Vermilion Bird


The Vermilion Bird is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. According to Wu Xing, the Taoist five elemental system, it represents the Fire element, the direction south, and the season of summer correspondingly. Thus it is sometimes called the Vermilion Bird of the South. It is described as a red bird that resembles a pheasant with a fire-colored plumage and is perpetually covered in flames. It is known as Suzaku in Japanese, Jujak in Korean and Chu Tước in Vietnamese.
It is often mistaken for the fenghuang due to similarities in appearance, but the two are different creatures. The fenghuang is a legendary ruler of birds who is associated with the Chinese Empress in the same way the dragon is associated with the Emperor, while the Vermilion Bird is a mythological spirit creature of the Chinese constellations.

Seven Mansions of the Vermilion Bird

As with the other three Symbols, there are seven astrological "Mansions" within the Vermilion Bird. The names and determinative stars are:
Mansion no.Name TranslationDeterminative star
22Wellμ Gem
23Ghostθ Cnc
24Willowδ Hya
25Starα Hya
26Extended Netυ¹ Hya
27Wingsα Crt
28Chariotγ Crv

Nature of the symbol

The Vermilion Bird is elegant and noble in both appearance and behavior, with feathers in many different hues of vermilion. It is very selective about what it eats and where it perches.

Stars


Four SymbolsMansion RomanizationTranslationAsterisms RomanizationTranslationWestern star nameChinese star nameRomanizationTranslation
Vermilion Bird of the South 鬼Ghost外廚Outer Kitchen----
Vermilion Bird of the South 鬼Ghost外廚Outer Kitchen2 Hya外廚一1st star
Vermilion Bird of the South 鬼Ghost外廚Outer Kitchen3 Hya / HD 74395外廚二2nd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 鬼Ghost外廚Outer Kitchen14 Hya外廚三3rd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willow----
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowδ Hya---
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowδ Hya柳宿一1st star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowδ Hya柳宿距星Separated star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowδ Hya柳宿西头第三星3rd star in the upper west
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowδ Hya玉井西北星Star in northwest of Jade Well constellation
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowδ Hya午The thong
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowδ Hya鹑火星The phoenix
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowσ Hya柳宿二2nd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowη Hya柳宿三3rd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowρ Hya柳宿四4th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowε Hya柳宿五5th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowζ Hya柳宿六6th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowω Hya柳宿七7th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 柳Willow柳Willowθ Hya柳宿八8th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Star----
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Starα Hya---
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Starα Hya星宿一1st star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Starα Hya星宿距星Separated star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Starα Hya星宿中央大星Big star in the center
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Starτ1 Hya星宿二2nd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Starτ2 Hya星宿三3rd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Starι Hya星宿四4th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Star26 Hya星宿五5th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星Star27 Hya星宿六6th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 星Star星StarHD 82477 & HD 82428星宿七7th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 張Extended Net張Extended Net----
Vermilion Bird of the South 張Extended Net張Extended Netυ1 Hya張宿一1st star
Vermilion Bird of the South 張Extended Net張Extended Netλ Hya張宿二2nd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 張Extended Net張Extended Netμ Hya張宿三3rd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 張Extended Net張Extended NetHD 87344張宿四4th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 張Extended Net張Extended Netκ Hya張宿五5th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 張Extended Net張Extended Netφ Hya張宿六6th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 翼Wings翼Wings----
Vermilion Bird of the South 翼Wings翼Wingsν Hya翼宿五5th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 翼Wings翼WingsHD 100307翼宿十八18th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 翼Wings翼WingsHD 96819翼宿十九19th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 翼Wings翼Wingsχ1 Hya翼宿二十20th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 翼Wings翼WingsHD 102620翼宿二十一21st star
Vermilion Bird of the South 翼Wings翼WingsHD 103462翼宿二十二22nd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green Hill----
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green Hillβ Hya---
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green Hillβ Hya青丘一1st star
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green Hillβ Hya土公西星Star in the west of Official for Earthworks and Buildings constellation
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green HillHD 103596青丘二2nd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green Hill17 Crt青丘三3rd star
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green HillHD 100393青丘四4th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green Hillξ Hya青丘五5th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot青丘Green Hillο Hya青丘七7th star
Vermilion Bird of the South 軫Chariot軍門Military GateHD 104309軍門一1st star