The term "Xuanji Jade Heng" comes from the ancient Chinese book "Shang Shu Shun Dian". The original text is "In the Xuanji Jade Heng, to Qi Qi Zheng". Because the records are simple and the meaning is difficult to understand, two different views have emerged since the Han Dynasty: one focuses on astrology and the other focuses on instruments. Sima Qian advocated that the Xuanji Yuheng was the Big Dipper. "Historical Records Tianguan Shu" said: "The Big Dipper is the so-called 'Xuanji Yuheng to Qi Qizheng'." Wei Shu's "Spring and Autumn Yun Dou Shu" even compared the name of the Big Dipper with Xuanji Yuheng is connected: "The first Tianshu of the Big Dipper, the second Xuan, the third Ji, the fourth Quan, the fifth Yuheng, the sixth Kaiyang, and the seventh Yaoguang. One to four are Kui, and five to seven are Lao (handle), combined to form a bucket. It is located in Yin and Yang, so it is called Beidou. According to "Jin Shu Tian Wen Zhi", the three stars are Yu Heng. "It is slightly different from Sima Qian's idea. In addition, there is also the theory of Beiji (Beichen). For example, Fu Sheng wrote in "Shangshu Da Zhuan": "Xuan means return, Ji means Ji, Wei means how many changes there are. It is small but the action is big, it is called Xuanji, so Xuanji is called the North Pole. "Shuo Yuan" says: "Xuanji is called Beichen, and Shao Chen is Shuxing." "Zhou Bi Suan Jing" says that all the stars in the North are called Xuanji, while "The Star Sutra" has a different saying: "Xuanji is called the North Star, and Yuheng is called the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper." "The above are all related to the astrology theory.
Since the Han Dynasty, there are many people who think that the Xuanji Jade Scale is an instrument. Kong Anguo said: The jade scale is an instrument. Zheng Xuan said: "Movement is a jade, holding it upright is a balance, and using jade as a tool depends on its performance. "This also refers to the instrument. Some people even advocate that the Xuanji Jade Heng is the Armillary Sphere (see the Armillary Sphere and the Armillary Elephant). Ma Rong said: "The body of the heaven cannot be known. The only thing that can be found in the scriptures is the Ji Heng. Jiheng is the armillary sphere today. "Wang Fan during the Three Kingdoms period said: "The armillary sphere Xihe's old utensil was passed down through the ages and was called Jiheng. "Su Song of the Northern Song Dynasty believed that the Xuanji Jade Heng was the four-wheeled instrument in the armillary sphere.
Note: Xuan
The second star of the Big Dipper. For example: Xuanshan (the second star of the Big Dipper) Dipper handle); Xuanxing (star name. The second star of the Big Dipper); p>
Ji
Wen Yangzhi Tianji - "Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty and Empress Yuan Ai Ce"
Another example: Ji Xuan (the name of the star in the Big Dipper. Xuan is the second star among them, and Ji is the third star among them. Today it is called "Tianji", collectively called "Xuanji"); Jiheng (star name. Refers to Tianji and Yuheng among the Big Dipper. It is also used to refer to observation. Astronomical instrument)
Xuanji
An ancient astronomical instrument, the armillary sphere
The wonder of Xuanji.
——"Book of the Later Han·Biography of Zhang Heng"
In ancient times, they were called the first to fourth stars of the Big Dipper