What are the stars, how to divide them and what do they represent?

Stars are ancient astronomical terms, and a night usually contains one or more stars. The ancients divided the starry sky into four fields, from which four elephants, such as Qinglong and White Tiger, came. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the four elephants were subdivided into twenty-eight nights. ?

There is a patron saint in the east, west, north and south, namely: Qinglong, Suzaku, White Tiger and Xuanwu.

Twenty-eight nights, also known as "twenty-eight homes" or "twenty-eight stars". In ancient China, in order to observe the astronomical phenomena and the movements of the five stars of the sun, the moon and the moon, 28 star officials were selected as observation signs, which were called "Twenty-eight Hostels".

Divided into four groups on average, each group has seven nights, with four directions of east, west, north and south and animal images such as Qinglong, white tiger, Suzaku and Xuanwu (collectively called tortoise and snake), which are called "four elephants" in Taoism. The concept of four elephants and twenty-eight lodgings was formed very early, and it was recorded at the beginning of the Warring States Period.

Extended data:

Each star has its own attributes and representations, which may be a belief in nature by China people, but it is also a means of astronomical observation.

Among the criteria for dividing the sky region, 28 constellations and three elements (Tai Weiyuan, Zi Weiyuan and Tian Shiyuan) are the criteria for this standard, which are consistent with the twelve constellations in the west.

Another major manifestation of the four ancient gods in China lies in military affairs. During the Warring States period, there was a saying that "the former Suzaku was behind Xuanwu, and the left dragon was right and the white tiger was right", which was simply an orientation map.

The East Palace Black Dragon belongs to seven hotels: Jiao, Kang, Bian, Fang, Xin, Wei and Ji.

Seven nights of Suzaku in Nangong: well, ghost, willow, star, Zhang, wing and bird.

The seven nights of the West Palace White Tiger are: Kui, Lou, Wei, Chang, Bi, Gou and Shen.

Gong Bei Xuanwu (tortoise and snake) belongs to seven nights: fighting, ox, female, emptiness, danger, house and wall.

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