Starting from the top of the bucket body to the end of the handle, the seven stars of the Big Dipper are named α, β, γ, δ, ε, ζ, and eta in order. In ancient my country, they were called Tianshu respectively. , Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, Yaoguang. Extend a straight line from "Tianxuan" through "Tianshu", about five times longer, and you can see a star that is almost as bright as the Big Dipper. This is the Polaris. Taoism calls the Big Dipper the Seven-Yuan Disaster-Relieving Star Lord, which resides in the Seventh Palace of the Big Dipper, namely: Tanlang Star Lord of Tianshu Palace, Jumen Star Lord of Tianxuan Palace, Lucun Star Lord of Tianji Palace, Wenqu Star Lord of Tianquan Palace, and Jade Star Lord. Henggong Lianzhen Xingjun, Kaiyang Palace Wuquxingjun, Yaoguang Palace Pojunxingjun.
Some Taoist books also say that according to the time of birth, people's lives are divided into seven star monarchs: "The greedy wolf Taixing Lord, the son of the child belongs to it; the Jumen Yuanxing Lord , people born in Chouhai belong to it; Lucun Zhenxingjun, people born in Yinxu belong to it; Wenqu Niuxingjun, people born in Maoyou belong to it; Lianzhengangxingjun, people born in Chenshen belong to it; Wuquji Xingjun , people who have not been born belong to it, people who are born in the afternoon belong to it. People born in the afternoon belong to it. "Everyone can find their own destiny star according to their birth date.
The four stars Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, and Tianquan are the leading ones, forming the "double" of the Big Dipper. The handle-shaped three stars respectively make up the bright and dark double stars of Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang. The star in the center of the ladle handle is called "Kaiyang", and there is a 4th magnitude companion star named "Auxiliary" 11 minutes apart. The Kaiyang star and the auxiliary star form a visual double star, which can be identified with the naked eye. Kaiyang itself is also a double star.
The positions of the Big Dipper in the sky are also different depending on the season. Therefore, ancient Chinese people determined the seasons based on its position changes: "When the handle of the bucket points to the east, it is spring everywhere; when the handle of the bucket points to the south, it is summer everywhere; when it points to the west, it is autumn; when the handle of the bucket points to the north, it is winter everywhere. ."
But there is no South Dipper. There is only one other set of Big Dipper stars in Ursa Minor. But the handle is different from the handle of Ursa Major! Little Bear's Big Dipper has Polaris as the first star. The legend of the Big Dipper is recorded in the Taoist scripture "The Supreme Spiritual Treasure of Yuqing, the Natural Beidou Jataka": "During the Longhan period, there was a country called Zhou Yuguo to the west of Zhongyuan Earth, and King Zhou Yu had the title of his beloved concubine. As "Mrs. Ziguang", she was virtuous, kind, wise, and kind-hearted. She gave birth to nine sons for King Zhou Yu. All of them had extraordinary character and outstanding talents. However, Mrs. Ziguang and her nine sons had Taoist Immortal Roots. , they took fame, wealth, power and status very lightly. Later, they had the opportunity to receive countless wonderful teachings from the gods. They devoted themselves to practice and accumulated merits. Soon, the mother and son together achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven, known as Gouchen Shanggong Emperor. The two immortals are called the Zhongtian Ziwei and the North Pole Emperor, and together with the other two immortals (the Anji Changsheng Emperor and the Houtu Emperor), they live in Miluotian and serve in the Lingxiao Palace to assist the Jade Emperor and govern the other seven sons. It is distributed in the shape of seven stars and is located in the north. It is known as the Big Dipper. Its functions and functions "Historical Records Tianguan Shu" said that "the Big Dipper is clearly divided into four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter), five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth), and shifting festivals ( Twenty-four solar terms). Determine all the records (year, month, day, hour, stars, calendar number). The formation, distribution and existence of the Big Dipper are of great importance. They play a certain role in agricultural festivals, calendar formulation, orientation instructions, etc. In addition to these functions, the Taoist "Tao Jing" says: The Big Dipper is in charge of good and evil, good and bad in the world. Fu has the function of eliminating disasters and attracting blessings. Mothers regard their children as the most precious thing. Madam Ziguang has greater magic power and higher status than the Seven Stars. All the stars in the sky have to revolve around the Seven Stars. She pays homage to the Big Dipper. The Seven Stars are the first of the stars. She is the mother of the Seven Stars, so she was given the name "Moli Haotian". The great sage, the innate Doumu Yuanjun, is referred to as "Doumu". Its responsibilities are to subjugate demons, teach the Dharma and save people, show great compassion, and rescue those who are suffering, no less than the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in Buddhism. Doumu Yuanjun and Beidou Qiyuanxingjun jointly manage life, death, misfortune and blessings in the world. In particular, the Beidou Shenjun often travels around the world with the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water on Gengshen and Jiazi days to investigate the records of merits and demerits in the underworld and the Yang world. For example, those who commit evil will be reported to the Beidou Shenjun first by the Three Officials. Afterwards, the prisoners were sent to hell and marked with death. He was forever imprisoned in misery. Later, after Emperor Dongyue and Emperor Fengdu were assigned the duties of the Underworld, the functions of stewards changed. The South Dipper Star governs students. Anyone can bring good fortune, wealth and longevity. All are coordinated by Nandou Xing. Beidou has become the god of death. Beidou coordinates all matters such as pardoning sins, eliminating misdeeds, and increasing punishments. Therefore, there is a saying that "the south dipper is for life, and the north dipper is for death." Although the division of labor is clear, life and death are closely related to misfortune and blessings. Taoists often worship both at the same time when performing rituals in the dojo to pray for blessings and prevent disasters.
After Mrs. Ziguang's nine sons became immortals, except for the eldest and second son who assisted the Jade Emperor, the remaining seven sons were called Seven Stars. People often say, "There is a star in the sky and a star in the earth." The Taoist Scripture says that although the human body contains heaven and earth, the heaven and earth can see the four seasons and eight festivals, yin and yang, the five elements, the sun, the moon, water and fire, and the nine rivers and eight rivers. It also exists in humans. Man corresponds to heaven and earth. For example, the "Tao Jing" also says: Anyone born in the Year of the Rat is governed by the Greedy Wolf Star, the number one star in the Big Dipper, and the Greedy Wolf Star is their natal star. Anyone born in the year of the Ox or the Pig is governed by the second Beidou and Yin Jing stars, which is their natal star. Anyone born in the Year of the Tiger or Dog is governed by the Lucun Star Lord, the third star of the Big Dipper, and this is his natal star Lord. Those born in the years of the Dragon and Monkey are governed by the fifth Lian Zhen star in the Beidou, and those born in the years of the Sheep and Snake are governed by the sixth Wu Qu star in the Beidou. People born in the Year of the Horse are in charge of the seventh star of the Big Dipper. The star you were worth in the year you were born is your natal star throughout your life. Therefore, Taoism believes that people travel for fame and fortune, are greedy and are confused about choices, worry about gains and losses, and do good or evil all in one thought. Because of such mistakes, they become sins, and their happiness and longevity will be shortened over time. Fading stars are dark, fortune is bad, and years go by, causing illness, disaster, injury, wantonness, and lawsuits. Misfortunes are constant. When disasters happen, you don’t know how to thank them. Praying for blessings and blessings means that you don’t know how to take refuge, and you are lost in the road. Taoism believes that it means building a altar, performing rituals, praying to the three officials and the Beidou, writing a chapter, praying to the natal star, and repenting sincerely, so it can be transported by the star to increase blessings and eliminate disasters. Build an altar, perform rituals, offer sacrifices to lamps and worship battles. It first appeared in the Three Kingdoms period of Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang was seriously ill in Wuzhangyuan. When he observed the sky, he saw that his natal star was dimmed in the sky, so he went straight to pray to the Lord to extend his life. Although the worship failed at that time. This approach continues to this day. In particular, the Tianshui area is an important way for Zhuge Liang to come out of the sacred mountain. However, people here still continue to practice this folk custom of praying to the stars to extend their luck and longevity. The Taoist "Tao Jing" says: "There are certain rules for the distribution of stars in the sky, and each has its own magical effect. For example: Doumu Yuanjun's first son is Zhongtian Ziwei, the North Pole Emperor, who lives in Daluo Tianqi, Ziwei Star Palace. Its function is: "Xuanji's seven political affairs of Hengqi are in accordance with the laws of heaven and earth. The sun, moon and stars are at about four o'clock in the ecliptic. They are the speaker of all phenomena, the ruler of all heavens, and the leader of all stars." The second son is Emperor Gouchen Shangguan, who lives in Ziwei Chenji and is known as Gouchen Tianguan. Its functions are: to be the emperor of Ti Yuan and to assist Xuan Hua, to be the supreme leader of the three talents, to preside over trade-offs, to promote great virtues, to control the order of the stars, and not to disturb the regular scriptures. The Big Dipper is the head of the stars. It governs the stars and contains mysteries inside and outside the sky. Its distribution shape has deep mysteries and is incredible. The Big Dipper is the largest and brightest star, Greedy Wolf, located in the capital city. It is the head of the seven stars and plays an important role. "Tao Jing" says: The handle of the bucket points to the east, and everything in the world is spring; the handle of the bucket points to the sky, and everything in the world is summer; the handle of the bucket points to the west, and everything in the world is autumn; and the first handle points to the north and the sky in the west is winter. It can be seen that the Big Dipper above people's heads is inextricably linked to the life and movement of all things in the world.