The modern constellation Centaurus lies across two of the quadrants symbolized by the Azure Dragon of the East (東方青龍, Dōng Fāng Qīng Lóng), the Vermillion Bird of the South (南方朱雀, Nán Fāng Zhū Què),[1] and the Southern Asterisms (近南極星區, Jìnnánjíxīngōu).
According to the quadrant, Centaurus is possibly not fully visible in the Chinese sky. Hadar (Beta Centauri) is a bright star in this constellation that is possibly never seen in Chinese sky.
The name of the western constellation in modern Chinese is 半人馬座 (bàn rén mǎ zuò), meaning "the centaur constellation".