Chinese Astronomy

The Chinese Astronomie developed over several centuries and was shown a long time advances some on that of the western world. A very great number of observations former at the end of the Moyen-âge are without comparison with what was done in the western world. One of the finalities of the development of astronomy was of nature divinatoire. The article Astrology Chinese door on interpretation symbolic system associated with the various stars mentioned here.

See also: Chinese Astrology

Transmitted documents

A great number of documents Chinese covering most of the history of this area since year -3000 until the Dynastie of Ming (17th century) arrived to us (see Twenty-four Stories). Some of them comprise astronomical treaties, and some mention observation various considered to be notable for the astronomers of the time, like the invited or various stars conjunction S planetary.

Cutting of the sky

Contrary to the Western astronomy which is in the beginning based on the ecliptic , area where are driven the Planet S as well as the the Moon and the Sun, Chinese astronomy is based on a equatorial Frame of reference. The celestial equator was thus divided into several areas, as well as the ecliptic was cut out in 12 Signs of the zodiac. The subdivision of the equatorial band is made by 28 areas called lunar cabins, which presents the property to be of extremely varied size, going from 33 degrees for broadest (Dongjing), with less than one degree for narrowest. The reason of such a disparity in the face of the lunar cabins is not known to date (2007). Each border between lunar houses is located by a star of reference, the border corresponding to the Méridien connecting this stars to the celestial poles. These stars référentes are located in the vicinity of the celestial equator, but at variation S variables.

See also: lunar Cabin (Chinese astronomy)

With each lunar cabin a Astérisme with modest size was associated, including/understanding the star référente lunar cabin. The asterism bore the same name that the lunar cabin correspndante, but encroached in general on the close cabin. According to the cases, a reference in the name of a lunar cabin can correspond to the cabin it-mnême (i.e. a band of Right ascension) or the only asterism. The measurement of the width of each lunar cabin was carefully taken by the Chinese astronomers. Because of Precession in the equinoxes and way in which were defined the lunar cabins, the width of each one of them was subjected to variations. In particular, the narrowest cabin, Zuixi were reduced little by little, until virtually disappearing towards 1280. It is the observatoi of this phenomenon which led the Chinese astronomers to discover the precession of the equinoxes, though significantly later that the Greek astronomer Hipparque.

The remainder of the celestial Sphère also was the subject of a division in various asterisms, with the image of the Western Constellation S of astronomy. Nevertheless these asterisms were significantly smaller, their full number being assembled to approximately 283. The general localization as of these astérsimes is known, but their exact composition is prone to guarantee, the exact positions of stars the component being seldom given. Moreover, the majority of the sky charts arrived to us draw the astérsimes in a relatively stylized way, making their localization general easy, but their difficult exact composition, the more so as the charts differently do not represent stars according to their Magnitude connect. The only charts classifying indeed stars according to their brightness date from the 16th century, date on which astronmes Jésuite S had interacted with the Chinese astronomers. The authors of these charts not being identified, it is difficult to know if they accurately represent the traditional asterisms of the Chinese astronomers, or interpretation that were made the astronomers Jesuits of those. Even simple asterisms and including/understanding a low number of stars like Wangliang and Nanmen at present see their exact composition prone to debate. The determination of the exact composition of these asterisms represents an interest today for the identification of the exact localization of certain astronomical phenomena, in particular of the “invited stars” (in practice of the Nova E, Supernova E and Comet S) whose observation was carefully noted. In practice, the asterisms located at was neighborly Ge of the ecliptic are best identified, because the mention of the displacement of planets within those in general makes it possible to draw precise contours of them.

See also: List of asterisms of Chinese astronomy

The way in which the cutting of the sky was operated is not known with precision. There does not exist complete chart of the sky (complete for an observer located at the latitudes of the Chinese empire, i.e. not going down in lower part from a variation from -55 degrees) before the 7th century. The older charts are compartmental or show only one small number of astérsimes. It is estimated however that the detailed cartography (with the means of the time) of the vault of heaven dates from the fourth century before our era. The oldest sky chart preserved well is an engraving on stone of imposing size (a Mètre of width for two height) date of 1247. It is preserved today at the Musée of the town of Suzhou. Another chart of the same type goes back to 1395, and currently visible with the Palais Doksu of Seoul in South Korea. Its study reveals however that it corresponds to the configuration of the sky about the year -25 before our era (given thanks to the exact position of the celestial north pole by taking account of the precession of the equinoxes), which lets think that the cartography of the sky was already well advanced as of this time.

Astral houses The zone around the ecliptic and of the celestial equator is divided into 28 lunar houses sù , corresponding to the 28 sectors crossed in turn by the Moon during the lunar month. The whole of this “Chinese zodiac” is divided into 4 districts xiàng , represented each one by an animal totem. Their position given with fell the night the evening of the vernal equinox. The names of the lunar houses, not easily explainable, are very old: they were found on funerary objects dating from the Royaumes combatants, and could go back to the Zhou. It is thus difficult to know their original significance, because the character which indicates them could change direction. Nevertheless some seem to indicate part of the animal totem, like jiǎo (horn).

In a general way, the names of the Chinese asterisms are rather different from those of the 88 Constellation S Western. For example, the carriage of Ursa major is called “the ladle”. The belt of Orion is known under the name of shēn whose direction is “three”; Orion thus accounts for the three gods of Fortune, Happiness and Longevity.

The district more in the north, whose animal totem, a fantastic tortoise whose carapace evokes an armor, is called Xuanwu, “warlike black”, is particularly important. It contains in the house dǒu the carriage of Large Ourse ( dǒu of north) and the asterism nándǒu ( dǒu of the south) in the Sagittarius which control the births and deaths. Under the name of Zhenwudadi, Xuanwu is also a god, spirit of the sky of North and Water in the belief taoist.

Enclosures

Around the celestial north pole, the Chinese distinguished three spangled zones which seemed each one encircled by an enclosure, from where them name from the “three enclosures”.

The “imperial enclosure” or “higher enclosure” is located around α Ursae Minoris, formerly regarded as fixed, axis of the sky. It was believed that the stellar stars and gods that it sheltered controlled the destinies of the emperor and his family. The “enclosure of the palate of in top”, or “pregnant average” around the Lion, of the Virgin and Cassiopée, controlled the Ministers and civils servant of the palate. The “enclosure of the celestial” or “pregnant market lower” around Ophiuchus, of the eagle and Hercules represented the local government. The stars and Astérisme S of these enclosures carried names in connection with their symbolism, titles official or peerage-books for example.

Four celestial guards

The 28 lunar houses are classified in four districts containing seven constellations each one. They are identified with four fantastic creatures, celestial guards:

Green dragon of the east

The green Dragon of the east (東方青龍) associated with the Wood
  • Jiao (角) - the Horn, Spica
  • Kang (亢) - the Neck, Virgo
  • Di (氐) - Foundations, Libra
  • Fang (房) - the Room, Libra
  • Xin (心) - the Heart, Antares
  • Wei (尾) - the Tail, Scorpius
  • Ji (箕) - the Basket of wicker, Sagittarius

Black tortoise of north

The black Tortoise of north (北方玄武) associated with the Water.
  • Dǒu (斗) - the Ladle, Sagittarius
  • Niu (牛) - the Ox, Naked Capricornus
  • (女) - the Lady, Aquarius
  • Xu (虛) - Nothing, Aquarius
  • Wei (危) - the Roof, Aquarius/Pegasus
  • Shi (室) - the Camping, Pegasus
  • Bi (壁) - the Wall, Pegasus

White tiger of the west

The white Tiger of the west (西方白虎) associated with Metal (often identified with the Gold, but sometimes also with the moulded bronze of the vases and even with the steel of a sharp blade)
  • Kui (奎) - Legs, Andromeda
  • Lou (婁) - the Longe, Aries
  • Wei (胃) - the Belly, Aries
  • Mao (昴) - the hairy Head, Pleiads
  • Bi (畢) - the Net, Taurus
  • Zi (觜) - the Nozzle of tortoise, Orion
  • Shen (參) - Happiness, Fortune, and Long life, Orion

The Bird vermilion of the south

The Bird vermilion or Chinese Phoenix (南方朱雀) associated with fire
  • Jing (井) - the Good, Gemini
  • GUI (鬼) - Phantoms, Cancer
  • Liu (柳) - the Willow, Hydra
  • Xing (星) - the Star, Alphard , Alpha Hydrae
  • Zhang (張) - the deployed Net, Crater
  • Yi (翼) - Wings, Corvus
  • Zhen (軫) - the Tank, Corvus

The shape of the animal-guards as well as the distribution of the colors were fixed under the Han under the influence of the theory of the five elements.

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Calendar and time splicing

See also: Chinese Calendar

The Calendrier used in the Chinese world of lunisolar nature , i.e. was composed of an integer of lunar Mois. Each month started at the predicted day of the the New moon, contrary to the calendar of the Arab world, whose beginning of the lunar months depended on the observation of the first crescent of the moon. Twelve months lunar representing less than a Tropical year supplement, one month intercalated was added at a certain time of the year all both or three years. The year was divided into Saison S, but contrary to the calendar Western, the seasons were centered on the Solstice S and the equinox S and nonseparated by them. The last season of the year was the Hiver, centered on the Winter solstice, also the year began it around the month of February current, or fine January. In fact, the number of months of the year (i.e. the one month intercalated addition this year there) was determined by the constraint that the solstie of winter occurs at the time of the eleventh month.

The years were in general numbered starting from the accession with the throne of the Empereur of the moment, and sometimes according to various times of this reign.

In addition to this calendar a 60 days cycle named was also used Ganzhi . The days of this cycle was named according to two groups of syllables, the first group ( Tiangan , litt. “celestial stems”) by including/understanding 10 and the second ( Dizhi , litt. “terrestrial branches”) 12, but only a combination on two being valid. Very often, the dates are given in term of the lunisolar calendar and are seen accompanied da the position by day corresponding of the ganzhi . This double denomination makes easier today the conversion of the dates into term of the Gregorian Calendrier.

See also: Ganzhi

The day was based on several subdivisions, two more common being the shi , periods of equal two hours durations and the ke , corresponding to a hundredth of day (either approximately 14 minutes and 24 seconds). The first shi was centered on the Minuit in solar Temps, thus corresponding to the period of 23:00 to 1:00. The names of these shi were the same ones as those of the Dizhi used to locate the days in the sexagesimal cycle of the Ganzhi . The calendar date changed at midnight, except notable astronomical observations, which all were dated from the previous day the night of observation. An alternative subdivision of the course of the night was the Geng , corresponding to five subdivisions of identical duration of the night. The duration of a geng was on the other hand variable during the year (of 1:40 to 2:40 for the Latitude of 35 degrees of the center of China), because of annual variation of the duration of the days and the nights. The period of the day started with the astronomical rising of the Sun and finished with laying down this one. In a conventional way, one period of paddle and Crépuscule of 3 ke was recognized, corresponding to the civil twilight current.

Names given to the stars

Planets

The five planets visible with the naked eye bear a name related to the five elements of the Chinese Philosophie.
  • Mercury: Shuixing (zh 水星, pinyin: shuǐxīng , literally “star of water”), Chenxing (Chinese: zh 辰星, pinyin: chénxīng , literally “star in a hurry”)
  • Venus: Jinxing (zh 金星, pinyin: jīnxīng , literally “metal star”), Taibai (zh 太白, pinyin: taìbaí , literally “large white”)
  • Mars: Huoxing (zh 火星, pinyin: huǒxīng , literally “star of fire”), Yinghuo (zh 荧惑, pinyin: yínghuò )
  • Jupiter: Muxing (zh 木星, pinyin: mùxīng , literally “wood star”), Suixing (zh 岁星, pinyin: suìxīng , literally “star of the year”)
  • Saturn: Tuxing (zh 土星, pinyin: tǔxīng , literally “star of the ground”), Zhenxing (zh 鎮星, pinyin: zhènxīng , literally “star exorcist”)

The moon and Sun

  • Sun: IH (zh 日, pinyin: rì ), Taiyang (zh 太阳, pinyin: taìyáng )
  • the Moon: Taiyin (zh 太陰, pinyin: taìyīn ), Yue (zh 月, pinyin: yuè )
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