"In life, we seldom meet, Like Shen and Shang, which never meet"[citation:6]. This famous line by Du Fu uses the astronomical phenomenon that the Shen star and the Shang star never meet to metaphorically refer to the pain of separation in life. This kind of star imagery is very common in classical literature.
In ancient poetry, stars were not only descriptions of natural landscapes but also carriers of emotional sustenance. "I would draw a bow, like a full moon, Aim northwest, and shoot down the Wolf"[citation:6]. Through the imagery of the Sirius star, Su Shi expressed the lofty sentiment and heroic spirit of resisting foreign enemies and protecting the homeland.
As one of the most prominent star phenomena, the Big Dipper is often endowed with the symbolic meaning of guiding direction in literary works. "The Big Dipper is high, Geshu carries his sword at night". This ancient poem uses the Big Dipper to set off the desolation of the frontier and the bravery of the soldiers.
The use of stars in literature not only enriches the artistic expression of the works but also inherits ancient astronomical knowledge, making profound astronomical concepts popularized through literary forms, forming a unique way of cultural inheritance.