Shangcheng and Shaocheng: Difference between revisions

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Shangcheng and Shaocheng
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The  ''Shishi zan'' (Shi's Commentary, 石氏讚) records: “Within the Purple Palace are fifteen stars representing vassal ministers.” The star names—such as Shangcheng and Shaocheng and other “guard” designations—may have developed in reference to, or as elaborations upon, this passage.
The  ''Shishi zan'' (Shi's Commentary, 石氏讚) records: “Within the Purple Palace are fifteen stars representing vassal ministers.” The star names—such as Shangcheng and Shaocheng and other “guard” designations—may have developed in reference to, or as elaborations upon, this passage.


Each of the fifteen stars of the Purple Palace bears an individual name. However, those martial or defensive names are absent from pre-Tang sources and only became widespread from the mid-Tang period onward (8th century CE). Earlier texts employed a different nomenclature system (See Zigong (紫宮)), for example the northern gate stars were called Xingui and Shunguang rather than Shangcheng and Shaocheng.
Each of the fifteen stars of the Purple Palace bears an individual name. However, those martial or defensive names are absent from pre-Tang sources and only became widespread from the mid-Tang period onward (8th century CE). Earlier texts employed a different nomenclature system (See [[Zigong]] (紫宮)), for example the northern gate stars were called Xingui and Shunguang rather than Shangcheng and Shaocheng.


===Constellation & Star Name===
===Constellation & Star Name===
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==Images==
==Images==
<gallery widths="300" heights="300" caption="Zhou">
<gallery widths="300" heights="300" caption="Shangcheng & Shaocheng">
File:Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Suzhou Star Map.png|Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Suzhou Star Map
File:Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Suzhou Star Map.png|Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Suzhou Star Map
File:Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Xin yixiang fayao Star Map.jpg|Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Xin yixiang fayao Star Map
File:Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Xin yixiang fayao Star Map.jpg|Shangcheng and Shaocheng in Xin yixiang fayao Star Map
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[[Category:Chinese]]
[[Category:Chinese]]
[[Category:single star-asterism]]
[[Category:single star-asterism]]
[[Category:IAU-Star Name]]
[[Category:Cas]]
[[Category:Ser]]
[[Category:Cam]]
[[Category:Cep]]

<references />
<references />

Latest revision as of 07:19, 9 December 2025


Shàng Chéng (The Great Imperial Minister, 上丞)and Shào Chéng (The Second Imperial Minister, 少丞) are the two stars located to the left and right of the northern gate of the Zǐ Gōng (Purple Palace) / Zǐwēi Yuán (Purple Enclosure).


Etymology and History of the Name

The  Shishi zan (Shi's Commentary, 石氏讚) records: “Within the Purple Palace are fifteen stars representing vassal ministers.” The star names—such as Shangcheng and Shaocheng and other “guard” designations—may have developed in reference to, or as elaborations upon, this passage.

Each of the fifteen stars of the Purple Palace bears an individual name. However, those martial or defensive names are absent from pre-Tang sources and only became widespread from the mid-Tang period onward (8th century CE). Earlier texts employed a different nomenclature system (See Zigong (紫宮) (紫宮)), for example the northern gate stars were called Xingui and Shunguang rather than Shangcheng and Shaocheng.

Constellation & Star Name

See Zigong (紫宮) for better identification. It should also be noted that in historical star maps and textual records, the positions of Shangcheng and Shaocheng are occasionally reversed (like them in Xin yixiang fayao Star Map)—an inconsistency that persisted across several dynastic traditions.

Star Name Ho PENG YOKE[1] Yi Shitong[2]

Based on catalogue in 18th century

Pan Nai[3]

based on Huangyou Star Catalogue

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)

Shangcheng(上丞) or Xingui (信龜) BK Cam BK Cam HIP 14862 HIP 12273 HIP 25110 HIP 17862
Shaocheng(少丞) or Shunguang (順光) gamma Cep 23 Cas HIP 6522 21 Cas pi Cep HIP 92056 pi Cep

Images

IAU Working Group on Star Names

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

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: p. 56.
  3. Pan Nai [潘鼐]. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p. 226.
  4. Pan Nai [潘鼐]. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p. 443.
  5. Sun Xiaochun & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, pp. 241-6.
  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). p. 238.