The modern constellation Chamaeleon is not included in the Three Enclosures and Twenty-Eight Mansions system of traditional Chinese uranography because its stars are too far south for observers in China to know about them prior to the introduction of Western star charts. Based on the work of Xu Guangqi and the German Jesuit missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell in the late Ming Dynasty, [1] this constellation has been classified as one of the 23 Southern Asterisms (近南極星區, Jìnnánjíxīngōu) under the name Little Dipper (小斗, Xiǎodǒu).
The name of the western constellation in modern Chinese is 蝘蜓座 (yǎn tíng zuò), meaning "the flying gecko constellation".
The map of Chinese constellation in constellation Chamaeleon area consists of :
| Four Symbols | Mansion (Chinese name) | Romanization | Translation | Asterisms (Chinese name) | Romanization | Translation | Western star name | Chinese star name | Romanization | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 近南極星區 (non-mansions) | Jìnnánjíxīngōu (non-mansions) | The Southern Asterisms (non-mansions) | 小斗 | Xiǎodǒu | Little Dipper | ||||
| β Cha [2] | 小斗一 | Xiǎodǒuyī | 1st star | |||||||
| ε Cha [2] | 小斗二 | Xiǎodǒuèr | 2nd star | |||||||
| γ Cha [2] | 小斗三 | Xiǎodǒusān | 3rd star | |||||||
| δ2 Cha [2] | 小斗四 | Xiǎodǒusì | 4th star | |||||||
| ζ Cha [2] | 小斗五 | Xiǎodǒuwu | 5th star | |||||||
| ι Cha [2] | 小斗六 | Xiǎodǒuliù | 6th star | |||||||
| η Cha [2] | 小斗七 | Xiǎodǒuqī | 7th star | |||||||
| θ Cha [2] | 小斗八 | Xiǎodǒubā | 8th star | |||||||
| α Cha [2] | 小斗九 | Xiǎodǒujiǔ | 9th star |
The modern constellation Andromeda lies across two of the quadrants, symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North and the White Tiger of the West, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Aquarius is located within the northern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Black Tortoise of the North.
The modern constellation Aquila lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North, and Three Enclosures that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Aries is located within the western quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the White Tiger of the West.
The modern constellation Boötes lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Camelopardalis is located in Three Enclosures
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Canes Venatici is located in Three Enclosures
The modern constellation Cassiopeia lies across two of the quadrants symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North, The White Tiger of the West and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
The modern constellation Centaurus lies across two of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermillion Bird of the South, and the Southern Asterisms.
The modern constellation Cepheus lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
The modern constellation Cetus lies across two of the quadrants, symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North and the White Tiger of the West, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Cygnus is located within the northern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Black Tortoise of the North.
The modern constellation Draco lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
The modern constellation Eridanus lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the White Tiger of the West, and The Southern Asterisms, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
The modern constellation Grus lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Black Tortoise of the North, and The Southern Asterisms, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Hercules is located in Three Enclosures
The modern constellation Leo lies across one of the quadrants symbolized by the Vermilion Bird of the South, and Three Enclosures, that divide the sky in traditional Chinese uranography.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Libra is located within the eastern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Azure Dragon of the East.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Lupus is located within the eastern quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the Azure Dragon of the East.
According to traditional Chinese uranography, the modern constellation Perseus is located within the western quadrant of the sky, which is symbolized as the White Tiger of the West.