Tiancang: Difference between revisions

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Tiancang
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Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
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[[File:HK LeiChengUkHanTombMuseum GranaryPotteryModel.png|thumb|Han dynasty pottery granary model, housed in the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum, Hong Kong.]]
[[File:Tiancang before Ming dynasty in Stellarium.png|alt=Tiancang before Ming dynasty in Stellarium|thumb|Tiancang before Ming dynasty in Stellarium]]
Tiān Cāng (天倉, Square Celestial Granary) is a Chinese asterism belonging to the [[Lou]] (Bond) lunar mansion. Among the Three Schools of ancient Chinese astronomy, it is classified as an external constellation of the Shi School (石氏). The asterism consists of 6 stars located to the south of Lou, within the modern constellation [[Cetus]].
Tiān Cāng (天倉, Square Celestial Granary) is a Chinese asterism belonging to the [[Lou]] (Bond) lunar mansion. Among the Three Schools of ancient Chinese astronomy, it is classified as an external constellation of the Shi School (石氏). The asterism consists of 6 stars located to the south of Lou, within the modern constellation [[Cetus]].


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The name Tiān Cāng combines ''tiān'' (天, celestial) with ''cāng'' (倉), which denotes a square granary or storehouse in classical Chinese. The ''Shuowen Jiezi'' (説文解字) glosses cāng (倉) as "a place where grain is stored" (穀藏也), while later commentaries distinguish between ''cāng'' (倉, square, roofed granary) and ''qūn'' (囷, circular granary). The asterism thus represents the square granary of heaven, complementing the circular granary [[Tianqun]] to its east.
The name Tiān Cāng combines ''tiān'' (天, celestial) with ''cāng'' (倉), which denotes a square granary or storehouse in classical Chinese. The ''Shuowen Jiezi'' (説文解字) glosses cāng (倉) as "a place where grain is stored" (穀藏也), while later commentaries distinguish between ''cāng'' (倉, square, roofed granary) and ''qūn'' (囷, circular granary). The asterism thus represents the square granary of heaven, complementing the circular granary [[Tianqun]] to its east.
[[File:Guangyingcang, Ying County, Shanxi Province.png|alt=Guangying Granary (廣盈倉) in Ying County, Shanxi, built in 1444 (Ming dynasty). It served as the official granary of Ying County, used for storing grain collected as land tax.|left|thumb|350x350px|Guangying Granary (廣盈倉) in Ying County, Shanxi, built in 1444 (Ming dynasty). It served as the official granary of Ying County, used for storing grain collected as land tax.]]


The origin of Tiancang is directly linked to the granary symbolism of the [[Wei (Stomach)|Wèi (胃)]] mansion. The ''Shiji·Tianguan Shu'' (史記·天官書, Treatise on the Celestial Offices) states: <blockquote>Wèi is the celestial granary. The many stars to its south are called Kuài Jī (廥積, stores of hay and grain).</blockquote>
The origin of Tiancang is directly linked to the granary symbolism of the [[Wei (Stomach)|Wèi (胃)]] mansion. The ''Shiji·Tianguan Shu'' (史記·天官書, Treatise on the Celestial Offices) states: <blockquote>Wèi is the celestial granary. The many stars to its south are called Kuài Jī (廥積, stores of hay and grain).</blockquote>
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!same in Stellarium
!same in Stellarium
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|[[File:Kulou on the Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido Star Chart.jpg|alt=historical image of Kulou (Korea)|thumb|Kulou on the Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido Star Chart]]
|[[File:Tiancang in Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido.png|alt=Tiancang in Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido|thumb|Tiancang in ''Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido'']]
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| rowspan="3" |[[File:Tiancang before Tang Dynasty reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023).png|alt=Tiancang before Tang Dynasty reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)|thumb|Tiancang before Tang Dynasty reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)]]
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| rowspan="5" |[[File:Tiancang before Ming dynasty in Stellarium.png|alt=Tiancang before Ming dynasty in Stellarium|thumb|Tiancang before Song dynasty in Stellarium]]
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|[[File:Tiancang in Dunhuang Star Map.png|alt=Tiancang in Dunhuang Star Map|thumb|Tiancang in Dunhuang Star Map]]
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|[[File:Tiancang in Geziyuejintu.png|alt=Tiancang in Geziyuejintu|thumb|Tiancang in ''Geziyuejintu'']]
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|[[File:TIancang in Xinyixiangfayao Star Map.png|alt=TIancang in Xinyixiangfayao Star Map|thumb|TIancang in ''Xinyixiangfayao'' Star Map]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Tiancang in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Pan Nai (2009).png|alt=Tiancang in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Pan Nai (2009)|thumb|Tiancang in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Pan Nai (2009)]][[File:Tiancang in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023).png|alt=Tiancang in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)|thumb|Tiancang in Song Dynasty (Huangyou period) reconstructed by Boshun Yang (2023)]]
|-
|[[File:Tiancang in Suzhou Star Map.png|alt=Tiancang in Suzhou Star Map|thumb|Tiancang in Suzhou Star Map]]
|-
|[[File:Tiancang in Yixiang kaocheng star map of 18th century.png|alt=Tiancang in Yixiang Kaocheng star map of 18th century|thumb|Tiancang in ''Yixiang Kaocheng'' star map of 18th century]]
|[[File:Tiancang in Qing dynasty reconstructed by Yi Shitong based on Yixiang Kaocheng Star Catalogue (18th century).png|alt=Tiancang in Qing dynasty reconstructed by Yi Shitong based on Yixiang Kaocheng Star Catalogue (18th century)|thumb|Tiancang in Qing dynasty reconstructed by Yi Shitong based on ''Yixiang Kaocheng'' Star Catalogue (18th century)]]
|[[File:Tiancang in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium.png|alt=Tiancang in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium|thumb|Tiancang in Qing dynasty (18th century) in Stellarium]]
|}
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Revision as of 06:28, 29 September 2026



Authors: Lyu Haocheng, Susanne M Hoffmann

Han dynasty pottery granary model, housed in the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum, Hong Kong.
Tiancang before Ming dynasty in Stellarium
Tiancang before Ming dynasty in Stellarium

Tiān Cāng (天倉, Square Celestial Granary) is a Chinese asterism belonging to the Lou (婁) (Bond) lunar mansion. Among the Three Schools of ancient Chinese astronomy, it is classified as an external constellation of the Shi School (石氏). The asterism consists of 6 stars located to the south of Lou, within the modern constellation Cetus.

Tiancang (天倉)
Asterism Info
Native
天倉
RomanisationTiān Cāng
IPA/tʰjɛn˥.t͡sʰɑŋ˥/
Translation
Square Celestial Granary
Position (2000)
Right ascension11.04770833 to 30.0035
Declination-21.08013889 to -8.184472222
Area0 sq. deg.
Stars
Bright stars6
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars		6
Stars brighter than 3.00m0
Brightest starη Cet (3.45m)
Taxonomy
category
of asterism		constellation
IAU-
constellations		Cet

Concordance, Etymology, History

The name Tiān Cāng combines tiān (天, celestial) with cāng (倉), which denotes a square granary or storehouse in classical Chinese. The Shuowen Jiezi (説文解字) glosses cāng (倉) as "a place where grain is stored" (穀藏也), while later commentaries distinguish between cāng (倉, square, roofed granary) and qūn (囷, circular granary). The asterism thus represents the square granary of heaven, complementing the circular granary Tianqun (天囷) to its east.

Guangying Granary (廣盈倉) in Ying County, Shanxi, built in 1444 (Ming dynasty). It served as the official granary of Ying County, used for storing grain collected as land tax.
Guangying Granary (廣盈倉) in Ying County, Shanxi, built in 1444 (Ming dynasty). It served as the official granary of Ying County, used for storing grain collected as land tax.


The origin of Tiancang is directly linked to the granary symbolism of the Wèi (胃) mansion. The Shiji·Tianguan Shu (史記·天官書, Treatise on the Celestial Offices) states:

Wèi is the celestial granary. The many stars to its south are called Kuài Jī (廥積, stores of hay and grain).

This passage identifies the region south of Wèi as a celestial storage complex, from which Tiancang and related granary asterisms were later differentiated.

In astrological texts, Tiancang was understood as the celestial agricultural office (天司農), governing the storage of grain in state granaries. The Huangdi Zhan (黄帝占) records that when the stars within Tiancang are numerous, grain is gathered and the stores are full; when they are few, the granaries are empty and grain is dispersed. The Shi Shi adds that when the "door" of Tiān Cāng is open, the year will be one of great harvest; when closed, the grain will not ripen and the people will suffer famine. Xi Meng (郗萌) notes that if the stars of Tiancang are incomplete, the roads will be impassable.

Identification of stars

Before the late Ming dynasty, the identification of the six stars of Tiancang was relatively consistent. The determinative star was the northwestern star, identified as θ Ceti, though some sources identify it as η Ceti.

Star Names or Orders(Qing) Han Dynasty (SUN X. & J. Kistemaker[1]) 3rd to 6th Century (Boshun Yang[2]) Song Dynaty (Boshun Yang[2], 1034 CE) Song Dynasty (Pan Nai[3], 1052 CE) Song Dynasty (Boshun Yang[2], 1052 CE) Yuan Dynasty (Pan Nai[4], 14th century) Qing Dynaty (Yi Shitong[5], 18th Century) Ho PENG YOKE[6]
1st ι Cet φ1 Cet φ1 Cet φ1 Cet φ1 Cet φ1 Cet ι Cet ι Cet
2nd η Cet η Cet η Cet η Cet η Cet η Cet η Cet η Cet
3rd θ Cet θ Cet (determinative) θ Cet (determinative) θ Cet (determinative) θ Cet (determinative) θ Cet θ Cet θ Cet
4th ζ Cet ζ Cet ζ Cet ζ Cet ζ Cet ζ Cet ζ Cet ζ Cet
5th τ Cet τ Cet τ Cet 47 Cet τ Cet τ Cet τ Cet τ Cet
6th υ Cet υ Cet υ Cet τ Cet υ Cet υ Cet 57 Cet 57 Cet

Maps (Gallery)

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


IAU Working Group on Star Names

In 2026, the name of the historical constellation "Tiancang" was suggested to be used for one of the stars in this constellation. ...

Decision: ...

References

References (Chinese) [[Category: ]]

  1. ↑ Sun Xiaochun. & Kistemaker J. The Chinese sky during the Han. Leiden: Brill. 1997, Pp241-6.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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. ↑ Pan Nai潘鼐. Zhongguo Hengxing Guance shi中国恒星观测史[M]. Shanghai: Xuelin Pree. 2009. p435-443.
  5. ↑ Yi Shitong伊世同. Zhongxi Duizhao Hengxing Tubiao中西对照恒星图表1950. Beijing: Science Press.1981.
  6. ↑ P.-Y. Ho, “Ancient And Mediaeval Observations of Comets and Novae in Chinese Sources,” Vistas in Astronomy, 5(1962), 127-225.
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