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The Black TortoiseIn Ancient Astrology |
The Black Tortoise of Winter
Sometimes called the Black Warrior of the North, the black tortoise was chosen by the earliest Chinese astronomers to represent the planet Mercury, and seven positions of the moon against certain stars in the northern sky. The seven positions or stations of the Black Tortoise are known as "mansions" and they represent groupings or asterisms of stars. These are called Dipper, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Roof Top, Encampment and Wall.
These seven collections of stars all together look like a tortoise with a snake riding on his back.
The Black Tortoise also is a symbol of longevity and represented the element "water" to Ancient Chinese Astrologers. Ancient Astrologers from Arabia and India developed their own interpretations. There are many similarities and some interesting differences. We have presented examples of all three interpretations.
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Black Tortoise Star Chart by Steven Renshaw and Saori Ihara
8=Dipper, 9=Ox, 10=Girl, 11=Emptiness, 12=Roof Top, 13=Encampment, 14=Wall |
Black Tortoise Encompases Seven Positions of the Moon
The seven positions or stations of the Black Tortoise are known as "mansions" or "palaces" because they represent groupings or asterisms of stars.
The Moon's Position At A Person's Birth Is Related To A Fortune
Derek Walters, a European scholar and author on Chinese Astrology, writes:
"The dark colour of the tortois's shell, and its strange markings caused the tortoise to be held in reverential awe on account of the fact that the shell appeared to be a mystic map....other beliefs concern ing the tortoise were that it led a celibate life (hence tortoises never new their father, and 'son of a tortoise' became a euphemism for someone who did not know who their father was), their extreme longevity gave them a reputation for sagacity; they were also considered to be heliotropic, always turning to face the Sun, which therefore, they were believed to worship."
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