More than 2,000 years ago, Sima Qian, a historian of the Western Han Dynasty, was best known for his "Historical Records", which included a magnificent chapter called "The Book of Heavenly Officials". This document integrates astronomical astrology, dividing the stars in the sky into "star officials", corresponding to the Western concept of "constellations".
In the "Historical Records", Sima Qian's reference to "heavenly officials" refers not only to a single star, but also to all stars in the sky. In ancient times, due to the lack of science, people tended to believe that astronomical phenomena, such as meteors streaking across the night sky or meteorites falling, were interpreted as something big about the world. Whether it is good or bad needs to be interpreted by official astronomical experts.
Wonders of the Qin Shi Huang period: The Book of Heavenly Officials revealed.
The Book of Heavenly Officials records many historical events related to astrological signs. For example, during the reign of Qin Shi Huang, comets appeared four times in 15 years, lasting for 80 days, and some even reached the entire canopy. This is related to the historical event of Qin Shi Huang's destruction of the Six Kingdoms to complete the unification, as if the power of the universe was destined. However, modern people look at it rationally and clearly understand that Qin's unification is based on strength and has nothing to do with the stars.
Another record is even more thought-provoking: "Among the five stars divided into the heavens, accumulated in the east, China is beneficial;Accumulating in the West, foreign users benefit. The five stars are gathered in one house from the stars, and the country they give up can be lawed to the world. This text covers elements such as the Oriental, the Five Stars, China, the Foreign Country, and the Law to the World, which seems mysterious and unpredictable. Sima Qian told us that during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, there was an astronomical spectacle of "five stars gathered in the east well", which were the five planets of water, fire, wood, metal and earth, which were called Chenxing, Yingfu Xing, Suixingxing, Taibai Xing and Zhenxing in ancient times.
Archaeological discovery: "Five Stars Out of the East to Benefit China" brocade.
In 1995, archaeologists found a piece of Han Dynasty brocade in Xinjiang, which was painted with the pattern of "Five Stars Out of the East to Benefit China". This piece of brocade is brightly colored, with five colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and green, corresponding to five stars. Experts pointed out that it was supposed to be black (corresponding to the planet Mercury), but because black was not eye-catching enough, green was used instead.
This piece of brocade is not only colorful, but also delicately patterned, including cloud patterns, sun and moon red and white circular patterns, rui beasts, dogwood patterns, etc., showing a very high level of weaving technology at that time. However, the most striking thing is the mysterious sentence above, which seems to herald the prosperity of modern China: "Five stars out of the East are good for China".
Misconceptions: Misunderstandings of the word "China".
Many people mistakenly interpret this sentence as an accurate prophecy of the prosperity of modern China, believing that the "five stars" symbolize the five-star red flag, new China, etc. However, this interpretation is misplaced. The article points out that "China" here does not refer to today's national concept, but to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, which roughly corresponds to today's Henan Province. Therefore, "the five-star gathering is beneficial to China in the East" actually means that the five-star gathering is beneficial to military operations in the Central Plains.
This interpretation is further confirmed by archaeological excavations, which bear the words "Nanqiang". Therefore, the whole sentence should be understood as "Five stars out of the East to benefit China to fight for Nanqiang", which is a prayer and wish for Zhao Chongguo's crusade against Nanqiang during the period of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, rather than a ** for the fate of China in the future.
Astrology and History: Propaganda and Momentum of the Ancients.
The article pointed out that the ancients were Xi of associating astrological records with major historical events, creating some mysterious and esoteric propaganda speeches. Although "five stars out of the east to benefit China" is not an accurate version of the future fortunes of the country**, it at least tells us that most of the astronomical and astronomical records in the history books are true and reliable.
Scientists' calculations suggest that in 19 years' time we may again witness a rare "five-star gathering" spectacle similar to that of the Western Han Dynasty. The article concludes by emphasizing that the rise and fall is not determined by the stars in the sky, but by the manifestation of the laws of history. Everyone's activities are closely related to the rise and fall of the world, and the call for "every man is responsible" is not only a slogan, but also a reminder of everyone's responsibility.
The Mystery of the Stars: Ancient Wisdom Meets History.
This article delves into the mysterious content of astronomical stars in Sima Qian's Book of Heavenly Officials, and reveals how ancient people linked astronomy with historical events through the tapestry of archaeological discoveries to promote and build momentum. This led me to think deeply about ancient wisdom, historical interpretation, and cultural inheritance.
First of all, Sima Qian's Book of Heavenly Officials shows the great interest of the ancients in astronomical phenomena. In the case of a relatively backward level of science and technology, people try to understand the mystery of the universe through the observation and interpretation of astrological phenomena. This unique sensitivity to nature and desire to explore is admirable, and it also reflects the reverence for the universe and mystical forces in ancient cultures.
Secondly, the brocade discoveries mentioned in the article show us the high achievements of ancient art and technology. The colorful patterns and delicate patterns undoubtedly reflect the excellent level of weaving technology at that time. This is not only an ornament, but also a cultural inheritance, which conveys the ancient people's understanding of the stars to future generations through the form of art, demonstrating the importance of cultural continuity and tradition.
However, the misunderstanding of the phrase "five stars out of the East is good for China" also caused me to think. It is easy for modern people to fall into the misunderstanding of ancient culture and apply ancient concepts to the present day, when in fact, culture, history and context are constantly evolving. This reminds us to be cautious when interpreting ancient texts, and not to simply apply today's ideas to ancient texts.
The ancients associated the stars with historical events, which was a unique way of propaganda and momentum. By linking the mystical forces of the universe to the destiny of nations, it conveys a sense of fatalism and mysticism, giving a deeper meaning to historical events. This ancient propaganda technique may seem mysterious today, but it also reflects the human desire for the unknown and the diversity of ways of interpreting history.
Finally, the article's discussion of the rise and fall also resonated with me. Between rise and fall, whether ancient or modern, astronomical stars are not the only determining factor. The development of history is influenced by many complex factors, and people's activities and choices also play a crucial role in them. This view calls on us to take history seriously, to cherish the present, and that everyone has a responsibility to participate in the development of society.
Overall, this article not only provides us with an in-depth understanding of the relationship between ancient astrology and history, but also provokes reflection on ancient concepts of culture, art, and history. In today's era of rapid information dissemination, it is necessary for us to examine and cherish traditional culture and understand the development of human history from a more comprehensive perspective.
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