catalogue(1360s), identified by Boshun Yang (2023).	Tusi and Bodu Stellarium in Yuan (1363),based on the Tianwen Huichao Star Catalogue, mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Boshun Yang (2023).
Tusi and Bodu on Jianjie zongxing tu (1630s)		Tusi and Bodu based on catalogues in Qing Dynasty (China), identified by Yi Shitong(1981), mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Shuwei Sun.

Star Name Discussion (IAU) source

In 202x, the name of the historical constellation "xxx" was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. ...

Decision: ...

References source

References (Chinese)