glass cannon is objectively the sexiest build. you put down 10 enemies in one go and then need to be carried off the battle field the next round? so hot
Animals of the Lunar Mansions: White Tiger (Part 3)
The 28 lunar mansions are a Chinese astronomical concept. Basically, they function like a zodiac for the moon, where the moon passes through a different mansion each day of the month. While India also has a concept of nakshatra, the asterisms are not strict equivalents.
The Chinese Lunar Mansions are aligned with seven "planets" of seven elements: Jupiter (wood), Venus (metal), Saturn (earth), Sun (light), Moon (darkness), Mars (fire), and Mercury (water). They also each have a guardian animal. The guardian animals are based on an expansion of the Chinese zodiac called the 36 Animals of the Hours (三十六禽). Days and hours were placed first in a cycle of 12, and then each unit was separated into three decans for a total cycle of 36, with an animal assigned to each decan. This system was used for divination, and then with the coming of Buddhism, for times of prayers. However, because there are only seven elemental planets, 8 animals were removed to leave a total of 28 animals for 28 mansions.
Each direction holds seven lunar mansions. Added together, they each form one mega-constellation. The constellation and guardian god of the West is The White Tiger (白虎/Baihu).
Legs/奎
Element: Wood
Guardian: Wood Wolf of the Legs (奎木狼)
The Legs asterism contains stars from the shorter "arm" and "body" of Andromeda, along with stars from the smaller "fish" of Pisces, and some extra stars from Cetus and Cassiopeia. It represents the back legs of the tiger. 奎 originally means legs and crotch, and takes the form of a person with spread legs. Due to confusion with the similar sounding 魁/Kui star, it gained the meaning of "excellence". Its god is fierce and cruel. It is an auspicious star. Due to its connection to the Kui star, it rules intelligence, test scores, and the literary field. Its associated animal is the wolf. Wolves were symbols of greed cruelty in China. "狼子野心"/"Wolf's cub with wild ambitions" refers to someone with evil ambitions or schemes. It was often paired with the mythical canid Bei, said to act as a strategist for wolf packs. "狼狈为奸"/"Wolf and Bei commit offenses together" means two or more parties engaged in evil actions. "狼狽"/"Wolf and Bei" also means a disheveled or pathetic appearance. However, astrological treatises also emphasized the wolf's role as a guide for hunters, in that the presence of a wolf means the presence of prey animals.
Wolf
Wood Wolf of the Legs: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.
Bond/婁
Element: Metal
Guardian: Metal Dog of the Bond (婁金狗)
The Bond asterism occupies Sheratan and other stars around the "head" of Aries, along with extra stars from Pisces, Cetus, Fornax, and Perseus. 婁 originally meant a "hollow" or "empty ring", and later evolved the meanings of "bamboo basket" and "ox halter". This final meaning is what grants the asterism its English name. 婁 can also mean "small mound", so it serves as the tiger's rump. It serves as Heaven's granary, so it is an auspicious star, ruling over profits and agriculture. Its god is respectful and skilled in all literary and martial arts. Its associated animal is the dog. Like in the West, dogs were valued as loyal companions and guardians in ancient China. They were commonly used both for guarding and hunting, to the point that there are specific words for ancient dog breeds. However, they were also considered mindlessly loyal or aggressive. Feral dogs were also observed to be dirty and disheveled. As a result, "dog" is a common insult in Chinese. "狗腿子"/"Dog legs" is a word for henchmen. The modern term "舔狗"/"licking dog" means someone who is mindlessly infatuated with something. "狗仗人勢"/"A dog relying on its master's power" means a person taking advantage of a situation. "喪家之犬"/"A dog that has lost its home" means someone pathetic or dispirited. The most common dog breed in China is the Chinese Village Dog, also known as 土狗/Native Dog.
Dog
Metal Dog of the Bond: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.
Stomach/胃
Element: Earth
Guardian: Earth Pheasant of the Stomach (胃土雉)
The Stomach asterism covers stars from the "tail" of Aries, as well as some stars from Cetus and Perseus. It represents the tiger's belly. Like the Bond, it is the location for the Celestial Granary, and thus an auspicious star that governs the accumulation of wealth. Its god is domineering, greedy, gluttonous, and ruthless in pursuing profits. Its associated animal is the pheasant. In Chinese folklore, a pheasant is the larval form of the phoenix, like how the snake is the larval form of the dragon. By studying the mystic arts, the pheasant can evolve into a phoenix. The pheasant was the original symbol of queens and empresses before being replaced by the phoenix. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, empresses wore Phoenix Crowns/凤冠 while lesser noblewomen wore Pheasant Crowns/翟冠. The brown eared pheasant is also well known for dueling during mating season, and thus is a symbol of martial prowess in China and Korea. Warriors would decorate their headgear with tail feathers from both the brown eared pheasant and other pheasant types. The most commonly seen pheasant in China is the common or ring-necked pheasant.
Pheasant
Earth Pheasant of the Stomach: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.
Hairy Head/昴
Element: Sun/light
Guardian: Sun Rooster of the Hairy Head (昴日雞)
The Hairy Head asterism is mainly the stars of the Pleiades cluster, though it also contains some extra stars from Taurus and Perseus. 昴 was originally a word that means "to remain" or "to retain", used to refer to the star cluster. However, because of pronunciation issues, it gained the meaning of "grass shoot" and "fur". It represents the tiger's back and fur. Its god has an unstable temperament and is well-versed in dark arts and flattery. It is an unlucky star connected to violence. Its corresponding animal is the chicken. However, chickens are not chicken in the English proverbial sense. The ancient Chinese knew roosters to be vicious duelists. The rooster was a symbol of masculinity and virility. Roosters were also the harbingers of dawn, so their blood was believed to have anti-evil properties. In Chinese superstition, rooster blood is a stimulant, and people acting energized is jokingly referred to as 打鷄血/"injected with rooster blood". Chickens also eat harmful bugs, including centipedes, so they are used as a protective symbol against poison and disease.
Rooster
Sun Rooster of the Hairy Head: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.
(Why the bull head? It is a mystery.)
Net/畢
Element: Moon/darkness
Guardian: Moon Crow of the Net (畢月烏)
The Net asterism covers Aldebaran, the Hyades cluster, and other stars in the "head" of Taurus, as well as extra stars extending from the "horns" of Taurus to Auriga and Eridanus. This asterism is seen as the origin of all rain. Like in Ancient Greece, Chinese astronomers observed the heliacal setting of the Hyades in April coinciding with the onset of spring showers. 畢 is a hand net or snare used to catch birds and other small prey. As a result, it is a lucky star associated with hunting and profits. It represents the tiger's torso. Its god is knows about funerary matters. Its associated animal is the crow. Crows were considered ominous, mournful, or annoying birds. "烏鴉嘴"/"Crow's mouth" refers to a foul-mouthed or pessimistic person. Crows were also symbols of loneliness, and were paired with wilted trees or abandoned courtyards in poetry. However, the crow was also seen as a loving bird, since young crows take care of their aging parents. Along with sheep, they were symbols of filial piety.
Crow
Moon Crow of the Net: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.
Beak/觜
Element: Fire
Guardian: Fire Monkey of the Beak (觜火猴)
The beak asterism covers Meissa and other stars in Orion's "head", as well as some extra stars from Taurus and Auriga. It represents the tiger's mouth. It is a unlucky star, as the tiger's fangs catch and crush all who enter. A mouth is also responsible for lying and arguing, and the ancients believed in watching their words. Its god, obviously, is skilled with poetry and writing. Its associated animal is a monkey. Monkeys are symbols both of intelligence and impulsiveness in China. "猴精"/"Sharp as a monkey" is a way of saying someone is cunning. However, monkey-see-monkey-do also applies, and monkeys are depicted as parodying human actions. The Conqueror King Xiang Yu was once mocked as a "bathed and clothed monkey"/"沐猴而冠" for his tactical blunders. "猴子的屁股坐不住"/"A monkey's butt never sits still" describes the energy of the monkey. Like foxes, monkeys and apes are tricksters and shapeshifters in mythology. The monkey most commonly seen in China is the rhesus macaque.
Monkey
Fire Monkey of the Beak: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.
Belt of Three/參
Element: Water
Guardian: Water Ape of the Belt of Three (參水猿)
The Belt of Three is mainly the three stars of Orion's belt, as the word 參 is the formal way of writing "three". However, it also contains the other stars of Orion's "body". It represents the tiger's shoulders and front paws. In the oldest myths, the Belt of Three was one of two brothers who were exiled to opposite ends of the sky because they kept fighting. As it contains many stars associated with warfare and is one of the most recognizable asterisms in the White Tiger, it is a powerful protective star. The three stars of Orion's Belt is also a harbinger of Chinese New Year. They represent the Three Lucky Stars: Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity in folk belief, though according to astronomy treatises, the main "bodies" of these three gods lie in other stars. The Belt of Three is an auspicious star, but unlucky for days of weddings and funerals. Its god has a clever mouth but tender heart, and knows all clever feats of engineering. Its corresponding animal is the ape. 猿 or 猨 originally mean any simian larger than a macaque, but later referred specifically to apes. The lar gibbon is the best-known ape in China. White gibbons are considered symbols of wisdom and longevity. However, monkeys and apes are also symbols of lust. Mythology tells of gibbons and macaques abducting humans and giving birth to human-ape hybrids.
Ape (Lar gibbon)
Water Ape of the Belt of Three: First depiction from Qiu Ying's Ming Dynasty imitation of Zhang Sengyou's The 5 Stars and 28 Heavenly Abodes. Second from the 28 Asterism statues of Fucheng Jade Emperor Temple.
Useful if this is how you think, though often I don’t see the outline until after the draft is written, because after awhile one just internalizes this kind of stuff from all the media one ingests. Point is, use if helpful, ignore if not.
You are everything to me. What wouldn't I want to be for you. I'd like to follow you when you're dead, look back to see you even if I might be turned into stone.
Ingeborg Bachmann, In the Storm of Roses; from ‘The Poem for the Reader’, tr. Mark Anderson
“Her head in my lap, looking up at the sky. I watched her face watch the stars, moon lighting her like a still lake. I couldn’t tell what color her eyes were; they could be light ordinarily but collected all the dark tickets to ride the night in peace, in calm, tonight.”
— Brenda Shaughnessy, “Our Zero Waiver” from The Octopus Museum
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