This record comes from the Book of Songs Xiaoya at the turn of October. This poem describes that the moon gets smaller every other month, and this day gets smaller, which means that the moon gets smaller and the sun gets smaller. This description is considered to be the earliest record of a partial eclipse.
In addition, there is a record of a solar eclipse in Shang Dynasty, which happened in the Zhong Kang era of Xia Dynasty, and the specific date was around 2037 BC. This record is about 250 years later than that in The Book of Songs.
In addition to these early records, there are many observations and records about solar eclipses in ancient China, including historical documents such as Chunqiu, Hanshu, Jin Shu, Sui Shu, and Xintangshu. These records not only provide valuable astronomical data, but also reflect the ancient people's understanding and observation level of astronomical phenomena.
The records of ancient eclipses in China are of great significance not only to domestic astronomical research, but also to international astronomical circles. The recording and observation of lunar eclipses in ancient China made important contributions to the research and development of the international astronomical community.
The uniqueness of ancient eclipse records in China;
1. Early record: The ancient eclipse record in China can be traced back to 2283 BC, hundreds of years earlier than that in the West.
2. Detailed records: The records of the lunar eclipse in ancient China are very detailed, including time, place, phase of the moon, lunar eclipse, etc. , which provided valuable information for later astronomical research.
3. Scientific observation method: The observation method of lunar eclipse in ancient China was relatively scientific, and various methods were used for observation and recording, such as naked eye observation and astronomical instrument observation.
4. Rich cultural connotations: China's ancient records of lunar eclipses are not only astronomical observations, but also contain rich cultural connotations. For example, an eclipse is regarded as an unknown omen, which is related to the emperor's political rule.
5. Impact on the international astronomical community: The recording and observation of the lunar eclipse in ancient China had a far-reaching impact on the international astronomical community and promoted the development of astronomy.