The Purple Forbidden enclosure ( Zǐ wēi yuán) is one of the San Yuan ( Sān yuán) or Three Enclosures. Stars and constellations of this group lie near the north celestial pole and are visible all year from temperate latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Asterisms
The asterisms are:
English name Chinese name Number of stars Western Constellation Additional notes Representing Northern Pole 5 Ursa Minor / CamelopardalisConsists of : The Crown Prince () → 1st star The Emperor () → 2nd star The Son of Concubine () → 3rd star The Concubine () → 4th star The Celestial Pivot () → 5th starFive Star of North Pole Four Advisors 4 Ursa Minor / CamelopardalisFour assistants of ancient Emperor Chen 1 DracoOne of the three gods of ancient legend 1 DracoOne of the three gods of ancient legend Left Wall 8 Draco / Cepheus / CassiopeiaConsists of : The Left Pivot () → 1st star The First Premier () → 2nd star The Second Premier () → 3rd star The First Minister () → 4th star The Second Minister () → 5th star The First Imperial Guard () → 6th star The Second Imperial Guard () → 7th star The Second Prime Minister () → 8th starEight guardian stars in the left Right Wall 7 Ursa Major / Draco / CamelopardalisConsists of : The Right Pivot () → 1st star The Second Chief Judge () → 2nd star The First Minister () → 3rd star The Second Minister () → 4th star The First imperial Guard () → 5th star The Second Imperial Guard () → 6th star The First Prime Minister () → 7th starSeven guardian stars in the right Hidden Virtue 2 DracoHidden matters of the Emperor and prohibited to know Royal Secretary 5 Ursa Minor / DracoThe position of the royal Female Protocol 1 DracoFemale officer for the Queen etiquette Official of Royal Archives 1 DracoOfficer which have responsibility to the historical record Maids-in-waiting 4 DracoWives or concubines Celestial Pillar 5 Draco / CepheusPillar of the local post decree, also responsible for supporting earth Chief Judge 2 CamelopardalisThe hearing judge 6 Ursa Minor / CepheusCurved matters like a hook, in ancient times was regarded as the Yellow Emperor's harem or Princess of Heaven Six Jia 6 Camelopardalis / Cepheus Attribution to match from the six decades Great Emperor of Heaven 1 CepheusEmperor of Heaven Interior Seats of the Five Emperors 5 Cepheus / CassiopeiaFive parties of the emperor of heaven Canopy of the Emperor 7 CassiopeiaUmbrella shelter used by the emperor Canopy Support 9 Camelopardalis / CassiopeiaThe handle of canopy Guest House 9 Camelopardalis / Cassiopeia / CepheusWelcome ancient premises Inner Steps 6 Ursa MajorLadder of Connection to the Purple Palace Celestial Kitchen 6 DracoGeneral officers kitchen Eight Kinds of Crops 8 Camelopardalis / Auriga Eight kind of crops, refer to rice, millet, barley, wheat, soybean, bean, chestnut, hemp, or the land management officials Celestial Flail 5 Draco / HerculesAgricultural device for threshing Inner Kitchen 2 DracoKitchen designed for the temple Administrative Center 6 Ursa MajorSix government departments or officials Three Top Instructors 3 Ursa Major Three Excellencies 3 Canes Venatici Celestial Bed 6 Ursa Minor / DracoLeft child of the bed Royals 1 Ursa MajorRoyal, or the royal ancestor Celestial Prison 6 Ursa MajorAristocratic prison confinement Guard of the Sun 1 Ursa MajorMinister or the general Eunuch 4 Leo Minor The eunuchs Prime Minister 1 Canes VenaticiThe prime minister Sombre Lance 1 BoötesA weapon Judge for Nobility 4 Ursa MajorImprisonment in prison or magistrate noble Northern Dipper 7 Ursa MajorConsists of : The Celestial Pivot () → 1st star The Celestial Rotating Jade () → 2nd star The Celestial Shining Pearl () → 3rd star The Celestial Balance () → 4th star The Jade Sighting-Tube () → 5th star The Opener of Heat () → 6th star The Twinkling Brilliance () → 7th starThe Big Dipper Assistant 1 Ursa MajorMinister of the North Star (Fǔchú) Celestial Spear 3 BoötesWeapon guard
See also Twenty-Eight Mansions
References