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== Concordance, Etymology, History ==
== Concordance, Etymology, History ==
'''Variants'''
* '''character:'''
** ''hùn'' (溷)
** 圂 (hùn)
** 囗 (enclosure) with 豕 (pig) inside
* translation/interpretation: 
** Celestial Pigsty (Tianhun)
** "a latrine" (圂，廁也)
** Tianhun represents the celestial pigsty and latrine


The name Tianhun combines ''tiān'' (天, celestial) with ''hùn'' (溷), whose original character is 圂 (hùn). The two characters 溷 and 圂 were interchangeable in ancient texts due to their identical pronunciation, and 溷 eventually became the more commonly used form in transmitted literature. The ''Shuowen Jiezi'' (説文解字) defines 圂 as "a latrine" (圂，廁也) and explains its structure: "It is composed of 囗 (enclosure) with 豕 (pig) inside. A pig within an enclosure is called hùn" (从囗，象豕在囗中也。豕在囗中，故謂之圂). The character's very form thus depicts a pig in a pen — a pigsty — which in ancient Chinese rural architecture was typically combined with a latrine. This dual function of pigsty and latrine is the core meaning of the asterism.
The name Tianhun combines ''tiān'' (天, celestial) with ''hùn'' (溷), whose original character is 圂 (hùn). The two characters 溷 and 圂 were interchangeable in ancient texts due to their identical pronunciation, and 溷 eventually became the more commonly used form in transmitted literature. The ''Shuowen Jiezi'' (説文解字) defines 圂 as "a latrine" (圂，廁也) and explains its structure: "It is composed of 囗 (enclosure) with 豕 (pig) inside. A pig within an enclosure is called hùn" (从囗，象豕在囗中也。豕在囗中，故謂之圂). The character's very form thus depicts a pig in a pen — a pigsty — which in ancient Chinese rural architecture was typically combined with a latrine. This dual function of pigsty and latrine is the core meaning of the asterism.

Latest revision as of 06:19, 10 October 2026



Authors: Lyu Haocheng, Susanne M Hoffmann

Tianhun (天溷)
Asterism Info
Native
天溷
RomanisationTiān Hùn
IPA/tʰjɛn˥.xwən˥˩/
Translation
Celestial Pigsty
Position (2000)
Right ascension8.812 to 19.45083333
Declination-7.924 to 5.65
Area0 sq. deg.
Stars
Bright stars7
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars		6
Stars brighter than 3.00m0
Brightest star20 Cet (4.76m)
Taxonomy
category
of asterism		constellation
IAU-
constellations		Cet, Psc

Tiān Hùn (天溷) is a Chinese asterism belonging to the Kui (奎) (Legs) lunar mansion. Among the Three Schools, it is classified as an external constellation of the Gan School (甘氏). The asterism consists of seven stars located to the south of Waiping (外屏) (Outer Fence), within the modern constellation Cetus and Pisces.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Variants

  • character:
    • hùn (溷)
    • 圂 (hùn)
    • 囗 (enclosure) with 豕 (pig) inside
  • translation/interpretation:
    • Celestial Pigsty (Tianhun)
    • "a latrine" (圂，廁也)
    • Tianhun represents the celestial pigsty and latrine

The name Tianhun combines tiān (天, celestial) with hùn (溷), whose original character is 圂 (hùn). The two characters 溷 and 圂 were interchangeable in ancient texts due to their identical pronunciation, and 溷 eventually became the more commonly used form in transmitted literature. The Shuowen Jiezi (説文解字) defines 圂 as "a latrine" (圂，廁也) and explains its structure: "It is composed of 囗 (enclosure) with 豕 (pig) inside. A pig within an enclosure is called hùn" (从囗，象豕在囗中也。豕在囗中，故謂之圂). The character's very form thus depicts a pig in a pen — a pigsty — which in ancient Chinese rural architecture was typically combined with a latrine. This dual function of pigsty and latrine is the core meaning of the asterism.

The Gan Shi Zan (甘氏讚, Gan's Eulogy) describes Tianhun as "the pit for excrement and the mound of dung" (杼廁糞丘), and the Kaiyuan Zhanjing (開元占經) states simply: "Tianhun is the latrine" (天溷，廁也). The asterism's origin is directly tied to the symbolism of the Kui (奎) mansion, which is traditionally associated with the pig (Tianshi, 天豕). Tianhun represents the celestial pigsty and latrine — the functional counterpart to the pig's celestial presence. Its position south of Waiping (外屏) (Outer Fence) is deliberate: the Gan Shi (甘氏) states that the Outer Fence "serves to screen Tianhun" (外屏，所以障天溷也). The Shi Ji·Zheng Yi (史記正義) explains: "The Outer Fence is south of Kui (奎), shielding the Celestial Pigsty (Tianhun), so that its foul odours are not seen” (外屏在奎南，障天溷，令其臭穢不見也).

The Sui Shu·Tianwen Zhi (隋書·天文志, Book of Sui, Treatise on Astronomy) records:

Seven stars south of Kui are called Waiping; seven stars south of Waiping are called Tianhun, the latrine. The screen serves to shield it. (奎南七星曰外屏，外屏南七星曰天溷，廁也。屏所以障之也。)

The Song Shi·Tianwen Zhi (宋史·天文志) similarly states:

Waiping, seven stars, is south of Kui, governing the screening of foul odours. (外屏七星，在奎南，主障蔽臭穢。)

It further describes Tianhun as "the place for the celestial latrine and pig-rearing" (主天廁養豢之所), and notes that when it is dim, the people are uneasy.

Identification of stars

Star Names or Orders(Qing) Han Dynasty (SUN X. & J. Kistemaker[1]) 3rd to 6th Century (Boshun Yang[2]) Song Dynasty (Pan Nai[3], 1052 CE) Song Dynasty (Boshun Yang[2], 1052 CE) Qing Dynaty (Yi Shitong[4], 18th Century)
1st 20 Cet 20 Cet 20 Cet (determinative） 20 Cet (determinative） 21 Cet
2nd 25 Cet 25 Cet 25 Cet 25 Cet φ3 Cet
3rd 39 Cet 37 Cet (determinative) 39 Cet 39 Cet 18 Cet
4th 42 Cet 39 Cet 43 Cet 42 Cet φ1 Cet
5th 89 Psc 89 Psc 89 Psc 89 Psc (deleted)
6th 80 Psc 80 Psc 77 Psc 80 Psc (deleted)
7th 73 Psc HIP 3765 HIP 3992 HIP 3992 (deleted)

Maps (Gallery)

historical map modern identification same in Stellarium
Tianhun in Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido
Tianhun in Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido
Tianhun before Tang Dynasty reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)
Tianhun before Tang Dynasty reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)
Tianhun and Waiping before Tang dynasty in Stellarium reconstructed by Boshun Yang
Tianhun and Waiping before Tang dynasty in Stellarium reconstructed by Boshun Yang
Tianhun in Dunhuang Star Map
Tianhun in Dunhuang Star Map
Tianhun in Geziyuejintu
Tianhun in Geziyuejintu
Tianhun in Xinyixiangfayao Star Map
Tianhun in Xinyixiangfayao Star Map
Tianhun in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Pan Nai (2009)
Tianhun in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Pan Nai (2009)
Tianhun in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)
Tianhun in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)
Tianhun and Waiping in Northern Song dynasty (11th century) in Stellarium
Tianhun and Waiping in Northern Song dynasty (11th century) in Stellarium
Tianhun in Suzhou Star Map
Tianhun in Suzhou Star Map
Tianhun in Yixiang Kaocheng star map of 18th century
Tianhun in Yixiang Kaocheng star map of 18th century
Tianhun in Qing dynasty reconstructed by Yi Shitong based on Yixiang Kaocheng Star Catalogue (18th century)
Tianhun in Qing dynasty reconstructed by Yi Shitong based on Yixiang Kaocheng Star Catalogue (18th century)
Tianhun in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium
Tianhun in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium

IAU Working Group on Star Names

In 2026, the name of the historical constellation "Tianhun" was suggested to be used for 20 Ceti in this constellation, as it is the determinative star in the Huangyou star catalogue and the brightest star of the asterism.

Decision: ...

References

References (Chinese)

  1. ↑ Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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), Pp297-304.
  3. ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989, Pp220-226.
  4. ↑ Yi Shitong伊世同. Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981.
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