To describe two people fated never to cross paths, poets of the Tang and Song dynasties were fond of the phrase "as far apart as Can and Shang" (two stars in opposite parts of the sky that never come into view at the same time). There are countless other expressions in classical Chinese poetry that similarly reflect a deep familiarity with the heavens.
「人生不相見，動如參與商，」參與商是分屬兩個遙遙相對星宿中的星體，唐宋詩詞中以星象比喻人生更多不勝數。