Before discussing the sanshi arts of Qi Men Dun Jia, Da Liu Ren and Tai Yi, Ho (2003) had described in his praiseworthy book "Chinese Mathematical Astrology" the possible origins of the Chinese astrology. One early astrology system existing long before the current known systems of the sanshi arts and Ba Zi Eight Characters seemed to be an early form of Zi Wei Dou Shu.

This early Zi Wei Dou Shu also appeared linked to the ancient text of Zhang Guo xingzong:

• The introduction of the 12 palaces later facilitated the assimilation of the Hellenistic 12 houses into the Chinese system. The 12 houses here are in a different order from those used in the Zhang Guo xingzong and the Daozang Ziwei doushu, although the names of the houses remain almost identical. However, seven of the 12 houses are in the same order as those in the modern Ziwei doushu astrology and 10 of the houses among them bear the same names. 'Friend' replaces the ninth house 'Servant' in the Taiyo rendao mingfa in modern Ziwei doushu. The 11th house 'Appearance' and the 12th house 'Parents' have merged into the 12th house 'Parents' in modern Ziwei doushu, which has added the seventh house 'Migration'. (Ho. 2003. p.80-81)

His references thus note the roles in the early astrology of Chang Kou Lou, one of the well known Eight Immortals.

We have noted in an earlier article that Ho (2003) noted that the 12 Zodiac signs entered into China from the West only around AD 759:

• text with the abbreviated Chinese title Xiuyaojing (No original Hindu title or text can be found.) According to Yano Michio, this text was simply a transliterated record in Chinese of what Amoghavajra either dictated from memory or instructed orally in Sanskrit. It was twice translated into Chinese under the supervision of Amoghavajra, first by Sima Shiyao in the year 759 and later revised by Yang Jingfeng in 764... Yano Michio shows that in the Xiuyaojing the 12 zodiac signs were introduced for the first time to China. (Ho. 2003. p.69)

The invention of Zi Wei Dou Shu was linked with the introduction of the 12 Zodiac signs into China. Whoever invented Zi Wei Dou Shu had close associations with those who brought the 12 Zodiac signs into China. Who were they?

Roles of Eight Immortals in Chinese Astrology

The Eight Immortals delighted the Chinese populace with their antics in defying the traditional order of gods. Owing to their magical nature, most do not comprehend the historic existence of the Eight Immortals and their significance. The Eight Immortals who were famous for astrology skills were Chang Kou Lou, Lu Tong Bin, Han Chiang and Lan Tsai Ho. Lu Tong Bin was also the reputed teacher of Chen Xiyi, the so-called creator of Zi Wei Dou Shu.

• I used to teach my students that the Eight Immortals were the real inventors of the Chinese Zi Wei Dou Shu. Ho's book confirms this when it notes the role of Chang Kou Lou.

It appears that this band of Eight Immortals were masters of astrology. In some unique way, Chang Kou Lou and Lu Tong Bin were involved with the origins of Chinese astrology. Chang Kou Lou is the person this article will concentrate on.

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Chang Kou Lou

Chang Kou Lou is well known for riding on a donkey or ass being seated backward on the animal (left Figure). Chang Kou Lou gained immortality through being led into a cave by a rabbit which turned into a wolf. As a poor man he was cultivating vegetables when he realised someone was stealing his fruits. So he laid a trap and caught the rabbit. The rabbit pleaded with Chang and brought him to the cave where it turned into a wolf. Chang Kou Lou stayed with the wolf in the cave. This wolf taught Chang Kou Lou how to catch the immortal donkey which would lead him to immortality. He wore out many scandals while trying to chase the donkey. Then a blacksmith gave him a pair of metal sandals and he managed to reach the donkey. When he was leaping to ride the donkey, the animal suddenly turned and Chang landed backward, the style he was pictured as ever since.

Historical traditions show that Chang Kou Lou was called by Tang Empress Wu Zse-tian to come to the palace to give her astrology advice. But Chang Kou Lou pretended to die and did not come to the palace.

How was Chang Kou Lou involved with the origins of Chinese astrology? Perhaps, we should note that Ho (2003) wrote that Nestorians were involved with the transmission of the 12 Zodiac signs into China:

• Perhaps this offshoot of the Taiyi system was stimulated by the impact of Western astrology brought by the Nestorians from Persia in the eighth century. From this the modern Ziwei doushu, which has stronger Iranian links than Indian than the Daozang version, was derived. Figure 3.22 shows the likely routes of transmission for the Ziwei doushu systems, both Daozang and modern. (Ho. 2003. p.81)

Nestorian Saint Anthony, Patron Saint of Divination

The Nestorians were Christians famous for their astrology skills. As these Nestorians were outcasts among other Christians, they migrated elsewhere. These Nestorians included Sabians famous in ancient times for their astrology skills. The Arabs used to hire them to be their astrologers. As Ho (2003) noted, these Nestorians entered China around the 8th century AD.

Among the Nestorians there was one person well known for astrology skills - he was Saint Anthony (left figure) sometimes worshipped as the deity of divination. Saint Anthony had an interesting legend. One day he tried to persuade a trader to abandon his wanton ways and become a Christian. Anthony laid a bet. He told the trader to meet him again a week later in front of the church with a donkey. On the far end of the road leading to the church will be a stack of hay. If the donkey went for the hay then the trader did not have to be a Christian. But if Anthony could make the donkey enter the church it would be a miracle from God that the trader should be a Christian.

Of course, the trader starved a donkey for 7 days. On the date appointed, the trader with his donkey were with Anthony in the middle of the road. The trader let go the hungry donkey which made a beeline for the stack of hay. But even as the donkey neared the hay, Anthony prayed and the donkey suddenly stopped in its track. To the amazement of all, the donkey turned and rushed into the church. The astounded trader had to become a Christian!

That was how Anthony became the patron saint of donkey and asses.

Anthony was also known to be led to the cave of Peter of the desert by a wolf.

Chang Kou Lou was actually a Nestorian monk and the same person as the Nestorian Saint Anthony, patron saint of divination! Both were involved with a miracle donkey, were led to a cave by a wolf. Compare their images (left Figures) and noted that both looked very similar, being slim, wore robes, had white beards and carried a Y shaped stick. Of course, both were famous for their astrology skills. According to legends both also liked and protected children.

Among the Nestorian monks, Saint Anthony was famous for his divination skills. It was his astrology art which was brought by the Nestorians into Tang China. The "Zhang Guo xingzong" text was a compilation of the astrology of Saint Anthony brought into China. That was how the Western 12 Zodiac signs entered into China.

Saint Anthony lived around AD 350, while Chang Kou Lou was involved with Tang Empress Wu Zse Tian in AD 700. It is likely that the Chang Kou Lou the empress wanted to see was of a lineage of chief monks coming down from Saint Anthony.

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