Chinese star names (Chinese: , xīng míng) are named according to ancient Chinese astronomy and astrology. The sky is divided into star mansions (, xīng xiù, also translated as "lodges") and asterisms (, xīng guān). The ecliptic is divided into four sectors that are associated with the Four Symbols, guardians in Chinese mythology, and further into 28 mansions. Stars around the north celestial pole are grouped into three enclosures (, yuán). The system of 283 asterisms under the Three Enclosures and Twenty-Eight Mansions was established by Chen Zhuo of the Three Kingdoms period, who synthesized ancient constellations and the asterisms created by early astronomers Shi Shen, Gan De and Wuxian. Since the Han and Jin dynasties, stars have been given reference numbers within their asterisms in a system similar to the Bayer or Flamsteed designations, so that individual stars can be identified. For example, Deneb (α Cyg) is referred to as (Tiān Jīn Sì, the Fourth Star of Celestial Ford).

In the Qing dynasty, Chinese knowledge of the sky was improved by the arrival of European star charts. Yixiang Kaocheng, compiled in mid-18th century by then deputy Minister of Rites Ignaz Kögler, expanded the star catalogue to more than 3000 stars. The newly added stars (, zēng xīng) were named as (zēng yī, 1st added star), (zēng èr, 2nd added star) etc. For example, γ Cephei is referred to as (Shào Wèi Zēng Bā, 8th Added Star of Second Imperial Guard). Some stars may have been assigned more than one name due to the inaccuracies of traditional star charts.

While there is little disagreement on the correspondence between traditional Chinese and Western star names for brighter stars, many asterisms, in particular those originally from Gan De, were created primarily for astrological purposes and can only be mapped to very dim stars. The first attempt to fully map the Chinese constellations was made by Paul Tsuchihashi in late 19th century. In 1981, based on Yixiang Kaocheng and Yixiang Kaocheng Xubian, the first complete map of Chinese stars and constellations was published by Yi Shitong (伊世同).

The list is based on Atlas Comparing Chinese and Western Star Maps and Catalogues by Yi Shitong (1981) and Star Charts in Ancient China by Chen Meidong (1996). In a few cases, meanings of the names are vague due to their antiquity. In this article, the translation by Hong Kong Space Museum is used.

Three Enclosures Purple Forbidden Enclosure The Purple Forbidden Enclosure ( Zǐ Wēi Yuán) occupies the region around the north celestial pole and represents the imperial palace. It corresponds to constellations Auriga, Boötes, Camelopardalis, Canes Venatici, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Hercules, Leo Minor, Lynx, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor.

Asterism123456789Note北極 (Běi Jí, North Pole)太子 (Tài Zǐ, Crown Prince) γ UMi (Pherkad)帝 (Dì, Emperor) β UMi (Kochab)庶子 (Shù Zǐ, Son of Concubine) 5 UMi後宮 (Hòu Gōng, Imperial Harem) 4 UMi天樞 (Tiān Shū, Celestial Pivot) HIP 62561 四輔 (Sì Fǔ, Four Advisors)UnclearHIP 51384HIP 51502Unclear 勾陳 (Gōu Chén, Curved Array)α UMi (Polaris)δ UMi (Yildun)ε UMiζ UMi (Akhfa al Farkadain)2 UMi (Tarandus)HIP 113116 天皇大帝 (Tiān Huáng Dà Dì, Great Emperor of Heaven)HIP 109693Polaris is another possible identity of this star. For example, in Song dynasty Taoist text Shangqing Dingbao Dafa: "A bright star located right in the middle [of Gōu Chén] is Tiān Huáng Dà Dì." (其下一大星，正居其中，是為天皇大帝也。 Shangqing Lingbao Dafa Volume 4) 天柱 (Tiān Zhù, Celestial Pillars)76 Dra77 Dra69 Dra59 Dra40 Dra 御女 (Yù Nǚ, Maids-in-waiting)τ Dra50 Dra29 Draχ Dra 女史 (Nǚ Shǐ, Female Protocol)ψ1 Dra (Dziban) 柱史 (Zhù Shǐ, Official of Royal Archives)φ Dra 尚書 (Shàng Shū, Royal Secretary)27 Dra15 Dra18 DraHIP 8016119 Dra 天床 (Tiān Chuáng, Celestial Bed)HIP 69373HIP 74605HIP 77277HIP 79414RR UMi6 UMi 大理 (Dà Lǐ, Chief Judge)CO CamUnclear 陰德 (Yīn Dé, Hidden Virtue)HIP 51808HD 91114 六甲 (Liù Jiǎ, Six Jia)HIP 32439HD 49878 (Tonglingxing)HIP 39538VZ CamHIP 23265K Cam 五帝內座 (Wǔ Dì Nèi Zuò, Interior Seats of Five Emperors)HIP 1441747 CasHIP 13055HIP 15547HIP 19461 華蓋 (Huā Gài, Canopy of the Emperor)Unclear40 CasHIP 592631 Casψ Cas43 Casω Cas 槓 (Gàng, Canopy Support)γ Cam (Shaowei)HIP 1486249 Cas (Rangifer)51 Cas50 Cas (Gang)54 Cas48 Cas42 Cas38 Cas紫微右垣 (Zǐ Wēi Yòu Yuán, Right Wall)右樞 (Yòu Shū, Right Pivot) α Dra (Thuban)少尉 (Shào Wèi, Second Chief Judge) κ Dra上輔 (Shàng Fǔ, First Minister) λ Dra (Giausar)少輔 (Shào Fǔ, Second Minister) 24 UMa上衛 (Shàng Wèi, First Imperial Guard) 43 Cam少衛 (Shào Wèi, Second Imperial Guard) α Cam上丞 (Shàng Chéng, First Prime Minister) BK Cam 紫微左垣 (Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán, Left Wall)左樞 (Zuǒ Shū, Left Pivot) ι Dra (Edasich)上宰 (Shàng Zǎi, First Premier)θ Dra少宰 (Shào Zǎi, Second Premier)η Dra (Athebyne)上弼 (Shàng Bì, First Minister)ζ Dra (Aldhibah)少弼 (Shào Bì, Second Minister)υ Dra上衛 (Shàng Wèi, First Imperial Guard)73 Dra少衛 (Shào Wèi, Second Imperial Guard)π Cep少丞 (Shào Chéng, Second Prime Minister)23 Cas 天乙 (Tiān Yǐ, Celestial Great One)7 Dra (Tianyi) 太乙 (Tài Yǐ, First Great One)8 Dra (Taiyi) 內廚 (Nèi Chú, Inner Kitchen)10 DraHIP 66798 北斗 (Běi Dǒu, Northern Dipper)天樞 (Tiān Shū, Celestial Pivot)α UMa (Dubhe)天璇 (Tiān Xuán, Celestial Rotating Jade)β UMa (Merak)天璣 (Tiān Jī, Celestial Shining Pearl)γ UMa (Phecda)天權 (Tiān Quán, Celestial Balance)δ UMa (Megrez)玉衡 (Yù Héng, Jade Sighting-tube) ε UMa (Alioth)開陽 (Kāi Yáng, Opener of Heat)ζ UMa (Mizar)搖光 (Yáo Guāng, Twinkling Brilliance)η UMa (Alkaid) 輔 (Fǔ, Assistant)80 UMa (Alcor) 天槍 (Tiān Qiāng, Celestial Spear)κ Boo (Asellus Tertius)ι Boo (Asellus Secundus)θ Boo (Asellus Primus) 玄戈 (Xuán Gē, Sombre Lance)λ Boo (Xuange) 三公 (Sān Gōng, Three Excellencies)Unclear24 CVn21 CVn 相 (Xiàng, Prime Minister)5 CVn 天理 (Tiān Lǐ, Judge for Nobility)HIP 55060HIP 5579766 UMaHIP 58259 太陽守 (Tài Yáng Shǒu, Guard of the Sun)χ UMa (Taiyangshou) 太尊 (Tài Zūn, Royals)ψ UMa 天牢 (Tiān Láo, Celestial Prison)ω UMa57 UMa47 UMa (Chalawan)58 UMa49 UMa56 UMa 勢 (Shì, Eunuch)34 LMi33 LMi42 LMi46 LMi (Praecipua) 文昌 (Wén Chāng, Administrative Centre)υ UMaUnclearφ UMaθ UMa15 UMa18 UMa 內階 (Nèi Jiē, Inner Steps)ο UMa (Muscida)c UMa6 UMa23 UMab UMa17 UMa 三師 (Sān Shī, Three Top Instructors)ρ UMaUnclearσ2 UMa 八穀 (Bā Gǔ, Eight Kinds of Crops)δ Aur (Bagu)ξ Aur26 Cam14 Cam7 Cam9 Aur11 Cam31 Cam 傳舍 (Chuán Shè, Guest House)HIP 11737116 Cas32 Cas32 Cas55 CasHIP 13665CS CamCE CamD Cam天廚 (Tiān Chú, Celestial Kitchen)δ Dra (Altais)σ Dra (Alsafi)ε Dra (Tyl)ρ Dra64 Draπ Dra 天棓 (Tiān Bàng, Celestial Flail)ξ Dra (Grumium)ν2 Dra (Kuma)β Dra (Rastaban)γ Dra (Eltanin)ι Her (Tianbang)

Added Stars Asterism+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14+15+16+17+18+19+20+21+22+23+24+25+26+27+28+29+30+31+32+33+34Note庶子 (Shù Zǐ, Son of Concubine) Unclear 3 UMi10 UMi 後宮 (Hòu Gōng, Imperial Harem) Unclear 四輔 (Sì Fǔ, Four Advisors)HIP 47193 勾陳 (Gōu Chén, Curved Array)HIP 112519HIP 115746UnclearOV Cepλ UMi24 UMiθ UMi 19 UMiη UMi (Anwar al Farkadain) 20 UMi 天柱 (Tiān Zhù, Celestial Pillars)59 Draκ Cep74 Dra75 Dra41 Dra 35 Dra 御女 (Yù Nǚ, Maids-in-waiting)Unclear 女史 (Nǚ Shǐ, Female Protocol)ψ2 Dra 柱史 (Zhù Shǐ, Official of Royal Archives)38 Dra37 Dra 尚書 (Shàng Shū, Royal Secretary)ω Dra20 Dra 天床 (Tiān Chuáng, Celestial Bed)9 UMi11 UMi (Pherkad Minor) 大理 (Dà Lǐ, Chief Judge)HIP 60044HD 104985 陰德 (Yīn Dé, Hidden Virtue)HIP 51808 六甲 (Liù Jiǎ, Six Jia)BN Cam 五帝內座 (Wǔ Dì Nèi Zuò, Interior Seats of Five Emperors)47 CasHD 6798HD 7238 槓 (Gàng, Canopy Support)HIP 12273 少尉 (Shào Wèi, Second Chief Judge)6 Dra4 Dra 上輔 (Shàng Fǔ, First Minister)2 Dra3 Dra 少輔 (Shào Fǔ, Second Minister)27 UMa 上衛 (Shàng Wèi, Right Wall First Imperial Guard)36 CamL Cam 42 Cam 少衛 (Shào Wèi, Right Wall Second Imperial Guard)HIP 20266 上丞 (Shàng Chéng, First Prime Minister)BE CamHIP 17587 H Cam 上衛 (Shàng Wèi, Left Wall First Imperial Guard)β Cep (Alfirk)11 Cep 78 Dra 少衛 (Shào Wèi, Left Wall Second Imperial Guard)79 Dra16 Cep24 CepHIP 10943431 Cep31 Cepρ Cepγ Cep (Errai) 內廚 (Nèi Chú, Inner Kitchen)9 Dra76 UMa 天樞 (Tiān Shū, Celestial Pivot)32 UMa35 UMa38 UMa 天璇 (Tiān Xuán, Celestial Rotating Jade)36 UMa37 UMa42 UMa 41 UMa 39 UMa 40 UMa 43 UMa 44 UMa 天權 (Tiān Quán, Celestial Balance)74 UMa70 UMa73 UMa 開陽 (Kāi Yáng, Opener of Heat)80 UMa (Alcor)82 UMa 輔 (Fǔ, Assistant)83 UMa84 UMa 86 UMa 天槍 (Tiān Qiāng, Celestial Spear)13 Boo24 Boo39 Boo 44 Boo (Quadrans) 玄戈 (Xuán Gē, Sombre Lance)33 Boo38 Boo 相 (Xiàng, Prime Minister)1 CVn3 CVn11 CVn 天理 (Tiān Lǐ, Judge for Nobility)HIP 56035 太陽守 (Tài Yáng Shǒu, Guard of the Sun)60 UMa 天牢 (Tiān Láo, Celestial Prison)59 UMa55 UMa 勢 (Shì, Eunuch)35 LMi38 LMi32 LMiβ LMi29 LMi 26 LMi 27 LMi28 LMi 30 LMi 36 LMi 37 LMi 47 LMi 46 UMa43 LMi44 LMi 44 LMi 27 LMi28 LMi 30 LMi 文昌 (Wén Chāng, Administrative Centre)28 UMa21 UMa26 UMa37 Lyn39 Lyn31 UMa Unclear 內階 (Nèi Jiē, Inner Steps)19 Lyn18 Lyn24 Lyn30 Lyn29 LynUnclearπ2 UMa 2 UMa π1 UMa τ UMa 三師 (Sān Shī, Three Top Instructors)σ1 UMa 八穀 (Bā Gǔ, Eight Kinds of Crops)4 Cam6 Cam5 Cam9 AurHIP 28385ξ Aur29 Cam28 Cam24 Cam 18 Cam 16 Cam 15 Cam 12 Cam β Cam19 Cam 21 Cam 23 Cam 30 Cam37 Cam40 Cam1 Lyn 3 Lyn 8 Lyn 10 Lyn 4 Lyn2 Lyn 5 Lyn 6 Lyn14 Lyn 15 Lyn 13 Lyn11 Lyn9 Lyn 45 Aur 傳舍 (Chuán Shè, Guest House)13 CasHIP 18488HIP 19968HIP 19018 天廚 (Tiān Chú, Celestial Kitchen)55 Dra65 Dra 天棓 (Tiān Bàng, Celestial Flail)ν1 Dra (Kuma)30 Dra88 Her82 Herν2 Dra (Kuma) ν1 Dra (Kuma)74 Her 77 Her μ Dra (Alrakis) 26 Dra

Supreme Palace Enclosure The Supreme Palace Enclosure (, Tài Wēi Yuán) represents the imperial court. It corresponds to constellations Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, Leo, Leo Minor, Lynx, Sextans, Ursa Major and Virgo.

Asterism123456789101112131415Note五帝座 (Wǔ Dì Zuò, Thrones of the Five Emperors)β Leo (Denebola)HIP 57646HIP 5732095 LeoHIP 57779 太子 (Tài Zǐ, Crown Prince)93 Leo 從官 (Cóng Guān, Retinue)92 Leo 幸臣 (Xìng Chén, Officer of Honour)GK Com 五諸侯 (Wǔ Zhū Hóu, Five Feudal Kings)39 ComGK Com27 ComUnclear6 Com 九卿 (Jiǔ Qīng, Nine Ministers)ρ Vird2 VirHIP 61579 三公 (Sān Gōng, Three Excellencies)Uncleard1 Vir35 Vir 內屏 (Nèi Píng, Inner Screen)ξ Virν Virπ Virο Vir 太微右垣 (Tài Wēi Yòu Yuán, Right Wall)右執法 (Yòu Zhí Fǎ, Right Law Administrator)β Vir (Zavijava)西上將 (Xī Shàng Jiàng, First Western General)σ Leo西次將 (Xī Cì Jiàng, Second Western General)ι Leo西上相 (Xī Shàng Xiàng, First Western Minister)θ Leo (Chertan)西次相 (Xī Cì Xiàng, Second Western Minister)δ Leo (Zosma) 太微左垣 (Tài Wēi Zuǒ Yuán, Left Wall)左執法 (Zuǒ Zhí Fǎ, Left Law Administrator)η Vir (Zaniah)東上將 (Dōng Shàng Jiàng, First Eastern General)γ Vir (Porrima)東次將 (Dōng Cì Jiàng, Second Eastern General)δ Vir (Minelauva)東上相 (Dōng Shàng Xiàng, First Eastern Minister)ε Vir (Vindemiatrix)東次相 (Dōng Cì Xiàng, Second Eastern Minister)α Com (Diadem) 郎將 (Láng Jiàng, Captain of the Bodyguards)31 Com 郎位 (Láng Wèi, Officers of the Imperial Guard)γ Com Unclear14 Com 16 Com 17 Com 13 Com 12 Com21 Com 18 Com 7 Com 23 Com (Phyllon Kissinou) 26 Com 20 Com5 Com 2 Com常陳 (Cháng Chén, Imperial Guards)α CVn (Cor Caroli)10 CVn9 CVnβ CVn (Chara)6 CVn2 CVn67 UMa 上台 (Shàng Tái, Upper Step)ι UMa (Talitha)κ UMa (Alkaphrah) Part of 三台 (Sān Tái, Three Steps) Asterism中台 (Zhōng Tái, Middle Step)λ UMa (Tania Borealis)μ UMa (Tania Australis) Part of 三台下台 (Xià Tái, Lower Step)ν UMa (Alula Borealis)ξ UMa (Alula Australis) Part of 三台虎賁 (Hǔ Bēn, Emperor's Bodyguard)72 Leo 少微 (Shào Wēi, Junior Officers)52 LMi54 Leo A41 LMi51 Leo 长垣 (Cháng Yuán, Long Wall) 46 Leo52 Leo53 Leo48 Leo 靈台 (Líng Tái, Astronomical Observatory)χ Leo59 Leo58 Leo 明堂 (Míng Táng, Cosmological Temple)τ Leoυ Leo87 Leo 謁者 (Yè Zhě, Usher of the Court)16 Vir

Added Stars