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Created page with " {{DISPLAYTITLE:Shaowei (少衛)}} This is a traditional Chinese star name of one of the stars in the historical Chinese constellation of Tianshi (Celestial Marketplace). Zhou is also a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is the Chinese traditional star name. It is the name of HIP77233 (β Ser, HR 5867) in constellation Ser. __FORCETOC__ == Etymology and History of the Name == =..."
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  {{DISPLAYTITLE:Shaowei (少衛)}}
  {{DISPLAYTITLE:Shaowei (少衛)}}
[[File:Shaowei profileCard SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg|thumb|Shaowei profile card (CC BY M. Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).]]
[[File:Shaowei stickfigure SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg|thumb|Shaowei stick figure (CC BY M. Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).]]
''Shào Wèi'' (The Second Imperial Guard, 少衛) is the sixth star on the right wall of the ''[[Zigong|Zǐ Gōng]]'' (''Purple Palace, 紫宮'') or ''Zǐwēi Yuán'' (''Purple Forbidden Enclosure''), counting northward from the southern gate. Although its identification has varied across historical sources, all recorded versions consistently place it within the modern constellation ''[[Camelopardalis]]''. 


This is a traditional Chinese star name of one of the stars in the historical Chinese constellation of Tianshi (Celestial Marketplace). 
Shaowei is also a modern star name, adopted by the IAU in December 2025.  
 
Zhou is also a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is the Chinese traditional star name. It is the name of HIP77233 (β Ser, HR 5867) in constellation Ser.


__FORCETOC__
__FORCETOC__
== Etymology and History of the Name ==
== Etymology and History of the Name ==
The ''Shi's Commentary'' (Shì shi zan, 石氏讚) records: “Within the ''Purple Palace'' are fifteen stars representing vassal ministers.” The star names—such as ''Shào Wèi'' and other “guard” designations—may have developed in reference to, or as elaborations upon, this passage.


=== Explanation of the Name ===
Each of the fifteen stars of the ''Purple Palace'' bears an individual name. However, those martial or defensive names are absent from pre-Tang sources and only became widespread from the mid-Tang period onward (8th century CE). Earlier texts employed a different nomenclature system (See [[Zigong]]).
The name "Zhou [周]" comes from the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE - 256 BCE), which established a powerful state after overthrowing the Shang dynasty and enfeoffed many vassals. However, after the fall of the Western Zhou (1046 BCE - 771 BCE), the Eastern Zhou (770 BCE - 256 BCE) moved the capital to Luoyang, and their power gradually declined. The vassals grew stronger and no longer recognized the Zhou's authority, declaring themselves kings and reducing Zhou's territory to a small area. Thus, in the Tianshiyuan, Zhou did not hold a transcendent position but was on par with other regional vassal states.
 
An alternative explanation for the star name "Zhou" would be a location within the super-constellation of Tianshi, The Celestial Marketplace (instead of a dynasty). Many other stars in Tianshi refer to specific places, e.g. the "Wei" could refer to the territory used to belong to the Wei kingdom, and the star names Nanhai and Hejian are place names instead of vassals. Hence, Tianshi consists of stars related to merchants from different places, so "Zhou" can be interpreted as a place name, too.
 
=== Spelling ===
An alternative spelling of this Chinese star name (Chow) is given in Allen (1899). This spelling is outdated and reflects neither the international Pinyin ("zhou") nor the Wade-Giles ("chou") Romanisation system. It originates from the first English-Chinese dictionary compiled by missionary Robert Morrison, who created the Morrison Romanization system to transcribe Chinese. According to the preface of the book, the Romanization was based on the Nanjing dialect of Mandarin at that time. According to [https://www.zjujournals.com/soc/CN/abstract/abstract10177.shtml the article (Chen Hui 2010)]<ref>陈 辉. 19世纪东西洋士人所记录的汉语官话[J]. 浙江大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2010, 40(6): 75-.  


Chen Hui. Mandarin Dialects as Recorded by Western and Eastern Intellectuals in the 19th Century, ''Journal of Zhejiang University (Humanities and Social Sciences Edition)'' 2010, 40(6): 75-.</ref>, Beijing dialect was then considered to be the Mandarin spoken with a Manchu (invader) accent, while Nanjing Mandarin was viewed as the standard. All dialects have the same pronunciation of the character "周", which is [tʂ ou]. Over time, the Beijing Mandarin gradually evolved to be regarded as the standard.
It should be noted that there were two stars named ''Shào Wèi'' (The Second Imperial Guard, 少衛): one is the sixth star on the right wall and another is the seventh on the left wall. In addition, the second star on the right wall was called ''Shào Wèi'' (The Second Commandant, 少尉), identical in pronunciation but written with a different character (尉 rather than 衞).
 
Today and since 1958, ''Pinying'' is a national standard of China. In addition, since 1982 the system has been adopted by the ''International Organization for Standardization'' as ISO 7098 (1982), which was updated first in 1991 as ISO 7098 (1991) and again in 2015 as ISO 7098 (2015), while ISO 7089 (2015) was unanimously approved by all the member states of the ISO, including USA and UK which disapproved and abstained respectively for technical reasons in 1982.
 
Pinyin is now the national and international standard, and its spelling "Zhou" for the star name is used in China and by the National Palace Museum in Taipei.  


=== Constellation & Star Name ===
=== Constellation & Star Name ===
Since the Han dynasty, the number of stars in the Tianshi (Celestial Market) were fixed at 22, with each star representing a different state or region. The names of these states mostly originated from the Spring and Autumn（770 BCE - 476 BCE) and Warring States (475 BCE - 221 BCE) periods.   
See [[Zigong]] for better identification.   
 
The Tianshi-constellation consisting of 22 stars was formed at the Western Han (202 BCE - 8 CE) period, with star names changing before the Tang dynasty. Ever since the establishment of the Tianshi constellation, the star name "Zhou" (identified as β Ser) has always been one of the stars in the Celestial Marketplace. For approximately 2000 years, this star name is unchanged.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
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Based on catalogue in 18th century
Based on catalogue in 18th century
!Pan Nai<ref name=":0">Pan Nai [潘鼐]. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]''. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p.&nbsp;226.</ref>
!Pan Nai<ref name=":0">Pan Nai [潘鼐]. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]''. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p.&nbsp;226.</ref>
based on Xinyixiangfayao Star Map
based on Huangyou Star Catalogue
!Pan Nai<ref>Pan Nai [潘鼐]. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]''. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p.&nbsp;443.</ref>
!Pan Nai<ref>Pan Nai [潘鼐]. ''Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]''. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p.&nbsp;443.</ref>
based on catalogues in Yuan dynasty
based on catalogues in Yuan dynasty
! SUN X. & J. Kistemaker<ref>Sun Xiaochun & Kistemaker J. ''The Chinese sky during the Han''. Leiden: Brill. 1997, pp.&nbsp;241-6.</ref>
! SUN X. & J. Kistemaker<ref>Sun Xiaochun & Kistemaker J. ''The Chinese sky during the Han''. Leiden: Brill. 1997, pp.&nbsp;241-6.</ref>
Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":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). p.&nbsp;261.</ref>
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":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). p.238.</ref>
before Tang dynasty
before Tang dynasty
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":1" />
!Boshun Yang<ref name=":1" />
Song Jingyou(1034)
Song Jingyou(1034)
|-
|-
|Zhou
|Shaowei (少衛, 6th on the Right Wall )
|β Ser
|α Cam
|β Ser
|α Cam
|β Ser
|BN Cam
|β Ser
|γ Cam
|β Ser
|BK Cam
|β Ser
|HIP 33694
|β Ser
|HIP33694
|-
|Shaowei (少衛, 7th on the Left Wall )
|π Cep
|π Cep
|ρ Cep
|γ Cep
|73 Dra
|φ Dra
|73 Dra
|}
|}


== Images ==
== Images ==
<gallery widths="200" heights="200" caption="Zhou">
<gallery widths="300" heights="300" caption="Shaowei">
File:Zhou on Suzhou star map.jpg|Zhou on Suzhou star map
File:Shaowei on Suzhou Star Map.png|Shaowei on Suzhou Star Map
File:Zhou on Xinyixiangfayao star map.jpg|Zhou on Xinyixiangfayao star map
File:Shaowei on Xinyixinagfayao Star Map.jpg|Shaowei on ''Xinyixinagfayao'' Star Map
</gallery>
File:Shaowei on18th Century Star Map.jpg|Shaowei on 18th Century ''Yixiang kaocheng'' Star Map
 
</gallery>
== IAU Star Name ==
The word is simple, short and easy - even for people who don't know Chinese. 
 
The star name "'''''Chow'''''" is already in SIMBAD and correctly associated with ''[https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Chow&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id beta Serpentis (SIMBAD)]'', so the WGSN should register this name in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names. However, the correct spelling in Pinyin Chinese would be "Zhou". 
[[File:Allen p376.jpg|alt=screenshot(s) of text|thumb|Screenshot from Allen (1899), showing the name "Chow" in the constellation Serpens as one of many possibilities. ]]
 
=== Usage of the name in modern texts ===
At least these six papers already used the name (although in old spelling) which shows its acceptance.
# John Reeves, Esq. F.R.&L.S. ""Chinese Names of Stars and Constellations collected at the Request of the Author of this Dictionary"" in Robert Morrison (1819) ""A Dictionary of the Chinese Language in Three Parts, Volumes 1-2"" (Honorable East India Company's Press).
# Richard Hinckley Allen (1899) ""Star-Names and their Meanings"" (G.E. Stechert, New York).
# Robert Burnham, Jr. (1978) ""Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System"" (Dover Publications).
# Howard Schneider (2009) ""Backyard Guide to the Night Sky"" (National Geographic Books).
# Shaya E.J. & Olling R.P. (2011; 2011ApJS..192....2S) ""Very wide binaries and other comoving stellar companions: a Bayesian analysis of the Hipparcos catalogue"".
# Jones et al. (2015; 2015ApJ...813...58J) ""The ages of A-stars. I. Interferometric observations and age estimates for stars in the Ursa Major moving group"".
Obviously, the name and the spelling appears to have started appearing in international literature after appearing in the work by John Reeves, Esq. F.R.&L.S. "''Chinese Names of Stars and Constellations collected at the Request of the Author of this Dictionary''" in Robert Morrison (1819) "''A Dictionary of the Chinese Language in Three Parts, Volumes 1-2''" (Honorable East India Company's Press), and it was later spread through Richard Hinckley Allen's (1899) "''Star-names and their meanings''" (G.E. Stechert, New York). Although Allen (1899) is known to be partially outdated and incorrect, this book has been one of the best sold and most commonly known references for star names in the 20th century.
 
This is a case where the Chinese name was uniquely attributed to this star, i.e. not an entire asterism - strengthening its attachment.
 
=== Other names for this star ===
The only other name for bet Ser that we are aware of is "'''Nasak Shamiya I'''" from Rhoads (1971), from the Arabic asterism that Rhoads transliterated as "Nasaḳ Shāmiyy". Danielle Adams in her PhD thesis (p.166) transliterated this as "al-nasaq al-shāmī " which makes the name even longer and more complicated. Regardless, this was an asterism with several stars, and the Rhoads version of the name with the Roman numeral did not really come into common usage.


==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2024/12/05.  
In 2025, the name of the historical constellation "Shaowei" was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. It was adopted in December 2025 for γ Cam in [[Camelopardalis]].
 
==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/
 
== References ==
== References ==
[[References]]  
[[References]]  

Latest revision as of 11:58, 31 December 2025


Shaowei profile card (CC BY M. Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).
Shaowei stick figure (CC BY M. Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).

Shào Wèi (The Second Imperial Guard, 少衛) is the sixth star on the right wall of the Zǐ Gōng (Purple Palace, 紫宮) or Zǐwēi Yuán (Purple Forbidden Enclosure), counting northward from the southern gate. Although its identification has varied across historical sources, all recorded versions consistently place it within the modern constellation Camelopardalis.

Shaowei is also a modern star name, adopted by the IAU in December 2025.


Etymology and History of the Name

The Shi's Commentary (Shì shi zan, 石氏讚) records: “Within the Purple Palace are fifteen stars representing vassal ministers.” The star names—such as Shào Wèi and other “guard” designations—may have developed in reference to, or as elaborations upon, this passage.

Each of the fifteen stars of the Purple Palace bears an individual name. However, those martial or defensive names are absent from pre-Tang sources and only became widespread from the mid-Tang period onward (8th century CE). Earlier texts employed a different nomenclature system (See Zigong (紫宮)).

It should be noted that there were two stars named Shào Wèi (The Second Imperial Guard, 少衛): one is the sixth star on the right wall and another is the seventh on the left wall. In addition, the second star on the right wall was called Shào Wèi (The Second Commandant, 少尉), identical in pronunciation but written with a different character (尉 rather than 衞).

Constellation & Star Name

See Zigong (紫宮) for better identification.

Star Name Ho PENG YOKE[1] Yi Shitong[2]

Based on catalogue in 18th century

Pan Nai[3]

based on Huangyou Star Catalogue

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)

Shaowei (少衛, 6th on the Right Wall ) α Cam α Cam BN Cam γ Cam BK Cam HIP 33694 HIP33694
Shaowei (少衛, 7th on the Left Wall ) π Cep π Cep ρ Cep γ Cep 73 Dra φ Dra 73 Dra

Images

  • Shaowei
  • Shaowei on Suzhou Star Map
    Shaowei on Suzhou Star Map
  • Shaowei on Xinyixinagfayao Star Map
    Shaowei on Xinyixinagfayao Star Map
  • Shaowei on 18th Century Yixiang kaocheng Star Map
    Shaowei on 18th Century Yixiang kaocheng Star Map

IAU Working Group on Star Names

In 2025, the name of the historical constellation "Shaowei" was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. It was adopted in December 2025 for γ Cam in Camelopardalis.

References

References

References (Chinese)

  1. ↑ P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” Vistas in Astronomy, 5 (1962), 127-225.
  2. ↑ Yi Shitong [伊世同]. Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao [中西对照恒星图表1950]. Beijing: Science Press. 1981: p. 56.
  3. ↑ Pan Nai [潘鼐]. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 1989. p. 226.
  4. ↑ Pan Nai [潘鼐]. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi [中国恒星观测史]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p. 443.
  5. ↑ Sun Xiaochun & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, pp. 241-6.
  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). p.238.
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