STARS: Major | All | Constellations | Chinese | About

---

10♏12 to 20♏41

The second Chinese lunar mansion is named 亢宿 Kang Su, “Neck Mansion.” It is the second of the seven mansions of the Azure Dragon of the East.

The seventh asterism of the Neck Mansion is called 折威 Shewei, “Executions.” It represents officials who carry out executions or death sentences and is composed of seven stars of the constellations Libra and Hydra. ^[1]

2000	2050	IAU	Chinese	Orb
10♏12	10♏54	50 Hya	Shewei Yi (1)	1°00′
12♏35	13♏17	51 Hya	Shewei Er (2)	1°00′
15♏13	15♏55	3 Lib	Shewei San (3)	1°00′
16♏02	16♏45	4 Lib	Shewei Si (4)	1°00′
16♏47	17♏29	54 Hya	Shewei Wu (5)	1°00′
18♏22	19♏04	12 Lib	Shewei Liu (6)	1°00′
20♏41	21♏23	σ Lib	Shewei Qi (7)	1°50′

Constellation Shewei, Executions

Ma Duanlin (1317)

The seven black (Gan De School) stars south of Kang (Neck) are known as Zhewei (Executions) and govern executions; if Venus and Mars station there, foreign tribes will invade the borders, and a high-ranking official will face public execution. ^[2]

Song History (1346)

Zhewei consists of seven stars south of Kang Su; it governs beheadings and executions, as well as military justice and trials. If the moon transgresses Zhewei, the Emperor will suffer concern or worry. If any of the Five Planets invade Zhewei, generals will rebel. If a comet or 孛 “bei” star (a hairy or hazy tailless comet) invades Zhewei, a frontier general will die. If clouds or vapors invade Zhewei and appear bluish-white, there will be military disorder; if red, ministers rebel against their ruler; if yellowish-white, it signifies peaceful alliances or marriages between states; if they dissipate, an amnesty is forthcoming; if black vapors enter, the ruler views it as an ill omen. ^[3]

References

1. Twenty-Eight Mansions – Baidu Encyclopedia.
2. General Examination of Literature, Volume 279, Part 2, Ma Duanlin, 1317.
3. Song History, Volume 50, Chapter 3, 1346.