Tiangang Disha 108 starsThe 108 stars of Tiangang and Disha were commonly seen in the Water Margins. The 108 stars would be ranked according to the upper Tiangang stars, 36 stars, and the lower Disha stars, 72 stars. The thirty-six Big Dipper Stars included the Big Dipper Star, Jishi Yu, Hu Baoyi, Song Jiang, Big Dipper Star, Jade Kylin, Lu Junyi, etc. The seventy-two Earth Fiends included the Big Dipper Star, Shenji Military Advisor, Zhu Wu, Earth Fiends, Zhen Sanshan, Huang Xin, etc. Different characters had different fates, such as Lu Junyi being framed by treacherous officials after winning, accidentally drinking poisoned wine, falling into the water and dying, Wu Yong hanging himself with Hua Rong after Song Jiang's death, etc. In other works such as "Fantasy Water Margins: Tiangang and Disha 108 Stars"(a single-player character game that was released on January 23, 2011),"Slam Dunk"(there was a creative interpretation of the characters corresponding to Tiangang and Disha Stars), etc., the concept of Tiangang and Disha 108 Stars was also used. In the legends, there were 108 stars of the Northern Dipper, 36 stars of the Heavenly Dipper as the handle, and 72 stars of the Earth Fiend as the ladle. For example, the changes of the Heavenly Dipper and the Earth Fiend of the Patriarch Bodhi might be related to the Emperor of the North Star.
Wuxia 36 Tiangang 72 DishaIn the context of Wuxia culture, there were many manifestations of the Thirty-six Heavenly Stars and the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends.
First of all, in Water Margins, a work with martial arts elements, 108 would be divided into 36 heavenly spirits and 72 earthly spirits. The thirty-six heavenly stars included the Heavenly Stalwarts Star, the Heavenly Damages Star, and many other corresponding characters, while the seventy-two earthly fiends included the Earthly Remoteness Star, the Earthly Space Star, and so on. The division was based on his contribution to Liangshan, the strength of his martial arts, and his relationship with Song Jiang. In terms of martial arts and combat ability, if the Thirty-six Heavenly Stars and the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends were to fight, the Thirty-six Heavenly Stars would have a greater chance of winning. Although the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends had the advantage in numbers, most of them were far inferior to the figures of the Thirty-six Heavenly Stars in terms of combat ability and combat experience. The Seventy-two Earthly Fiends lacked top-notch masters like Wu Song and Lin Chong.
In addition, in Taoist culture, the 36 Heavenly Stars and 72 Earthly Fiends had profound cultural implications. Their corresponding gods had different explanations in different Taoist schools. Some schools believed that they were the gods subdued by Zhenwu Great Emperor, while others regarded them as heavenly generals and heavenly soldiers. Some used them in Feng Shui to form the four divine beasts. In folk legends, the 36 Heavenly Stars often worked together with the 28 constellations and the 72 Earthly Fiends to subdue demons. Moreover, in some classical literary works such as "The Legend of Sansui's Extinguishing Demons,""Journey to the West," and "The General Mirror of Immortals in Past Dynasties," there was also an overview of the 36 Heavenly Dipper Techniques and the 72 Disha Techniques. For example, in "Journey to the West," Sun Wukong learned the 72 Disha Techniques, and Zhu Bajie learned the 36 Heavenly Dipper Techniques.
Tiangang Disha 108 TechniquesThere were thirty-six laws of the Heavenly Constellation: Mediate Creation, Reverse Yin and Yang, Shifting Stars, Turning Heaven and Sun, Summon Rain and Wind, Shaking Mountains and Shaking Earth, Riding Fog and Clouds, Drawing Rivers into Continents, Running Golden Light on Earth, Turning Rivers and Seas into Steel, Five Elements Escape, Six Secret Gates, Anti-Knowing Future, Whip Mountains and Move Stones, Resurrection, Flying Traces, Nine Breaths of Conquering, Guiding Yuan Yang, Subduing Dragons and Tigers, Repairing Heaven and Bathing the Sun, Pushing Mountains and Reclaiming Seas, Turning Stones into Gold, Standing Without Shadow, Changing Forms, Free-size, Flowers Blooming Instantly, Wandering God Controlling Qi, Separating Walls Insight, Returning Wind and Returning Fire. Mastering Five Thunder, Diving Abyss and Shrinking Earth, Flying Sand and Rocks, Carrying Mountains and Transcending Seas, Scattering Peas into Soldiers, Nail Head Seven Arrows. Earth Fiend with 72 Transformations: Ethereal Opening, Spirit Expelling, Mountain Carrying, Water Forbidden, Wind Borrowing, Mist Spreading, Sunlight Praying, Rain Praying, Sitting on Fire, Entering Water, Covering the Sun, Wind Controlling, Boiling Stones, Spitting Flames, Swallowing Knife, Flask Sky, Divine Travel, Walking on Water, Staff Dissolution, Clone, Invisibility, Head Extension, Immobilizing Body, Killing Demons, Inviting Immortals, Soul Chasing, Soul Absorbing, Cloud Summoning, Moon Obtaining, Transportation, Dream Marriage, Separation, Staff Sending, Broken Flow, Disaster Rending, Disaster Relieving, Yellow and White, Sword Art, Shooting, Earth Travel, Star Number, Array Formation, Fake Form, Spray, Finger, Corpse Disintegration, Scene Shifting, Summoning, Near, Beast Gathering. Diao Qin, Qi Ban, Da Li, Penetrating Stone, Glowing Light, Barrier Clothing, Daoyin, Taking Food, Opening Wall, Jumping Rock, Sprouting Head, Climbing, Drinking Water, Lying Snow, Violent Sun, Playing Pills, Talisman Water, Medicine, Knowing Time, Knowing Place, Abstinence from Grain, Nightmare Prayer. These 108 methods were reflected in Taoist mythology and related classical works such as the Journey to the West.