Bringing Heaven Down to Earth in Ancient China. (English)
In: Ziran Kexueshi Yanjiu (Studies in the History of Natural Sciences), Jg. 27 (2008-07-01), Heft 3, S. 281-300
academicJournal
Zugriff:
The article discusses the cosmological importance of the North Pole in ancient China. It is suggested that during China's Bronze Age, ritual specialists used the circumpolar stars to find the true north. According to the article, this has been more difficult to accomplish by the lack of a bright star near the North Pole. Archaeological discoveries from China's Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties found that achieving a cardinal point of the architectural environment was evidence of the country's concern with the North and South axial alignment. The accuracy of the cardinal orientation is questioned given that the Chinese had only the pattern of stars comprising the Great Square of Pegasus to use.
Titel: |
Bringing Heaven Down to Earth in Ancient China. (English)
|
---|---|
Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | Pankenier, David W. |
Zeitschrift: | Ziran Kexueshi Yanjiu (Studies in the History of Natural Sciences), Jg. 27 (2008-07-01), Heft 3, S. 281-300 |
Veröffentlichung: | 2008 |
Medientyp: | academicJournal |
ISSN: | 1000-0224 (print) |
Schlagwort: |
|
Sonstiges: |
|