Star or lunar mansion
Ryūshuku
柳宿
A lunar mansion belonging to the group of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions (Nijūhasshuku), whose Japanese name is said to be "Nurikoboshi." The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions are an old astronomical division that tracks which stars the moon appears near. Here, that division is introduced in the form of a Buddhist deity.
This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
The name and role of Ryūshuku
A lunar mansion belonging to the group of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, whose Japanese name is said to be "Nurikoboshi." It is described as corresponding to Delta Hydrae in the modern constellations, and the page lists matters regarded as lucky and matters regarded as unlucky.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Twenty-eight star divisions for reading the moon's course
The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions are an old astronomical division that tracks which stars the moon appears near. Seven mansions are assigned to each of four groups, east, north, west and south, which are linked with the Azure Dragon, the Black Tortoise, the White Tiger and the Vermilion Bird. They are divided differently from the Twelve Palaces, which divide the sun's path into twelve.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Star devotion preserved in calendars and images
The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions have been connected with judging good and bad fortune in the calendar and with the worship of stars. Shōhōin states that the forms of the mansions are not fixed and shows images based on the Butsuzō Zui. They are introduced here as historical calendar notes and beliefs, not as definitive judgments of whether today's actions are lucky or unlucky.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：柳宿」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：二十八宿」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：九曜星」（2026-10-14 確認）