How to divide constellations in ancient China?

The dates of the twelve constellations are accurately divided according to the neutral time of the traditional 24 solar terms in China. This division method is only applicable to the sun constellations with twelve constellations.

Constellation is an astrology invented by westerners. Its principle is to take the earth (human) as a reference object, and according to the relative positions and relative motion laws of the stars in the solar system (Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Pluto, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mars and other planets), to study and analyze the influence of these motion laws on human life and other aspects, and to explain people's character and destiny through the time and place of birth.

The constellation originated from the primitive Babylonians on the Mesopotamian plain. They divide the ecliptic plane into 12 regions, which are called "zodiac signs", and the zodiac signs correspond to twelve constellations respectively. The boundaries of the twelve constellations are divided according to the time points of qi (vernal equinox, Grain Rain, Xiaoman, summer solstice, summer heat, autumnal equinox, first frost, light snow, winter solstice, severe cold and rain) in the twenty-four solar terms of the lunar calendar (note: the twenty-four solar terms are divided into 12 qi and1). The order of the twelve constellations is: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Although the western horoscope and China's birth numerology are two completely different life fate prediction systems, there are striking similarities between the westerners' division of the twelve horoscope and the division of twelve months (months) in the eight-character fortune-telling invented by China. These two forecasting systems are based on the unique creation of 24 solar terms in China calendar. The twelve months of the lunar calendar in China are based on 12 solar terms (beginning of spring, Jing Zhe, Qingming, Long Summer, Mangzi, Xiaoshu, beginning of autumn, Bailu, Cold Dew, beginning of winter, Heavy Snow and Slight Cold) and beginning of spring Point (beginning of spring is the first of the twenty-four solar terms in the lunar calendar, which means that the sun reaches the 365438 meridian). Twelve months are represented by twelve earthly branches, and the order is: Yin (first month), Mao (February), Chen (March), Si (April), Wu (May), Wei (June), Shen (July), You (August), Xu (September) and Hai.

We all know that the sun is the largest star in the solar system, accounting for 99.8% of all the stars in the solar system, and it is the source of all the light and heat in the solar system. As the saying goes, "Everything grows longer than the sun" means that life on earth depends on the energy of the sun, which shows the importance of the sun in the solar system. So the constellation we usually say refers to the sun constellation. Sun constellation is a constellation (region) in which the sun passes through the zodiac when a person is born.

Strictly speaking, if you want to know which constellation you belong to, you must first know your date of birth (year, month and day), time (preferably accurate to a few minutes) and latitude and longitude of your birthplace (note: knowing which province, city and county you were born in can be converted into latitude and longitude of your birthplace). Because westerners usually say that the date of birth is based on the solar calendar (Gregorian calendar), it is generally believed that constellations are calculated according to the solar calendar. For us in China, there are still two calendars in use, one is the international solar calendar, and the other is the lunar calendar handed down by our ancestors. There are some differences in time between the two calendars. In fact, these two calendars are essentially interlinked and can be converted to each other. Therefore, whether you know the solar calendar or the lunar calendar, as long as the date and time are accurate, you can calculate it correctly.

In terms of solar constellations, how are the twelve constellations specifically divided? I believe that you can know the answer after reading the query table of the date and solar terms division of the twelve constellations and the following examples.

The solar calendar date and solar terms division query table of the Sun Constellation is as follows:

Gregorian calendar date (rough) solar terms (accurate)

Gemini: May 21-June 20 (Xiaoman-Summer Solstice)

Cancer: June 21-July 22 (summer solstice-hot summer)

Leo: July 23-August 22 (summer-summer)

Virgo: August 23-September 22 (summer solstice and autumn equinox)

Libra: September 23rd-65438+1October 22nd (vernal equinox-first frost).

Scorpio: 65438+1October 23rd-165438+1October 22nd (first frost-light snow).

Sagittarius:165438+1October 23rd-65438+February 2nd1(light snow-winter solstice)

Capricorn: 65438+February 22nd-065438+1October 19 (winter solstice-severe cold)

Aquarius: 065438+1October 20-February 18 (cold-rain)

Pisces: February19-March 20 (rain-vernal equinox)

Aries: March 21-April 19 (vernal equinox-Grain Rain).

Taurus: April 20th-May 20th (Grain Rain-Xiaoman)?

The range of solar days corresponding to the above-mentioned solar constellations is only a rough division. It should be noted that this method of roughly dividing the solar day will lead to an error probability of about 10%. In fact, the accurate division of solar constellations is based on the intersection time of qi in 24 solar terms, and the latitude and longitude of the birth area should also be considered, that is, the birth time (Beijing) should be converted into the real solar (astronomical) time to calculate. We usually see that the date division of constellations is inconsistent in some magazines or websites. Some are one day earlier, some are one day later, and some are even two days earlier (or later). Why only make a rough division? Because fear of trouble is human instinct, complexity is easy to get lost, and simple things are beneficial to people's understanding and operation, so some people simplify complex problems and divide the twelve constellations by solar calendar dates. In fact, this division can be accurate to the minute or even to the second. To be more precise, the twelve intersecting moments of qi in China's twenty-four solar terms are the moments when the sun enters the zodiac, and they are also the time dividing points of the twelve western constellations (solar constellations). It should be noted that the time when the sun enters the twelfth house (constellation) is different every year, so people who were born on a certain day of a certain month in the solar calendar may belong to different solar constellations because of the different year or time of birth. For example, two people who were born on June 2 1 day 17: 08 in Gregorian calendar, if they were born on June 20 12, their sun sign is Cancer, and if they were born on June 918, their sun sign is Gemini, which belongs to the date of birth and. Another example is: two people born on June 2 1 in the solar calendar, if they were born on this day's 13: 46, their sun sign is Gemini, and if they were born on this day's 15: 32, their sun sign is Cancer, which belongs to the same birth date but different birth times. ?

If your birth date happens to be near the demarcation day of the constellation, what method should you use to know exactly which sun constellation you belong to? According to personal experience, here are two methods for your reference.

The first method is: you can find out the exact time when the sun enters the twelve constellations every year by consulting the comparison table of the twenty-four solar terms in the perpetual calendar or the query table of the constellations. First of all, you can find out that the two nearest solar terms (Zhongqi) are the time of your birth, and then you can determine which sun constellation you belong to by referring to the solar term division table mentioned above. Since the festival of the twenty-four solar terms is the date of the solar calendar, if you only know the date when you were born in the lunar calendar, you need to convert the date of the lunar calendar into the date of the solar calendar for inquiry. This method is troublesome, inefficient and easy to make mistakes due to human negligence. In addition, the latitude and longitude of the place of birth and the astronomical time of the birth clock (between the sun and the sun) should be considered when converting the time.

For example, your birth time is 7: 58 on March 2 1 day in Gregorian calendar, and it is found in the perpetual calendar that your birth time is "rain" in the twenty-four solar terms (Gregorian calendar 1950 February 19, 13, 17: 29).

Another example: Your birth time is1955 July 23rd, 18: 05. According to the calendar, your birth date is the "summer solstice" in the 24 solar terms (1June 22nd, 955, 12: 3 1: 19).

The second method is: you can download and install a professional astrology software on your computer or smart phone, or you can directly use the online astrology sorting tool on the website to query. As long as you input your date, time, birthplace and other information, you can know your sun constellation quickly and accurately. Some software can also automatically generate constellation diagrams, and can also calculate information such as zenith constellation, ascending constellation, descending constellation, moon constellation, nadir constellation, Venus constellation, Jupiter constellation, Mars constellation, Saturn constellation, Mercury constellation, Neptune constellation, Pluto constellation and Uranus constellation.

For example, Anonymous was born in Tonghua County, Tonghua City, Jilin Province on April 20, 1995 16: 06. Using the online sorting tools, he found that his constellations are: Sun Aries, Moon Sagittarius, Ascending Libra, Descending Aries, Zenith Cancer and Zenith Capricorn.