Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise in Chinese Astrology — Lunar Mansions and Their Constellation Meanings

In Chinese Astrology, surrounding Ecliptic and the Equator, The Twenty-eight Lunar Mansions are divided into four groups led by Four Symbols: Azure Dragon of the East, Black Tortoise of the North, White Tiger of the West, and Vermilion Bird of the South.

Combined with Chinese Mythology, Yin Yang, and Five Elements theories, every mansion is represented by an animal and guarded by a deity.

Lunar Mansions in Azure Dragon of the East

Stars in the east section look like a dragon and are divided into seven mansions that present a dragon's horn, neck, chest, abdomen, heart, tail, and winnowing.

Constellations of the Azure Dragon of the East, Picture from Xu Gang

Horn Constellation or Horn Wood Scaly Dragon

The Ecliptic, the orbit of movement of the Seven Celestial Beings goes through two main stars of the mansion, which is named the Horn Constellation.

Hence, they are two doors of heaven responsible for disseminating the emperor's reputation and the beginning of spring.

People of Horn Wood Scaly Dragon Mansion are sincere, fortunate, organized, and determined, but also possible to become self-centered, stubborn, and impulsive.

Their strong minds could help them conquer negative encounters. They will likely experience some unpleasant setbacks in the early years, but good luck will come in the middle age era, and everything will be settled.

Painted Sculpture of Horn Wood Scaly Dragon Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Painted Sculpture of Horn Wood Scaly Dragon Deity of Yuan Dynasty (1271 — 1368) — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Neck Constellation or Neck Gold Dragon

Neck Constellation is the essence of the Azure Dragon, guarded by the god of wind.

The stars of this mansion are in charge of etiquette and health.

The people of Neck Gold Dragon Mansion are good leaders, persuasive, insightful, elegant, helpful, prideful, and impulsive.

Many of them might be too discreet in their love life.

Self-discipline, diligence in the early years, and balance of mind and activity could guarantee a stable, wealthy life.

Painted Sculpture of Neck Gold Dragon Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Root Constellation or Root Earth Raccoon Dog

Room Constellaion is also named the Root of Heaven, which is in charge of imperial women.

The people of Root Earth Raccoon Dog are savvy strategists, easygoing, ambitious, insightful, and impatient.

They are quite possible to get help from elders and achieve success.

However, the rebellious spirit inside and the extreme pursuit of freedom may cause instability, even setbacks in their late years.

Painted Sculpture of Root Earth Raccoon Dog Mansion Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Room Constellation or Room Solar Rabbit

Room Constellaion is the abdomen of the Azure Dragon, where everything dissolves.

In some records, it's also the place where the Great Emperor of Heaven issues policies.

People of Room Solar Rabbit Mansion are fortunate, likely to be successful or wealthy, and they can quickly meet significant benefactors to help them.

They are open, straightforward, observant, and good-looking, but also easy to be capricious.

Hence, being down-to-earth, modest, and caring would benefit one's career and love life.

Painted Sculpture of Room Solar Rabbit Mansion Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Heart Constellation or Heart Lunar Fox

Heart Constellation is also named the Fire of Heaven.

The fox guarding this mansion is believed it can bring people romantic relationships; hence, it is also the mansion of love.

In some folklore, Wu Zetian (624 — 705), the only female emperor in the history of China, was the incarnation of the Heart Lunar Fox.

When Mars moved to and lingered around the main star of this mansion (Antares), it was an omen of big disasters on earth in ancient Chinese Astrology.

The people of Heart Lunar Fox Mansion are diligent, righteous, strong-willed, intelligent, active, and suspicious.

They possibly have dual characteristics, but most are optimistic and straightforward people.

Many of them would leave their hometown and settle in other places; the hard work and talent will bring them good lives and happy families.

Painted Sculpture of Heart Lunar Fox Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Tail Constellation or Tail Fire Tiger

Tail Constellation represents the tail of the Azure Dragon.

The people of Tail Fire Tiger Mansion are discreet, competitive, fortunate, stubborn, and rational in their love life.

If they stay modest and down-to-earth, pay attention to self-cultivation, and get helpful advice from outside, they would be easier to obtain happy lives.

Painted Sculpture of Tail Fire Tiger Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Winnowing-basket Constellation or Winnowing-basket Water Leopard

Winnowing-basket Constellation is the whirlwind caused by the wing of the Azure Dragon's tail.

When the main stars of this mansion are incredibly bright, it usually predicts the rising of big wind on earth.

People of Winnowing-basket Water Leopard Mansion are brave, intelligent, straightforward, and sometimes might be hedonistic or rough.

They may experience many ups and downs but can always stay optimistic and strong.

Besides, being cooperative, caring, and focus would make life easier and more successful.

Painted Sculpture of Winnowing-basket Water Leopard Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Lunar Mansions in Black Tortoise of the North

Stars in the north section formed Xuan Wu, a snake-turtle combined mythical creature in Chinese mythology.

Constellations of the Black Tortoise of the North, Picture from Xu Gang

Dipper Constellation or Dipper Wood Xie

The main stars of Dipper Constellation are shaped like a dipper and are believed to correspond to the emperor.

Xie is a mythical animal that looks like a black lion with a horn, who would attack the injustice side during a fight.

Hence, Xie is representative of justice and law.

The people of Dipper Wood Xie Mansion are creative, emotional, talented, competitive, ambitious, jealous, and sometimes easily misunderstood by others.

They are likely to fight and win in challenging situations, and good relationships with others would contribute to more considerable success.

Painted Sculpture of Dipper Wood Xie Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Ox Constellation or Ox Gold Cattle

Ox Constellation's stars look like ox horns and are responsible for worship and sacrifice ceremonies.

Stars of Couple of the Double Seventh Festival, Cowherd, and Celestial Princess are in this mansion.

The Ox Gold Cattle Mansion people are energetic, competitive, down-to-earth, hard-working, and have a strong sense of self-esteem, but not quite good at expressing themselves.

Painted Sculpture of Ox Gold Cattle Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Girl Constellation or Girl Earth Bat

Stars in the Girl Constellation form a sign that looks like "'girl" in Chinese and are in charge of the fabric, treasure, jewelry, and marriage.

People of Girl Earth Bat Mansion are agile, helpful, diligent, and hard-working; sometimes might be too straightforward or insensitive.

Painted Sculpture of Girl Earth Bat Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Emptiness Constellation or Emptiness Solar Rat

Emptiness Constellation is where the emperor deals with issues of the nether world, in which stars are in charge of death, sacrifice, worship, and grave.

People of Emptiness Solar Rat Mansion are curious, superstitious, persistent, fortunate, talented, romantic, and argumentative.

Painted Sculpture of Emptiness Solar Rat Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Rooftop Constellation or Rooftop Lunar Swallow

The rooftop implies tall and dangerous; besides, this mansion's stars are usually not very bright. Hence, it is not a very auspicious mansion.

People of Rooftop Lunar Swallow Mansion are irritable, strong, observant, rebellious, and maybe extremely good or bad.

They can experience many ups and downs, and only being hardworking, sticking to good faiths, and being serious about family and marriage could lead to a wealthy, stable life.

Painted Sculpture of Rooftop Lunar Swallow Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Encampment Constellation or Encampment Fire Pig

The stars of Encampment Constellation look like a house and are in charge of construction and provisions.

Fomalhaut, the brightest star of this mansion, is a brave general, leading soldiers and guarding the north.

The people of Encampment Fire Pig Mansion are strong, aggressive, bold, ambitious, indiscreet, and insensitive.

Painted Sculpture of Encampment Fire Pig Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province

Wall Constellation or Wall Water Yu

Wall Constellation is the library of heaven, the mansion that represents literature.

People of Wall Water Fish Mansion are calm, discreet, considerate, responsible, and independent; sometimes are unsocial, stubborn, and might be over-rational in love life.

Painted Sculpture of Wall Water Fish Deity of Yuan Dynasty — Jade Emperor Temple of Shanxi Province