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Fig. 23. The Northern Dipper (beidou). The picture shows, on top, the loca-
tions and names of the seven main stars of the Dipper. Two additional stars,
marked by asterisks (*), are associated with the Sun and the Moon and are said
to be visible only to advanced adepts. The stars arranged along the line sur-
rounding the Northern Dipper are the residences of the spouses of the Lords
of the Dipper's seven visible stars. Below the Northern Dipper is the Three
Terraces (satltai .=: iJ), another constellation formed by three groups of two
stars. Bu tiangangfei dijijing iVx~~:It!ll,jcJ~ (Scripture on Walking along
the Celestial Guideline and Flying above the Earthly Threads; CT 1316), la- b.
See Robinet 1993, 202- 5·

the Dipper, and are inhabited by the spouses of its kings. Within the human
body, the spirits of these 'black stars" reside in the Hall of Light (*mingtang)
located in the brain, and their titles suggest that their function is to protect the
embryo. Thus the celestial world appears to be inverted: the female, Yin, and
dark entities are outside, while the male, Yang, and luminous ones are within.
In fact, the Dipper is said to be "the natural fire contained in the Yin."
In Taoism, the Dipper has four major roles, all related to its dual aspect.
First, the Dipper indicates the proper orientation for performing meditation or
rituals through the apparent movement of its "handle." Second, it has strong
exorcistic powers as a divinity of the North and of the underworld. Adepts,
for example, cover themselves with its stars by visualizing them descending
directly above their heads, or surrounding them. Analogously, in the Thunder
Rituals (*leifa), the thunder is summoned from the direction to which the
Dipper points (called the Gate of the Vital Force, *mingmen) in order to expel
demons. Third, the Dipper is the recipient of invocations to ask forgiveness
for one's sins and to have one's name erased from the registers of death (siji