Nüchuang (女床)
Nǚ Chuáng (Women’s Bed, 女床) is a small asterism consisting of only three stars, located above Tiān Jì (Celestial Discipline) within the modern constellation Hercules. The asterism dates back to around 100 BCE and belongs to the Shi school.
Nuchuang, without diacritics, is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN) for the star Pi Herculis, following the Chinese suggestion.
Concordance, Etymology, History
The name Nüchuang literally means “the bed of a woman.” In celestial symbolism and astrological interpretation, it represents the imperial concubines and numerous palace maids of the inner court, or the chambers in which they resided. These attendants were believed to serve the empress and to remain prepared to be called by the emperor.
Identification of stars
The three-star asterism is rather noticeable, thus it remains unchanged through out more than 2 thousand years.
| Star Names or Orders(Qing) | Ho PENG YOKE[1] | Yi Shitong[2]
Based on catalogue in 18th century |
Pan Nai[3]
based on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map |
Pan Nai[4]
based on catalogues in Yuan dynasty |
SUN X. & J. Kistemaker[5]
Han Dynasty |
Boshun Yang[6]
before Tang dynasty |
Boshun Yang[6]
Song Jingyou(1034) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st （Determinative） | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her | pi Her |
| 2nd | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her | e Her |
| 3rd | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her | rho her |
Maps (Gallery)
- Nüchuang
-
Nüchuang on Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido -
Nüchuang on Suzhou Star Map -
Nüchuang on 18th century star map
Star Name Discussion (IAU)
In 2025, the name of the historical constellation "Nüchuang" was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. ...
Decision: The WGSN adopted the name in May 2026 for the star π Her, following the Chinese suggestion.
π Her is a bright reddish (K-type) giant star with slight variations in radial velocity. This could be a hint on a companion (likely a brown dwarf) or atmospheric pulsation.
References
- ↑ P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” Vistas in Astronomy, 5(1962), 127-225.
- ↑ Yi Shitong伊世同. Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981: 56.
- ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. figure 55.
- ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. figure 6.3
- ↑ Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 B.-S. Yang杨伯顺, Zhongguo Chuantong Hengxing Guance Jingdu ji Xingguan Yanbian Yanjiu 中国传统恒星观测精度及星官演变研究 (A Research on the Accuracy of Chinese Traditional Star Observation and the Evolution of Constellations), PhD thesis, (Hefei: University of Science and Technology of China, 2023). 297-304.
