Journey to the West (Asterism Names) - Revision history

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2026-06-04T07:59:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:59, 4 June 2026
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	Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}		Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
	----		----
	[[File:~~Arawaks Aujourd'hui~~.~~jpg~~\|thumb\|~~Names of the Arawak groups in South America, including the Lokono in the northeast, close~~ to the ~~coast (CC BY Herve Gallet).~~]]''Journey to the West'' is a classic of Chinese God and devil novels. It is written in the 16th-century Ming dynasty. It mainly chronicles the epic pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang (Tang Monk) as he travels westward to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures. He is accompanied by his three formidable disciples: the rebellious and powerful Monkey King, Sun Wukong; the humorous yet often gluttonous Zhu Bajie; and the steadfast Sha Wujing. Throughout their journey, they encounter a captivating array of celestial beings, demons, and deities, battling hardships and overcoming eighty-one tribulations to reach their ultimate goal. More information is available in [[wikipedia:Journey_to_the_West\|Wikipedia]].<ref name=":0">Xu Gang, He Yuan & Sun Shuwei (online). Modern Journey to the West sky culture in Stellarium, https://github.com/stellarium/stellarium.</ref>		[[File:ChartJTW.png\|thumb\|Journey to the West]]
			''Journey to the West'' is a classic of Chinese God and devil novels. It is written in the 16th-century Ming dynasty. It mainly chronicles the epic pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang (Tang Monk) as he travels westward to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures.<ref>Xu Gang. (2025). Monkey King Star Quest: A Guide to the Constellations （《大闹星空：读西游识星座》）. Beijing: Posts & Telecom Press. ISBN 9787115653604.</ref> He is accompanied by his three formidable disciples: the rebellious and powerful Monkey King, Sun Wukong; the humorous yet often gluttonous Zhu Bajie; and the steadfast Sha Wujing. Throughout their journey, they encounter a captivating array of celestial beings, demons, and deities, battling hardships and overcoming eighty-one tribulations to reach their ultimate goal.<ref>Xu Gang. (2025). Monkey King Star Quest: Celestial Chart （《大闹星空：西游星座图》）. Beijing: Posts & Telecom Press. ISBN：9787115658395.</ref> More information is available in [[wikipedia:Journey_to_the_West\|Wikipedia]].

			This sky culture is based on ''Journey to the West'', in which the author replaces the figures of Greek mythology with characters, demons, and magical artifacts from the novel. <ref name=":0">Xu Gang, He Yuan & Sun Shuwei (online). Modern Journey to the West sky culture in Stellarium, https://github.com/stellarium/stellarium.</ref>

	== <small>Here is an overview on Journey to the West asterism names</small> ==		== <small>Here is an overview on Journey to the West asterism names</small> ==
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	\|		\|
	\| valign="top" \|Yellow Wind Monster		\| valign="top" \|Yellow Wind Monster
	\| valign="top" \|Ursa Minor.		\| valign="top" \|Ursa Minor
	\| valign="top" \|A golden-furred marten spirit who captured Tang Monk and wounded Sun Wukong's eyes with his Samadhi Wind. Lingji Bodhisattva later subdued him.		\| valign="top" \|A golden-furred marten spirit who captured Tang Monk and wounded Sun Wukong's eyes with his Samadhi Wind. Lingji Bodhisattva later subdued him.
	\|-		\|-
Line 599:		Line 602:
	\| valign="top" \|A 1,300-year-old turtle that carried the pilgrims across the Tongtian River.		\| valign="top" \|A 1,300-year-old turtle that carried the pilgrims across the Tongtian River.
	\|}		\|}

	~~== Shared Guianan knowledge ==~~
	The Lokono territory borders that of two linguistically unrelated indigenous peoples, the Kari’na, speaking a Cariban language, and the Warao, speaking a language isolate. Though unrelated and traditionally not intermarrying, the three groups share a great deal of material and immaterial culture. Ethnoastronomical tradition of the three peoples also shows a number of striking similarities, such as shared stellar myths, similar names of constellations, and parallels in the stellar calendar. This speaks to the contacts between the three groups and to the exchange of astronomical knowledge, possibly facilitated by their respective spiritual leaders, such as the Lokono ''semethi''. The degree to which these traditions overlap and the directionality of their exchange require further study. Here, we focus on the Lokono and therefore do not discuss these cultural borrowings in detail, unless they shed light on the Lokono ethnoastronomy.<ref name=":0" />

	~~=== Stellar oral traditions ===~~
	One of such shared features are myths about stars. Such oral traditions tell of the origins of particular celestial bodies, link them to one another, and explain their influence on the natural world. The Lokono constellation ''Hithikoya'' ‘Spirit of the black curassow’, for instance, is linked in a Lokono myth to that of ''Yokhârhin'' ‘Hunter’ and ''Alêti'' ‘Torch’, all three of which have Kari’na and Warao equivalents. It is these oral traditions, preserved by the medicine-men, that likely served as the main vehicle through which astronomical knowledge was passed from one generation to another. For this reason, summaries of the relevant myths are given in the description of particular constellations. Occasionally, when the relevant Lokono myth is not documented, myths of the neighboring groups are referred to in order to illuminate the significance of particular celestial bodies. Given that many of such oral traditions are shared by the Lokono and the neighboring groups, this enhancement of the poorly preserved Lokono astronomical knowledge is justified.<ref name=":0" />

	~~=== Calendar of spirits ===~~
	The term ''koya'' ‘spirit’, found in numerous constellation names typically following a term for a particular plant or animal, is a key feature of Lokono astronomy. Walter Roth, an ethnographer of the Guianas, explains that such constellations are the spirits of the corresponding beings.<ref>Roth, Walter Edmund. 1924. An Introductory Study of the Arts, Crafts, and Customs of the Guiana Indians. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.</ref> At a time of the year when the constellation appears, the spirit travels from the sky to earth to breathe life into the beings it represents. As such, the ''koya''-constellations formed a calendar, indicating what the best time is to engage in subsistence activities related to these plants and animals (e.g. hunting or gathering). The Lokono may have also known where such spirits would descend on earth; Walter Roth suggests that they called these places with the same names as the constellations but the evidence of that remains poor. Thus, ''Hadorhikoya'' ‘Spirit of the red acouchi’ would refer to the spirit, the constellation, and the place where the ''hadorhi'' is found in plenty when its constellation appears. While this toponymic knowledge is forgotten today, the ''koya''-constellations remind us of the great understanding of the plant and animal life that the Lokono possessed.<ref name=":0" />

	~~=== Wiwa, the star and the year ===~~
	The Lokono also have another general term that is used to refer to stars, ''wiwa''. The term lacks the spiritual connotations of ''koya.'' It refers, on the one hand, to the physical quality of stars as something shining and, on the other hand, to the calendar year. As such, it is used, for instance, when talking about one’s age. While it can apply to any star, ''wiwa'' appears only in two proper names of celestial bodies. ''Yôkoro wiwa'', literally ‘Scores of stars’ (Pleiades), is the most important of all Lokono constellations, whose appearance traditionally commences the Lokono calendar year. Following ''Yôkoro wiwa'' are the numerous ''koya''-constellations, each signaling a different season in the Lokono calendar. On the other hand, ''Wiwa kalemero'', literally ‘Shining star’ (Jupiter) appears to have been singled out solely due to its brightness. Apart from ''wiwa'' and ''koya'', there are no generic terms distinguishing planets, stars, moons, suns, galaxies and so on in the Lokono language. For this reason, the Lokono equivalent of the Milky Way, for instance, is included among other constellations.

	~~=== Sky watching practices ===~~
	While the Lokono can admire the sky in the evening, to follow the Lokono stellar calendar, one has to look at the constellations around 4 am in the morning, the time when the Lokono usually wake up. The Lokono thus observe the rising of the constellations in the morning. To get the right idea of the yearly cycle of constellations, one should also set the viewing location to the Guianas (e.g. Georgetown, Paramaribo, or Cayenne in the location menu). It merits a mention that many Lokono, when drawing constellations, did not connect the stars with lines and that in some cases, there was little agreement among speakers as to which star within a constellation corresponds to which parts of the plant or animal it represents. In Stellarium, we represent constellations with lines, but it should be kept in mind that this may be a distortion of the Lokono tradition, which allows for more flexibility in interpreting particular star groups. Finally, there are restrictions on looking at some celestial bodies, since it is believed that a spirit can harm one if looked at.<ref>Goeje, Claudius Henricus de. 1943. Philosophy, Initiation and Myths of the Indians of Guiana and Adjacent Countries. Archives Internationales d’ethnographie. 44.</ref> For instance, by full moon, mothers covered the eyes of their children so that they would not become sick.<ref>Abbenhuis, M.F. 1939. Arawakken in Suriname: Enquête-Materiaal Voor Een Volkenkundige Studie. Paramaribo: Leo Victor.</ref> Young people were also told not to look at ''Yôkoro wiwa'' (Pleiades), or else they would not grow.<ref>Coll, Cornelius van. 1903. “Gegevens over Land En Volk van Suriname I - Suriname’s Oorspronkelijke Bevolking.” Bijdragen Tot de Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia 55 (1): 453–529.</ref> Such practices applied also to other objects believed to harbor powerful spirits and included other ways of avoiding eye-contact with spirits such rubbing peppers, limes, or salt into one’s eyes.<ref name=":0" />

	== References ==		== References ==

YoulaAzkarrula: Created page with "Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}} ---- Names of the Arawak groups in South America, including the Lokono in the northeast, close to the coast (CC BY Herve Gallet).''Journey to the West'' is a classic of Chinese God and devil novels. It is written in the 16th-century Ming dynasty. It mainly chronicles the epic pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang (Tang Monk) as he travels westward to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures. He is accompanied by his thre..."

2026-06-04T07:57:04Z

Created page with "Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}} ---- thumb|Names of the Arawak groups in South America, including the Lokono in the northeast, close to the coast (CC BY Herve Gallet).''Journey to the West'' is a classic of Chinese God and devil novels. It is written in the 16th-century Ming dynasty. It mainly chronicles the epic pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang (Tang Monk) as he travels westward to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures. He is accompanied by his thre..."

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Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
----
[[File:Arawaks Aujourd'hui.jpg|thumb|Names of the Arawak groups in South America, including the Lokono in the northeast, close to the coast (CC BY Herve Gallet).]]''Journey to the West'' is a classic of Chinese God and devil novels. It is written in the 16th-century Ming dynasty. It mainly chronicles the epic pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang (Tang Monk) as he travels westward to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures. He is accompanied by his three formidable disciples: the rebellious and powerful Monkey King, Sun Wukong; the humorous yet often gluttonous Zhu Bajie; and the steadfast Sha Wujing. Throughout their journey, they encounter a captivating array of celestial beings, demons, and deities, battling hardships and overcoming eighty-one tribulations to reach their ultimate goal. More information is available in [[wikipedia:Journey_to_the_West|Wikipedia]].<ref name=":0">Xu Gang, He Yuan & Sun Shuwei (online). Modern Journey to the West sky culture in Stellarium, https://github.com/stellarium/stellarium.</ref>

== <small>Here is an overview on Journey to the West asterism names</small> ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |Constellation Name
! colspan="2" |Romanisation
! rowspan="2" |Etymological Meaning, when possible
! rowspan="2" |Identification
! rowspan="2" |Commentary
|-
!'''Pinyin'''
!Simplified
|-
| valign="top" |黄风怪
| valign="top" |Huáng Fēng Guài
|
| valign="top" |Yellow Wind Monster
| valign="top" |Ursa Minor.
| valign="top" |A golden-furred marten spirit who captured Tang Monk and wounded Sun Wukong's eyes with his Samadhi Wind. Lingji Bodhisattva later subdued him.
|-
| valign="top" |黑熊怪
| valign="top" |Hēi Xióng Guài
|
| valign="top" |Black Bear Spirit
| valign="top" |Ursa Major.
| valign="top" |A monster from Black Wind Mountain who stole Tang Monk's precious robe. He was later tamed by Guanyin and converted to Buddhism.
|-
| valign="top" |东海龙王敖广
| valign="top" |Dōng Hǎi Lóng Wáng Áo Guǎng
|
| valign="top" |Dragon King of the Eastern Sea
| valign="top" |Draco.
| valign="top" |The supreme ruler of the Four Seas and all aquatic creatures, appointed by the Jade Emperor.
|-
| valign="top" |玉皇大帝
| valign="top" |Yù Huáng Dà Dì
|
| valign="top" |Jade Emperor
| valign="top" |Cepheus.
| valign="top" |The supreme ruler of Heaven.
|-
| valign="top" |二郎神杨戬
| valign="top" |Èr Láng Shén (Yáng Jiǎn)
|
| valign="top" |Erlang Shen (Yang Jian)
| valign="top" |Bootes.
| valign="top" |Also known as the True Lord Erlang, nephew of the Jade Emperor. A powerful deity who once captured Sun Wukong.
|-
| valign="top" |毗卢帽
| valign="top" |Pí Lú Mào
|
| valign="top" |Vairocana Hat
| valign="top" |Corona Borealis.
| valign="top" |A monastic hat bestowed upon Tang Monk by Emperor Taizong of Tang, named for the Vairocana Buddha image adorning it.
|-
| valign="top" |齐天大圣
| valign="top" |Qí Tiān Dà Shèng (Sūn Wù Kōng)
|
| valign="top" |Great Sage Equalling Heaven (Sun Wukong)
| valign="top" |Hercules.
| valign="top" |After defeating the Heavenly armies, Sun Wukong was given the hollow title "Great Sage Equalling Heaven." He was put in charge of the Peach Orchard but ended up stealing the peaches and ruining the Peach Banquet, leading to his rebellion.
|-
| valign="top" |天王琵琶
| valign="top" |Tiān Wáng Pí Pá
|
| valign="top" |Lute of the Heavenly King
| valign="top" |Lyra.
| valign="top" |The lute held by Dhṛtarāṣṭra (the Heavenly King of the East).
|-
| valign="top" |青鸾
| valign="top" |Qīng Luán
|
| valign="top" |Mythical Azure Bird
| valign="top" |Cygnus.
| valign="top" |A divine bird similar to a phoenix, often found in celestial mountains and blessed lands in ''Journey to the West''.
|-
| valign="top" |王母娘娘
| valign="top" |Wáng Mǔ Niáng Niáng

|
| valign="top" |Queen Mother of the West
| valign="top" |Cassiopeia.
| valign="top" |The head of all female divinities. She hosts the Peach Banquet at the Jade Pool, which Sun Wukong famously disrupted.
|-
| valign="top" |猪八戒
| valign="top" |Zhū Bā Jiè
|
| valign="top" |Zhu Bajie
| valign="top" |Perseus.
| valign="top" |In Chapter 79, Zhu Bajie kills a white-faced fox demon and drags it by the tail to present to the King of Bhīṣaṇa.
|-
| valign="top" |弼马温
| valign="top" |Bì Mǎ Wēn
|
| valign="top" |Keeper of the Heavenly Horses
| valign="top" |Auriga.
| valign="top" |The lowly official title given to Sun Wukong when he was tricked into ascending to Heaven, tasked with tending horses.
|-
| valign="top" |西方广目天王
| valign="top" |Xī Fāng Guǎng Mù Tiān Wáng
|
| valign="top" |Heavenly King Virūpākṣa
| valign="top" |Ophiuchus.
| valign="top" |One of the Four Heavenly Kings, a divine general who guards the Heavenly Gate. His sacred treasure is the snake he holds.
|-
| valign="top" |灵蛇
| valign="top" |Líng Shé
|
| valign="top" |Divine Serpent
| valign="top" |Serpens.
| valign="top" |The magical implement of Virūpākṣa is a serpent imbued with immense spiritual power.
|-
| valign="top" |火箭
| valign="top" |Huǒ Jiàn
|
| valign="top" |Fire Arrow
| valign="top" |Sagitta.
| valign="top" |One of the fire tools of the Fire Virtue Star Officer, used to assist Sun Wukong in a fire attack.
|-
| valign="top" |金翅大鹏
| valign="top" |Jīn Chì Dà Péng
|
| valign="top" |Golden-Winged Great Peng
| valign="top" |Aquila.
| valign="top" |A mighty demon who established himself as king in the Kingdom of Lion-Camel. He allied with the Lion and Elephant demons to capture Tang Monk and was finally subdued by Buddha.
|-
| valign="top" |八戒鲇鱼
| valign="top" |Bā Jiè Nián Yú
|
| valign="top" |Zhu Bajie Transformed into a Catfish
| valign="top" |Delphinus.
| valign="top" |Zhu Bajie transforms into a catfish and swims into the Hot-Filth Spring to harass the seven spider spirits.
|-
| valign="top" |马面
| valign="top" |Mǎ Miàn
|
| valign="top" |Horse-Face
| valign="top" |Equuleus.
| valign="top" |A denizen of the Underworld with a horse's head and a human body.
|-
| valign="top" |天马
| valign="top" |Tiān Mǎ
|
| valign="top" |Heavenly Steeds
| valign="top" |Pegasus.
| valign="top" |Divine horses are kept in the Heavenly stables.
|-
| valign="top" |嫦娥
| valign="top" |Cháng É
|
| valign="top" |Chang'e
| valign="top" |Andromeda.
| valign="top" |A celestial maiden who resides in the Moon Palace.
|-
| valign="top" |皂雕旗

| valign="top" |Zào Diāo Qí
|
| valign="top" |Black Vulture Flag
| valign="top" |Triangulum.
| valign="top" |Owned by Zhenwu, the Celestial Honored One. In Chapter 33, Nezha unfurls this flag at the South Heaven Gate, blotting out the sun, moon, and stars.
|-
| valign="top" |羊力大仙
| valign="top" |Yáng Lì Dà Xiān
|
| valign="top" |Great Immortal Antelope
| valign="top" |Aries.
| valign="top" |One of the three master magicians of Tarrycart. An antelope spirit who competes with Sun Wukong meets his end in a pot of boiling oil.
|-
| valign="top" |牛魔王
| valign="top" |Niú Mó Wáng
|
| valign="top" |Bull Demon King
| valign="top" |Taurus.
| valign="top" |Also known as the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven. A former sworn brother of Sun Wukong, his true form is a great white bull.
|-
| valign="top" |金角大王、银角大王
| valign="top" |Jīn Jiǎo Dà Wáng, Yín Jiǎo Dà Wáng
|
| valign="top" |Golden Horn King & The Silver Horn King
| valign="top" |Gemini.
| valign="top" |Two boys who tended Laozi's furnace. They stole five of Laozi's treasures and became demons on Earth.
|-
| valign="top" |蟹将军
| valign="top" |Xiè Jiāng Jūn
|
| valign="top" |Crab General
| valign="top" |Cancer.
| valign="top" |A general serving under the Dragon King.
|-
| valign="top" |九头狮子
| valign="top" |Jiǔ Tóu Shī Zi
|
| valign="top" |Nine-Headed Lion
| valign="top" |Leo.
| valign="top" |The mount of the Savior Celestial Honored One. He descended to the mortal world and was worshipped as a patriarch by other lions.
|-
| valign="top" |女儿国国王
| valign="top" |Nǚ Ér Guó Guó Wáng
|
| valign="top" |Queen of the Womanland
| valign="top" |Virgo.
| valign="top" |The ruler of an all-female kingdom who wished to marry Tang Monk.
|-
| valign="top" |行李担
| valign="top" |Xíng Li Dān

|
| valign="top" |Luggage Pole
| valign="top" |Libra.
| valign="top" |The pole carrying the luggage of the pilgrimage team.
|-
| valign="top" |蝎子精
| valign="top" |Xiē Zi Jīng
|
| valign="top" |Scorpion Spirit
| valign="top" |Scorpius.
| valign="top" |A demoness who captured Tang Monk with a whirlwind as the pilgrimage team passed the Womanland.
|-
| valign="top" |斗木獬
| valign="top" |Dǒu Mù Xiè

|
| valign="top" |Wooden Unicorn (Dou)
| valign="top" |Sagittarius.
| valign="top" |One of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, who helped Sun Wukong capture three rhinoceros spirits.
|-
| valign="top" |玉龙化白马
| valign="top" |Yù Lóng Huà Bái Mǎ
|
| valign="top" |Jade Dragon Transforming into a White Horse
| valign="top" |Capricornus.
| valign="top" |The third son of the Dragon King of the Western Sea. As punishment, Guanyin transformed him into a white horse to carry Tang Monk. The image captures his hybrid dragon-horse form during transformation.
|-
| valign="top" |观音菩萨
| valign="top" |Guān Yīn Pú Sà
|
| valign="top" |Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara)
| valign="top" |Aquarius.
| valign="top" |The Bodhisattva who inspired the pilgrimage and frequently aided the team. Her vase can hold an entire ocean's worth of water.
|-
| valign="top" |奔波儿灞、灞波儿奔
| valign="top" |Bēn Bōr Bà, Bà Bōr Bēn
|
| valign="top" |Benborba & Baborben
| valign="top" |Pisces.
| valign="top" |Two minor fiends under the Dragon King of the Green Wave Pool—a catfish and a black fish spirit—were captured by Sun Wukong.
|-
| valign="top" |辟水金睛兽
| valign="top" |Pì Shuǐ Jīn Jīng Shòu
|
| valign="top" |Water-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast
| valign="top" |Cetus.
| valign="top" |The mount of the Bull Demon King, a mythical beast capable of traveling through the sky and sea.
|-
| valign="top" |哪吒
| valign="top" |Né Zhā
|
| valign="top" |Nezha
| valign="top" |Orion.
| valign="top" |The Third Lotus Prince, son of Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li. He assisted Sun Wukong in capturing the Bull Demon King.
|-
| valign="top" |流沙河
| valign="top" |Liú Shā Hé
|
| valign="top" |Flowing-Sand River
| valign="top" |Eridanus.
| valign="top" |The place where Sha Wujing was exiled, a river so wide and treacherous that goose down would sink.
|-
| valign="top" |玉兔
| valign="top" |Yù Tù

|
| valign="top" |Jade Hare
| valign="top" |Lepus.
| valign="top" |The immortal hare of the Moon who pounds the elixir of life. She fled to the mortal world, disguised as a princess, and tried to marry Tang Monk.
|-
| valign="top" |黄袍怪
| valign="top" |Huáng Páo Guài
|
| valign="top" |Yellow Robe Monster
| valign="top" |Canis Major.
| valign="top" |Originally, the Wood Wolf (Kui) of the Lunar Mansions. He became a demon to be with a mortal princess he loved.
|-
| valign="top" |娄金狗
| valign="top" |Lóu Jīn Gǒu
|
| valign="top" |Metal Dog (Lou)
| valign="top" |Canis Minor.
| valign="top" |One of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions.
|-
| valign="top" |红鳞大蟒
| valign="top" |Hóng Lín Dà Mǎng
|
| valign="top" |Giant Red-Scaled Python
| valign="top" |Hydra.
| valign="top" |A massive python that occupied Mount Seven Extremes.
|-
| valign="top" |琉璃盏
| valign="top" |Liú Li Zhǎn
|
| valign="top" |Crystal Cup
| valign="top" |Crater.
| valign="top" |The cup that Sha Wujing accidentally broke during a Peach Banquet, leading to his banishment.
|-
| valign="top" |火鸦
| valign="top" |Huǒ Yā
|
| valign="top" |Fire Crow
| valign="top" |Corvus.
| valign="top" |One of the fire tools of the Fire Virtue Star Officer.
|-
| valign="top" |角木蛟
| valign="top" |Jiǎo Mù Jiāo
|
| valign="top" |Wooden Dragon (Jiao)
| valign="top" |Centaurus.
| valign="top" |One of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions that helped capture the rhinoceros spirits.
|-
| valign="top" |铁背苍狼怪
| valign="top" |Tiě Bèi Cāng Láng Guài

|
| valign="top" |Iron-Backed Grey Wolf Fiend
| valign="top" |Lupus.
| valign="top" |A minor fiend under the South Mountain King, appointed as a vanguard after capturing Tang Monk.
|-
| valign="top" |火焰山
| valign="top" |Huǒ Yàn Shān
|
| valign="top" |Flaming Mountains
| valign="top" |Ara.
| valign="top" |A mountain range of fire was created when Sun Wukong kicked over Laozi's furnace, causing bricks to fall to Earth.
|-
| valign="top" |紧箍儿
| valign="top" |Jǐn Gū Ér
|
| valign="top" |Tight-Fillet
| valign="top" |Corona Australis.
| valign="top" |A treasure from Buddha used by Tang Monk to subdue Sun Wukong. It tightens and causes an immense headache when the Tight-Fillet Spell is recited.
|-
| valign="top" |灵感大王
| valign="top" |Líng Gǎn Dà Wáng
|
| valign="top" |Goldfish Monster
| valign="top" |Piscis Austrinus.
| valign="top" |A goldfish from Guanyin's lotus pond that achieved powers by listening to sutras. He occupied the Tongtian River, and his weapon was an unopened lotus bud.
|-
| valign="top" |灭法国皇后的头发
| valign="top" |Miè Fǎ Guó Huáng Hòu de Tóu Fà

|
| valign="top" |Hair of the Queen of Dharma-Defying Kingdom
| valign="top" |Coma Berenices.
| valign="top" |To reform a king who vowed to kill 10,000 monks, Sun Wukong used magic to shave the heads of the entire royal court overnight.
|-
| valign="top" |降妖杵
| valign="top" |Xiáng Yāo Chǔ
|
| valign="top" |Demon-Subduing Pestle
| valign="top" |Crux.
| valign="top" |A magical weapon of Nezha, sometimes depicted in a cross shape.
|-
| valign="top" |鹦哥
| valign="top" |Yīng Gē
|
| valign="top" |Parrot
| valign="top" |Columba.
| valign="top" |A yellow-feathered, red-beaked, white parrot, the pet of Guanyin, is often seen accompanying her.
|-
| valign="top" |白鹿
| valign="top" |Bái Lù
|
| valign="top" |White Deer
| valign="top" |Camelopardalis.
| valign="top" |The mount of the Star of Longevity, who caused trouble in the Bhīṣaṇa Kingdom.
|-
| valign="top" |独角兕大王
| valign="top" |Dú Jiǎo Sì Dà Wáng
|
| valign="top" |Great King One-Horned Rhinoceros
| valign="top" |Monoceros.
| valign="top" |The Green Bull, the mount of Laozi, who stole the Vajra Noose and caused trouble on Earth.
|-
| valign="top" |危月燕
| valign="top" |Wēi Yuè Yàn
|
| valign="top" |Moon Swallow (Wei)
| valign="top" |Apus.
| valign="top" |One of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions.
|-
| valign="top" |鼍丞相
| valign="top" |Tuó Chéng Xiàng
|
| valign="top" |Alligator Minister
| valign="top" |Chamaeleon.
| valign="top" |A crocodile official in the Dragon Palace.
|-
| valign="top" |斑衣鳜婆
| valign="top" |Bān Yī Guì Pó

|
| valign="top" |Mandarin Fish Matron
| valign="top" |Dorado.
| valign="top" |A strategist who advised freezing the Tongtian River to capture Tang Monk.
|-
| valign="top" |朱顶白鹤
| valign="top" |Zhū Dǐng Bái Hè

|
| valign="top" |Red-Crowned White Crane
| valign="top" |Grus.
| valign="top" |The crane mount of Tai Bai Jin Xing, the Chinese deity of Venus.
|-
| valign="top" |白花蛇怪
| valign="top" |Bái Huā Shé Guài
|
| valign="top" |White-Spotted Snake Monster
| valign="top" |Hydrus.
| valign="top" |A snake spirit disguised as a scholar, killed by Sun Wukong.
|-
| valign="top" |朱紫国国王
| valign="top" |Zhū Zǐ Guó Guó Wáng
|
| valign="top" |King of Purpuria
| valign="top" |Indus.
| valign="top" |A king was punished for hunting and harming a pair of peacocks, offspring of the Peacock Buddha Mother.
|-
| valign="top" |瞌睡虫
| valign="top" |Kē Shuì Chóng
|
| valign="top" |Sleep-Inducing Insect
| valign="top" |Musca.
| valign="top" |A small insect that causes drowsiness.
|-
| valign="top" |雄孔雀
| valign="top" |Xióng Kǒng Què
|
| valign="top" |Male Peacock
| valign="top" |Pavo.
| valign="top" |The offspring of the Peacock Buddha Mother, shot by the prince who would become the King of Purpuria.
|-
| valign="top" |九头虫
| valign="top" |Jiǔ Tóu Chóng
|
| valign="top" |Nine-Headed Monstrous Bird
| valign="top" |Phoenix.
| valign="top" |A nine-headed monstrous bird who married the dragon princess and stole a sacred relic.
|-
| valign="top" |令字旗
| valign="top" |Lìng Zì Qí
|
| valign="top" |Command Flag
| valign="top" |Triangulum Australe.
| valign="top" |A triangular flag with the character "Ling" (Command), used by both heavenly troops and demons.
|-
| valign="top" |雷公
| valign="top" |Léi Gōng
|
| valign="top" |Thunder God
| valign="top" |Tucana.
| valign="top" |The god of thunder, depicted with a bird-like beak.
|-
| valign="top" |鲤总兵
| valign="top" |Lǐ Zǒng Bīng
|
| valign="top" |Carp Commander
| valign="top" |Volans.
| valign="top" |An aquatic officer in the Eastern Sea who presented a halberd to Sun Wukong.
|-
| valign="top" |哮天犬
| valign="top" |Xiào Tiān Quǎn
|
| valign="top" |Howling Celestial Hound
| valign="top" |Canes Venatici.
| valign="top" |Erlang Shen's sleek hound, which assisted in capturing Sun Wukong.
|-
| valign="top" |鼍龙
| valign="top" |Tuó Lóng
|
| valign="top" |Dragon Alligator
| valign="top" |Lacerta.
| valign="top" |The nephew of the Dragon King of the Western Sea, who caused trouble in the Black River.
|-
| valign="top" |黄狮精
| valign="top" |Huáng Shī Jīng
|
| valign="top" |Yellow Lion Spirit
| valign="top" |Leo Minor.
| valign="top" |A lion spirit who stole the weapons of the pilgrims.
|-
| valign="top" |南山大王
| valign="top" |Nán Shān Dà Wáng
|
| valign="top" |South Mountain King
| valign="top" |Lynx.
| valign="top" |A leopard spirit who captured Tang Monk using a clever stratagem.
|-
| valign="top" |团牌
| valign="top" |Tuán Pái
|
| valign="top" |Round Shield
| valign="top" |Scutum.
| valign="top" |A common type of round shield in ancient times.
|-
| valign="top" |四明铲
| valign="top" |Sì Míng Chǎn
|
| valign="top" |Siming Spade
| valign="top" |Sextans.
| valign="top" |The weapon of the Yellow Lion Spirit. "Siming" refers to the sun, moon, stars, and cosmos; its blade resembles a 60-degree arc.
|-
| valign="top" |九尾狐狸
| valign="top" |Jiǔ Wěi Hú Li
|
| valign="top" |Nine-Tailed Vixen
| valign="top" |Vulpecula.
| valign="top" |The adoptive mother of the Golden and Silver Horn Kings, killed instantly by Sun Wukong.
|-
| valign="top" |风口袋
| valign="top" |Fēng Kǒu Dài
|
| valign="top" |Wind Bag
| valign="top" |Antlia.
| valign="top" |A sack controlled by the Wind Mother, capable of releasing great gales.
|-
| valign="top" |雷公捎
| valign="top" |Léi Gōng Shāo
|
| valign="top" |Thunder God's Wedge
| valign="top" |Caelum.
| valign="top" |The tool used by the Duke of Thunder to create thunder.
|-
| valign="top" |八卦炉
| valign="top" |Bā Guà Lú
|
| valign="top" |Eight-Trigram Furnace
| valign="top" |Fornax.
| valign="top" |Laozi's alchemical furnace was used to refine elixirs. Sun Wukong was trapped inside for 49 days.
|-
| valign="top" |梆子
| valign="top" |Bāng Zi
|
| valign="top" |Watchman's Clapper (Bangzi)
| valign="top" |Horologium.
| valign="top" |A bamboo or wooden clapper used by minor fiends for alarms or telling time.
|-
| valign="top" |灵山
| valign="top" |Líng Shān
|
| valign="top" |Ling Sacred Mountain
| valign="top" |Mensa.
| valign="top" |Located in the Western Paradise, it is the site of the Temple of Great Thunderclap, where Buddha resides—the final destination of the pilgrimage.
|-
| valign="top" |照妖镜
| valign="top" |Zhào Yāo Jìng
|
| valign="top" |Demon-Revealing Mirror
| valign="top" |Microscopium.
| valign="top" |A treasure of Heavenly King Li that reveals a demon's true form.
|-
| valign="top" |戒尺
| valign="top" |Jiè Chǐ
|
| valign="top" |Ferule
| valign="top" |Norma.
| valign="top" |Used by the Patriarch Bodhi to hit Sun Wukong three times, hinting at a secret midnight lesson.
|-
| valign="top" |南极老寿星
| valign="top" |Nán Jí Lǎo Shòu Xīng
|
| valign="top" |Old Man of the South Pole
| valign="top" |Octans.
| valign="top" |The Star of Longevity, whose identity is fused with the star Canopus. It is also known as the "South Pole Star" because Canopus was the southernmost bright star observable in ancient China.
|-
| valign="top" |蜘蛛网
| valign="top" |Zhī Zhū Wǎng
|
| valign="top" |Spider Web
| valign="top" |Reticulum.
| valign="top" |Web spun by the spider spirits, used to trap Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie.
|-
| valign="top" |通行宝印
| valign="top" |Tōng Xíng Bǎo Yìn
|
| valign="top" |Jade Seal of Passage
| valign="top" |Sculptor.
| valign="top" |A jade seal used to stamp the Travel Rescript (passport).
|-
| valign="top" |老鼋
| valign="top" |Lǎo Yuán
|
| valign="top" |Giant Soft-Shelled Turtle
| valign="top" |Carina, Puppis, Vela.
| valign="top" |A 1,300-year-old turtle that carried the pilgrims across the Tongtian River.
|}

== Shared Guianan knowledge ==
The Lokono territory borders that of two linguistically unrelated indigenous peoples, the Kari’na, speaking a Cariban language, and the Warao, speaking a language isolate. Though unrelated and traditionally not intermarrying, the three groups share a great deal of material and immaterial culture. Ethnoastronomical tradition of the three peoples also shows a number of striking similarities, such as shared stellar myths, similar names of constellations, and parallels in the stellar calendar. This speaks to the contacts between the three groups and to the exchange of astronomical knowledge, possibly facilitated by their respective spiritual leaders, such as the Lokono ''semethi''. The degree to which these traditions overlap and the directionality of their exchange require further study. Here, we focus on the Lokono and therefore do not discuss these cultural borrowings in detail, unless they shed light on the Lokono ethnoastronomy.<ref name=":0" />

=== Stellar oral traditions ===
One of such shared features are myths about stars. Such oral traditions tell of the origins of particular celestial bodies, link them to one another, and explain their influence on the natural world. The Lokono constellation ''Hithikoya'' ‘Spirit of the black curassow’, for instance, is linked in a Lokono myth to that of ''Yokhârhin'' ‘Hunter’ and ''Alêti'' ‘Torch’, all three of which have Kari’na and Warao equivalents. It is these oral traditions, preserved by the medicine-men, that likely served as the main vehicle through which astronomical knowledge was passed from one generation to another. For this reason, summaries of the relevant myths are given in the description of particular constellations. Occasionally, when the relevant Lokono myth is not documented, myths of the neighboring groups are referred to in order to illuminate the significance of particular celestial bodies. Given that many of such oral traditions are shared by the Lokono and the neighboring groups, this enhancement of the poorly preserved Lokono astronomical knowledge is justified.<ref name=":0" />

=== Calendar of spirits ===
The term ''koya'' ‘spirit’, found in numerous constellation names typically following a term for a particular plant or animal, is a key feature of Lokono astronomy. Walter Roth, an ethnographer of the Guianas, explains that such constellations are the spirits of the corresponding beings.<ref>Roth, Walter Edmund. 1924. An Introductory Study of the Arts, Crafts, and Customs of the Guiana Indians. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.</ref> At a time of the year when the constellation appears, the spirit travels from the sky to earth to breathe life into the beings it represents. As such, the ''koya''-constellations formed a calendar, indicating what the best time is to engage in subsistence activities related to these plants and animals (e.g. hunting or gathering). The Lokono may have also known where such spirits would descend on earth; Walter Roth suggests that they called these places with the same names as the constellations but the evidence of that remains poor. Thus, ''Hadorhikoya'' ‘Spirit of the red acouchi’ would refer to the spirit, the constellation, and the place where the ''hadorhi'' is found in plenty when its constellation appears. While this toponymic knowledge is forgotten today, the ''koya''-constellations remind us of the great understanding of the plant and animal life that the Lokono possessed.<ref name=":0" />

=== Wiwa, the star and the year ===
The Lokono also have another general term that is used to refer to stars, ''wiwa''. The term lacks the spiritual connotations of ''koya.'' It refers, on the one hand, to the physical quality of stars as something shining and, on the other hand, to the calendar year. As such, it is used, for instance, when talking about one’s age. While it can apply to any star, ''wiwa'' appears only in two proper names of celestial bodies. ''Yôkoro wiwa'', literally ‘Scores of stars’ (Pleiades), is the most important of all Lokono constellations, whose appearance traditionally commences the Lokono calendar year. Following ''Yôkoro wiwa'' are the numerous ''koya''-constellations, each signaling a different season in the Lokono calendar. On the other hand, ''Wiwa kalemero'', literally ‘Shining star’ (Jupiter) appears to have been singled out solely due to its brightness. Apart from ''wiwa'' and ''koya'', there are no generic terms distinguishing planets, stars, moons, suns, galaxies and so on in the Lokono language. For this reason, the Lokono equivalent of the Milky Way, for instance, is included among other constellations.

=== Sky watching practices ===
While the Lokono can admire the sky in the evening, to follow the Lokono stellar calendar, one has to look at the constellations around 4 am in the morning, the time when the Lokono usually wake up. The Lokono thus observe the rising of the constellations in the morning. To get the right idea of the yearly cycle of constellations, one should also set the viewing location to the Guianas (e.g. Georgetown, Paramaribo, or Cayenne in the location menu). It merits a mention that many Lokono, when drawing constellations, did not connect the stars with lines and that in some cases, there was little agreement among speakers as to which star within a constellation corresponds to which parts of the plant or animal it represents. In Stellarium, we represent constellations with lines, but it should be kept in mind that this may be a distortion of the Lokono tradition, which allows for more flexibility in interpreting particular star groups. Finally, there are restrictions on looking at some celestial bodies, since it is believed that a spirit can harm one if looked at.<ref>Goeje, Claudius Henricus de. 1943. Philosophy, Initiation and Myths of the Indians of Guiana and Adjacent Countries. Archives Internationales d’ethnographie. 44.</ref> For instance, by full moon, mothers covered the eyes of their children so that they would not become sick.<ref>Abbenhuis, M.F. 1939. Arawakken in Suriname: Enquête-Materiaal Voor Een Volkenkundige Studie. Paramaribo: Leo Victor.</ref> Young people were also told not to look at ''Yôkoro wiwa'' (Pleiades), or else they would not grow.<ref>Coll, Cornelius van. 1903. “Gegevens over Land En Volk van Suriname I - Suriname’s Oorspronkelijke Bevolking.” Bijdragen Tot de Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia 55 (1): 453–529.</ref> Such practices applied also to other objects believed to harbor powerful spirits and included other ways of avoiding eye-contact with spirits such rubbing peppers, limes, or salt into one’s eyes.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==

* [[References]] (general)

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