Junnanmen: Difference between revisions

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The name ''Junnanmen'' refers to the southern gate of a military encampment. This asterism originated within the Gan School (甘氏) tradition of astronomy and can be traced back at least to the 1st century BCE. Although the original ''Ganshi xingjing'' (甘氏星经, “Star Canon of the Gan School”) has not survived in full, portions of its content are preserved through quotations in other works—such as the ''Sanjia xingjing'' (三家星经, “Three Schools Star Canon”) attributed to Chen Zhuo (陈卓), and the early 8th-century ''Kaiyuan zhanjing'' (开元占经).
The name ''Junnanmen'' refers to the southern gate of a military encampment. This asterism originated within the Gan School (甘氏) tradition of astronomy and can be traced back at least to the 1st century BCE. Although the original ''Ganshi xingjing'' (甘氏星经, “Star Canon of the Gan School”) has not survived in full, portions of its content are preserved through quotations in other works—such as the ''Sanjia xingjing'' (三家星经, “Three Schools Star Canon”) attributed to Chen Zhuo (陈卓), and the early 8th-century ''Kaiyuan zhanjing'' (开元占经).


However, the location of ''Junnanmen'' varies across these sources. Some descriptions place it northwest of ''Tian (Da)jiangjun'' (天(大)将军, “(Grand) General of Heaven”) and north of ''Kui'' (奎); others position it northwest of ''Tian Jiangjun'' but east of ''Kui''; and still others record it as lying west (or southwest) of ''Tian Jiangjun'' and north of ''Kui''. These discrepancies likely stem from the shifting positional attributions of ''Tian Jiangjun'' itself. At the very least, two distinct configurations of ''Junnanmen'' can be identified, as illustrated below.
However, the location of ''Junnanmen'' varies across these sources. Some descriptions place it northwest of ''[https://xing.fmi.uni-jena.de/mediawiki/index.php/Tiandajiangjun Tian Dajiangjun]'' (天大将军, “Grand General of Heaven”) and north of ''[[Kui]]''; others position it northwest of ''Tian Jiangjun'' but east of ''Kui''; and still others record it as lying west (or southwest) of ''Tian Jiangjun'' and north of ''Kui''. These discrepancies likely stem from the shifting positional attributions of ''Tian Jiangjun'' itself. At the very least, two distinct configurations of ''Junnanmen'' can be identified, as illustrated below.


Due to the fragmentary nature and internal inconsistencies of the sources, it is difficult to determine which of the two configurations is earlier. Based purely on the relative chronology of the textual materials, the northern configuration appears to be older. However, the ''Kaiyuan zhanjing'', quoting the ''Ganshi xingjing'' text, states: “''Junnanmen'' is a single star, located southwest of ''Tianjiangjun''—it is the southern gate of the ''dajiangjun'' (大将军, ‘Grand General’).” Semantically, this would place ''Junnanmen'' to the south of the asterism symbolizing the military camp—namely, ''dajiangjun''. Yet it remains unclear whether this line reflects the original wording of the Ganshi text or a Tang dynasty reinterpretation.
Due to the fragmentary nature and internal inconsistencies of the sources, it is difficult to determine which of the two configurations is earlier. Based purely on the relative chronology of the textual materials, the northern configuration appears to be older. However, the ''Kaiyuan zhanjing'', quoting the ''Ganshi xingjing'' text, states: “''Junnanmen'' is a single star, located southwest of ''Tianjiangjun''—it is the southern gate of the ''dajiangjun'' (大将军, ‘Grand General’).” Semantically, this would place ''Junnanmen'' to the south of the asterism symbolizing the military camp—namely, ''dajiangjun''. Yet it remains unclear whether this line reflects the original wording of the Ganshi text or a Tang dynasty reinterpretation.
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!Star Name
!Star Name
!Ho PENG YOKE<ref>P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” ''Vistas in Astronomy'', 5(1962), 127-225.</ref>
!Ho PENG YOKE<ref>P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” ''Vistas in Astronomy'', 5(1962), 127-225.</ref>
!Yi Shitong<ref>Yi Shitong伊世同. ''Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao''中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981: 56.</ref>
!Yi Shitong<ref>Yi Shitong伊世同. ''Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao''中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981: 81.</ref>
Based on catalogue in 18th century
Based on catalogue in 18th century
!Pan Nai<ref name=":0">Pan Nai潘鼐. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi''中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p226.</ref>
!Pan Nai<ref name=":0">Pan Nai潘鼐. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi''中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p301.</ref>
based on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map
based on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map
!Pan Nai<ref>Pan Nai潘鼐. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi''中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p443.</ref>
!Pan Nai<ref>Pan Nai潘鼐. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi''中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p436.</ref>
based on catalogues in Yuan dynasty
based on catalogues in Yuan dynasty
!SUN X. & J. Kistemaker<ref>Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. ''The Chinese sky during the Han''. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.</ref>
!SUN X. & J. Kistemaker<ref>Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. ''The Chinese sky during the Han''. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.</ref>
Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":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). 261.</ref>
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":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). 275</ref>
before Tang dynasty
before Tang dynasty
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":1" />
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":1" />
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[[Category:East Asian]]
[[Category:East Asian]]
[[Category:Chinese ]]
[[Category:Chinese ]]
[[Category:And]][[Category:Tri]]

Latest revision as of 09:50, 8 June 2025


Jūn Nán Mén (軍南門, "Southern Millitary Gate") is a Chinese constellation, simplified: Junnanmen. It is the name of a Chinese single-star asterism. Although some historical sources describe it as comprising two stars, this is likely due to confusion with another two-star asterism, Junmen (军门, “Millitary Gate”).

Etymology and History

The name Junnanmen refers to the southern gate of a military encampment. This asterism originated within the Gan School (甘氏) tradition of astronomy and can be traced back at least to the 1st century BCE. Although the original Ganshi xingjing (甘氏星经, “Star Canon of the Gan School”) has not survived in full, portions of its content are preserved through quotations in other works—such as the Sanjia xingjing (三家星经, “Three Schools Star Canon”) attributed to Chen Zhuo (陈卓), and the early 8th-century Kaiyuan zhanjing (开元占经).

However, the location of Junnanmen varies across these sources. Some descriptions place it northwest of Tian Dajiangjun (天大将军, “Grand General of Heaven”) and north of Kui (奎); others position it northwest of Tian Jiangjun but east of Kui; and still others record it as lying west (or southwest) of Tian Jiangjun and north of Kui. These discrepancies likely stem from the shifting positional attributions of Tian Jiangjun itself. At the very least, two distinct configurations of Junnanmen can be identified, as illustrated below.

Due to the fragmentary nature and internal inconsistencies of the sources, it is difficult to determine which of the two configurations is earlier. Based purely on the relative chronology of the textual materials, the northern configuration appears to be older. However, the Kaiyuan zhanjing, quoting the Ganshi xingjing text, states: “Junnanmen is a single star, located southwest of Tianjiangjun—it is the southern gate of the dajiangjun (大将军, ‘Grand General’).” Semantically, this would place Junnanmen to the south of the asterism symbolizing the military camp—namely, dajiangjun. Yet it remains unclear whether this line reflects the original wording of the Ganshi text or a Tang dynasty reinterpretation.

Therefore, it is difficult to determine which configuration of Jun Nanmen best represents the Han dynasty tradition. Nonetheless, it is plausible that the first configuration corresponds to a version in circulation before the 8th century, while the second was standardized thereafter.


Development in the Ming Dynasty

By the Ming dynasty, astronomical observation had largely ceased, and star charts from this period are rife with copying errors. Many Ming-era maps once again placed Junnanmen northwest of Tian Dajiangjun and north of Kui, perpetuating earlier mistakes. During the late Ming calendar reform, European missionaries redefined the Chinese celestial system based on existing star maps—unfortunately, adopting the erroneous placement found in these charts. This configuration was subsequently transmitted into Qing dynasty astronomical tradition.

Ironically, the stars selected by the Jesuits coincided with the earlier version of Junnanmen from over a thousand years before.

Identification of stars

Star Name 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)

Junnanmen phi And phi And alpha Tri alpha Tri alpha Tri phi And alpha Tri

Maps (Gallery)

historical map modern identification

(Yang 2023)

same in Stellarium 24.4
Junnanmen, Tiandajiangjun and Kui on Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido
Junnanmen, Tiandajiangjun and Kui between Han and Tang Dynasty based on the Three School Star Canon and Cheonsang Yeocha Bunyajido, identified by Boshun Yang (2023).
Junnanmen, Tiandajiangjun and Kui between Han and Tang Dynasty based on the Three School Star Canon and Cheonsang Yeocha Bunyajido, mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Boshun Yang (2023).
Junnanmen and Tiandajiangjun on Geziyuejintu
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui on Suzhou Star Map
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui as drawn on the Suzhou map in Song Dynasty (China), identified by Boshun Yang (2023).
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui as drawn on the Suzhou map in Song Dynasty (China), mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Boshun Yang (2023).
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui on Changshu Star Map (1506)
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui on Haotianchengxiangtu(1530s)
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui on Silk Star Maps in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui on Chidao nanbei liang zong xiangtu in 1630s (by European Jesuits)
Junnanmen, Tiandajiangjun and Kui based on star catalogues in mid-Qing Dynasty, reconstructed by Yi Shitong (1981).
Junnanmen, Tian Dajiangjun and Kui as drawn on the Suzhou map in Song Dynasty (China), mapped in Stellarium 2025 by Shuwei Sun.


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

References (Chinese)

  1. ↑ P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” Vistas in Astronomy, 5(1962), 127-225.
  2. ↑ Yi Shitong伊世同. Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981: 81.
  3. ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p301.
  4. ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p436.
  5. ↑ Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.
  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). 275
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