Qigong: Difference between revisions
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''Qī Gōng'' (Seven Excellencies, 七公) is a Chinese asterism composed of seven stars. Its configuration resembles that of ''[[Tianji]]'' (Celestial Discipline, 天紀), forming an east–west alignment that stretches across the modern constellations ''Hercules'', ''Corona Borealis'', and ''Boötes''. The coordinate of its determinative star was first measured in the Western Han period (around 100 BCE), indicating that the asterism has existed for at least twenty-one centuries. | ''Qī Gōng'' (Seven Excellencies, 七公) is a Chinese asterism composed of seven stars. Its configuration resembles that of ''[[Tianji]]'' (Celestial Discipline, 天紀), forming an east–west alignment that stretches across the modern constellations ''[[Hercules]]'', ''[[Corona Borealis]]'', and ''[[Bootes|Boötes]]''. The coordinate of its determinative star was first measured in the Western Han period (around 100 BCE), indicating that the asterism has existed for at least twenty-one centuries. | ||
== Concordance, Etymology, History == | == Concordance, Etymology, History == | ||
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|[[File:Qigong and Guansuo in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium.jpg|thumb|Qigong and Guansuo in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium]] | |[[File:Qigong and Guansuo in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium.jpg|thumb|Qigong and Guansuo in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium]] | ||
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== IAU Working Group on Star Names == | == IAU Working Group on Star Names == | ||
In 2026, the name of the historical constellation Qī Gōng (Seven Excellencies, 七公) was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. The star | In 2026, the name of the historical constellation Qī Gōng (Seven Excellencies, 七公) was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. The star δ Boo was recommended, for this star has an highly-accurate observed coordinate in 1630s and is the westmost star in this constellation (In China, the west star of a constellation is usually the determinative star). | ||
On April 15, 2026, the WGSN adopted the name '''Qigong''' for the naked eye bright star δ Boo (HR 5681, HD 135722, HIP 74666). The star has apparently V magnitude 3.49, and is a yellow giant star (spectral type G8III) that is approximately 37 parsecs distant. δ Boo / Qigong is the primary star of an very wide double star catalogued as STFA 27. Its fainter companion is a 7th magnitude G-type main sequence star that lies 105 arcseconds away (projected separation 38,600 astronomical units). Using Gaia DR3 astrometry, Kervella (2022) estimates the companion δ Boo B is sharing the projected tangential motion with δ Boo A / Qigong within only 0.36 kilometers per second,. Combined with the very similar parallaxes for A and B, the astrometric evidence suggests that the δ Boo / STFA 27 binary is indeed a bound binary star system. | |||
==References == | ==References == | ||
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[[Category:East Asian]] | [[Category:East Asian]] | ||
[[Category:Chinese ]] | [[Category:Chinese ]] | ||
[[Category:Boo]] [[Category:Her]] [[Category:CrB]] | |||
[[Category:IAU-Star Name]] | |||
Latest revision as of 14:41, 17 April 2026
Authors: Boshun YANG, Eric Mamajek, Susanne M Hoffmann
Qī Gōng (Seven Excellencies, 七公) is a Chinese asterism composed of seven stars. Its configuration resembles that of Tianji (天纪) (Celestial Discipline, 天紀), forming an east–west alignment that stretches across the modern constellations Hercules, Corona Borealis, and Boötes. The coordinate of its determinative star was first measured in the Western Han period (around 100 BCE), indicating that the asterism has existed for at least twenty-one centuries.
Concordance, Etymology, History
The name Qigong (“Seven Dukes”) refers to a group of high-ranking officials responsible for deliberation and judicial review. As explained in the Shì shi zan (Star Canon of Master Shi, 石氏星經):
“The Seven Dukes deliberate on doubts and distinguish good from evil; they serve as the ministers who administer justice in Heaven.”
The asterism symbolically comprises the officials Sān Gōng (Three Excellencies，三公), Zuǒ Fǔ (Left Assistant，左辅), Yòu Bì (Right Aide，右弼), Qián Yí (Front Counselor，前疑), and Hòu Chéng (Rear Minister，后丞). Together they were imagined as adjudicating doubtful legal cases, examining punishments, and ensuring careful judicial deliberation. Astrological interpretation held that if the stars appeared orderly and bright, the laws of the state would be just and well administered; if they appeared irregular(in position or brightness), wrongful judgments and miscarriages of justice would increase. The Wei shu (Book of Wei, 魏書), juan 91 (“Treatise on Arts and Techniques”), explicitly associates Qī Gōng with Guàn Suǒ (Heavenly Prison, 貫索):
“The Seven Dukes, seven stars, lie east of Zhāo Yáo and close to Guàn Suǒ. Guàn Suǒ represents the celestial prison; when punishments and judgments lose their proper balance, the Seven Dukes deliberate and rectify injustices.”
In addition, the asterism Tiān Jì (Celestial Discipline, 天紀) lies immediately to the lower left of Qī Gōng. Together, these three asterisms form a closely related symbolic complex representing the judicial institutions of Heaven.
Identification of stars
| 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 Huangyou(1052) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st(determinative) | 42 Her | 42 Her | gamma Boo | del Boo | beta Boo | beta Boo | gamma Boo |
| 2nd | tau Her | tau Her | beta Boo | mu1 Boo | mu1 Boo | mu1 Boo | beta Boo |
| 3rd | phi Her | phi Her | mu1 Boo | zeta1 CrB | zeta1 CrB | zeta1 CrB | mu1 Boo |
| 4th | chi Her | chi Her | gamma CrB | kappa CrB | kappa CrB | kappa CrB | zeta1 CrB |
| 5th | nu1 Boo | nu1 Boo | 25 Her | tau CrB | tau CrB | tau CrB | kappa CrB |
| 6th | mu1 Boo | mu1 Boo | eta He | 25 Her | 25 Her | tau CrB | |
| 7th | del Boo | del Boo | HIP 83947 | eta Her | eta Her | eta Her | sigma Her |
Maps (Gallery)
| historical map | modern identification | same in Stellarium |
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IAU Working Group on Star Names
In 2026, the name of the historical constellation Qī Gōng (Seven Excellencies, 七公) was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. The star δ Boo was recommended, for this star has an highly-accurate observed coordinate in 1630s and is the westmost star in this constellation (In China, the west star of a constellation is usually the determinative star).
On April 15, 2026, the WGSN adopted the name Qigong for the naked eye bright star δ Boo (HR 5681, HD 135722, HIP 74666). The star has apparently V magnitude 3.49, and is a yellow giant star (spectral type G8III) that is approximately 37 parsecs distant. δ Boo / Qigong is the primary star of an very wide double star catalogued as STFA 27. Its fainter companion is a 7th magnitude G-type main sequence star that lies 105 arcseconds away (projected separation 38,600 astronomical units). Using Gaia DR3 astrometry, Kervella (2022) estimates the companion δ Boo B is sharing the projected tangential motion with δ Boo A / Qigong within only 0.36 kilometers per second,. Combined with the very similar parallaxes for A and B, the astrometric evidence suggests that the δ Boo / STFA 27 binary is indeed a bound binary star system.
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. p226.
- ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p443.
- ↑ 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). 261.
