Stone Northern Polar Star in Shandong Jiaxiang WuliangTemple
Stone Planisphere of theFive Dynasties
The stone planisphere is believed to be built between 941 and 960, precisely recording the positions of stars. It is 300 years earlier than the one in Suzhou, and one time bigger in diameter.
Purple Forbidden Enclosure inDunhuangStar Chart
In 1899, the Library Cave was discovered in Dunhuang Mogao Grotto, and in 1907, a British man named Aurel Stein and a French man Paul Pelliot stole 9000 historical relics and artwork rolls, among which was a star chart numbered MS3326 with over 1350 stars painted on it. Painted in the beginning of the eighth century, the star chart is recognized as the most important extant in the world, boasting the most stars. It is now preserved in the British Library. Beginning in December, the chart depicted the constellations near the equator in 12 sects based on the position of the sun. Besides, the Purple Forbidden Enclosure was drawn on the round plane projection map centered at the North Pole. The method did not appear in foreign countries until 600 years later. Part of the star chart in the British Library, the above depicts the Purple Forbidden Enclosure near the North Pole and the following depicts the Bi xiu (constellation), Zi xiu, Mao xiu and Jing xiu among the 28 xiu.
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