Universal Star Divination Canon 通占大象历星经

Author unknown, presumably compiled between the Tang and Song dynasties. Bibliographical Outline of General Records listed "The Comprehensive Astrological Classic of Celestial Phenomena and Stellar Records, in three volumes" under the astronomy category, which refers to this very work. The existing edition in The Daozang survives in two volumes, included in the Divination category of the The Dongzhen Section. Additionally, Annotated Bibliography of the Four Treasuries recorded a six-volume old edition in the collection of Tianyi Ge Library.

Universal Star Divination Canon

This book expounds the art of astronomical astrology. It enumerates the star charts of more than 150 constellations including the Four Auxiliaries, the Six Jia, Gou Chen, the Celestial Emperor, Zhu Xia, the Minister of Works, the Inner Kitchen, the Celestial Bed, the Taiji Big Dipper, the Canopy and others, separately describing the position, astrological function, orbital movement and luminosity variation of each star, as well as the good and bad fortune of human affairs they preside over. It focuses on divining the peace and chaos, prosperity and decline of the world, the safety and danger of the ruler, and the stellar variations caused by the monarch's actions as indicated by celestial phenomena.

For example, when the Antares enters the Purple Forbidden Palace, it presages great chaos under heaven and the monarch losing their throne; if the Son of Heaven does not care for the people, the third star of the Big Dipper (the Spindle Star) dims; if the Son of Heaven's governance violates the seasonal ordinances of the Four Seasons, the fourth star of the Big Dipper (the Power Star) dims.