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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Langwei (郎位)}}
Chinese constellation in Coma Berenices.
[[File:Langwei Reconstructed-.jpg|thumb]]Chinese constellation in Coma Berenices.

__FORCETOC__


== Etymology and History ==
== Etymology and History ==
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== Identification of stars ==
== Identification of stars ==
This constellation roughly corresponds to the Coma Star Cluster. It is very prominent in the sky, which is why it was noticed by ancient Chinese astronomers early on. Both Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" (Tianguan Shu) and the Shi School's ''Xing Jing'' (''Star Canon'') mentioned Langwei, describing it as consisting of 15 stars. However, due to the dense star population in that area, identifying which specific 15 stars this constellation consists of can be challenging. However, in the star catalog of the Shi School of the Western Han dynasty, Lam Com was identified as the key star of this constellation. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, this star was also referred to as "Big Star on the Head" or "Northern Star," thus, it can be considered that Lam Com has consistently been recognized as the northernmost star of this constellation. In the Song dynasty, 7 Com was called the "Southwest Star." Therefore, under the premise that this constellation did not change throughout ancient times, Boshun Yang conducted a comprehensive comparison of historical star catalog data to reconstruct this constellation consistent with measurements from various eras.
This constellation roughly corresponds to the Coma Star Cluster. It is very prominent in the sky, which is why it was noticed by ancient Chinese astronomers early on. Both Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" (Tianguan Shu) and the Shi School's ''Xing Jing'' (''Star Canon'') mentioned Langwei, describing it as consisting of 15 stars. However, due to the dense star population in that area, identifying which specific 15 stars this constellation consists of can be challenging. However, in the star catalog of the Shi School of the Western Han dynasty, gam Com was identified as the key star of this constellation. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, this star was also referred to as "Big Star on the Head" or "Northern Star," thus, it can be considered that gam Com has consistently been recognized as the northernmost star of this constellation. In the Song dynasty, 7 Com was called the "Southwest Star." Therefore, under the premise that this constellation did not change throughout ancient times, Boshun Yang conducted a comprehensive comparison of historical star catalog data to reconstruct this constellation consistent with measurements from various eras.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Star Names or Orders(Qing)
!Star Names or Orders(Qing)
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|Northern Star (determinative star, 1st)
|Northern Star (determinative star, 1st)
|Com
|Com
|lam Com
|gam Com
|lam Com
|gam Com
|HIP 60018
|HIP 60018
|lam Com
|gam Com
|lam Com
|gam Com
|-
|-
|2nd
|2nd
Line 30: Line 33:
|14 Com
|14 Com
|Com
|Com
|lam Com
|gam Com
|14 Com
|14 Com
|14 Com
|14 Com
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== Images ==
== Images ==
<gallery widths="240" heights="240" caption="Langwei">
<gallery widths="240" heights="240" caption="Langwei">
File:Langwei 天象列次分野之图2.jpg|Langwei on the ''Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido''
File:Langwei-tianxinaglieci.jpg|Langwei on the ''Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido''
File:Langwei 格子月进图.jpg|Langwei on the ''Gezi Yuejin Tu'' (Tang dynasty)
File:Langwei 格子月进图.jpg|Langwei on the ''Gezi Yuejin Tu'' (Tang dynasty)
File:Langwei.jpg|Langwei on Suzhou star map
File:Langwei-suzhou.jpg|Langwei on Suzhou star map
File:Langwei 新仪象法要图.jpg|Langwei on Xinyixiangfayao star map
File:Langwei 新仪象法要图.jpg|Langwei on Xinyixiangfayao star map
File:Langwei Reconstructed.jpg|Langwei reconstructed according to Boshun Yang
File:Langwei Reconstructed-.jpg|Langwei Reconstructed by Boshun Yang
</gallery><references />
</gallery>

== References ==
[[References (Chinese)]]<references />

[[Category:Asterism ]]
[[Category:Constellation ]]
[[Category:Eurasia]]
[[Category:East Asian]]
[[Category:Chinese ]]

Latest revision as of 18:26, 2 August 2024

Langwei Reconstructed-.jpg

Chinese constellation in Coma Berenices.


Etymology and History

Langwei郎位 (Láng Wèi, Officers of the Imperial Guard) refers to a constellation in the sky composed of 15 stars, located to the northeast of the 五帝座 (Wǔ Dì Zuò, Thrones of the Five Emperors) within the Supreme Palace Enclosure (太微垣, Tài Wēi Yuán). This asterism belongs to the Shi School and is depicted in red on ancient Chinese celestial globes and maps. The main duty of Lang officials was to guard and protect. Ancient Chinese believed that the state of the Langwei constellation was closely related to earthly governance and palace affairs. If these stars were not complete, the empress would die, and favored ministers would be executed. If these stars were bright and large or guest stars (meteors or comets) entered this constellation, it signified that ministers would cause rebellion.

Identification of stars

This constellation roughly corresponds to the Coma Star Cluster. It is very prominent in the sky, which is why it was noticed by ancient Chinese astronomers early on. Both Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" (Tianguan Shu) and the Shi School's Xing Jing (Star Canon) mentioned Langwei, describing it as consisting of 15 stars. However, due to the dense star population in that area, identifying which specific 15 stars this constellation consists of can be challenging. However, in the star catalog of the Shi School of the Western Han dynasty, gam Com was identified as the key star of this constellation. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, this star was also referred to as "Big Star on the Head" or "Northern Star," thus, it can be considered that gam Com has consistently been recognized as the northernmost star of this constellation. In the Song dynasty, 7 Com was called the "Southwest Star." Therefore, under the premise that this constellation did not change throughout ancient times, Boshun Yang conducted a comprehensive comparison of historical star catalog data to reconstruct this constellation consistent with measurements from various eras.

Star Names or Orders(Qing) Rufus and Tien

Suzhou map[1]

Ho PENG YOKE[2] Yi Shitong[3] Pan Nai[4]

based on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map

SUN X. & J. Kistemaker[5]

Han Dynasty

Boshun Yang[6]
Northern Star (determinative star, 1st) Com gam Com gam Com HIP 60018 gam Com gam Com
2nd Com 14 Com Com gam Com 14 Com 14 Com
3rd Com 16 Com 14 Com HIP 59923 16 Com 16 Com
4th Com HIP 60197 16 Com 14 Com 13 Com HIP 60170
5th Com HIP 60170 17 Com 9 Com 17 Com 17 Com
6th Com 13 Com 13 Com HIP 59489 12 Com 13 Com
7th Com 12 Com 12 Com 16 Com 21 Com 12 Com
8th Com HIP 60168 21 Com HIP 60170 18 Com HIP 60168
9th Com 17 Com 18 Com HIP 59364 7 Com HIP 60066
10th Com HIP 60525 7 Com HIP 60880 23 Com 21 Com
11rst Com 22 Com 23 Com 17 Com HIP 61420 HIP 60327
12nd Com 21 Com 26 Com 13 Com 26 Com 22 Com
13rd Com 18 Com 20 Com 12 Com 18 Com
14th Com HIP 60599 5 Com HIP 60168 HIP 60599
Southwest Star (15th) Com 7 Com 2 Com 4 Com 2 Com 7 Com

Images

References

References (Chinese)

  1. Rufus. W. C., Hsing-chin Tien. The Soochow Astronomical Chart. Ann Arbor: University of Michegan Press. 1945, Pp23-24.
  2. P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” Vistas in Astronomy, 5(1962), 127-225.
  3. Yi Shitong伊世同. Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981: 25-26.
  4. Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p222.
  5. Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.
  6. 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). Pp. 244-45.