Archaeoastronomy in East Asia: Historical Observational Records ...

BC 172 [China] (Ho 24)

8th year of the Qianyuan reign period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty; a “long star” emerged in the east.

[Han shu: Wen di ji] ch. 4

BC 162 Feb 6 [China] (Ho 25)

2nd year of the Houyuan reign period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, 1st month, day renyin [39]; in the evening a “heavenly tree” (i.e., comet) appeared in the southwest.

[Han shu: tianwen zhi] ch. 26

NB: This is considered by some to be a record of Comet Halley’s return –28. The term tianchan, “heavenly tree,” is idiosyncratic.

BC 157 Oct 2–31 [China] (Ho 26)

(a) 7th year of the Houyuan reign period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, 9th month; a star became fuzzy in the west.

[Han shu: Jing di ji] ch. 5

(b) 7th year of the Houyuan reign period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, 9th month; a star became fuzzy in the west. Its root pointed toward Wei [LM 6] and Ji [LM 7], and its tip pointed toward Xu [LM 11] and Wei [lm 12]. It was over 1 zhang long and reached the Milky Way; after 16 days, it was no longer seen.

[Han shu: wuxing zhi] ch. 27

BC 155 Sep 11–Oct 10 [China] (Ho 27)

2nd year of the Qianyuan reign period of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, 8th month; a broom star emerged in the northeast.

[Shiji: Xiao Jing ben ji] ch. 11

BC 155 Nov 20–BC 154 Nov 8 [China] (Ho 28)

(a) 2nd year of the Qianyuan reign period of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, winter, 12th month (BC 154 Jan 18–Feb 16); a star became fuzzy in the southwest.

[Han shu: Jing di ji] ch. 5

(b) 2nd year of the Qianyuan reign period of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty (BC 155 Nov 20–BC 154 Nov 8); in this year, a broom star emerged in the southwest.

[Han shu: tianwen zhi] ch. 26

NB: Ho (1962) lacked both records.