Archaeoastronomy in East Asia: Historical Observational Records ...

BC 238 [China] (Ho 20)

(a) 9th year of the First Emperor of Qin of the Warring States; a broom star appeared, at times, stretching across the sky; in the 4th month…the broom star appeared in the west and again in the north, [extending] southward from Dou for 80 days.

[Shiji: Qin Shihuang benji] ch. 6

(b) 9th year of the First Emperor of Qin of the Warring States period; a broom star appeared stretching across the sky. Lao Ai fomented rebellion; his retainers were exiled to Shu. The broom star reappeared.

[Shiji: liu guo nian biao] ch. 15

NB: Ho (1962) mistranslated huo, “sometimes,” as “possibly” and also misunderstood the direction of movement vis-à-vis the Dipper in (a).

BC 234 Feb 19–Mar 20 [China] (Ho 21)

13th year of the First Emperor of Qin of the Warring States, 1st month; a broom star appeared in the east.

[Shiji: Qin Shihuang benji] ch. 6

BC 214 [China] (Ho 22)

33rd year of the First Emperor of Qin of the Warring States period; a bright star emerged in the west. [Shiji jijie] (commentary) quoting Xu Guang says, “Huangfu Mi (AD 214–AD 282) says, ‘a broom star appeared.’”

[Shiji: Qin Shihuang benji] ch. 6

BC 204 Aug 14–Sep 12 [China] (Ho 23)

(a) 3rd year Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, 7th month; a star became fuzzy at Dajiao.

[Han shu :Gao di ji] ch. 1

(b) 3rd year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, 7th month; a star became fuzzy at Dajiao for over 10 days before it set.

[Han shu :wu xing zhi] ch. 27