© 太平御覽, v. 874, f. 4b; MS Nu-3 in The National Diet Library of JapanOne of the variant fragments of the Bamboo Annals, an excerpt from the Ancient Text of the Bamboo Annals cited in (b) Tàipíng Yùlǎn.
A celestial event mentioned in an ancient Chinese text turns out to be the oldest known reference to a candidate aurora, predating the next oldest one by some three centuries.A celestial event mentioned in an ancient Chinese text turns out to be the oldest known reference to a candidate aurora,
predating the next oldest one by some three centuries, according to a recent study by Marinus Anthony van der Sluijs, an independent researcher based in Canada, and Hisashi Hayakawa from Nagoya University. This finding was recently published in the journal
Advances in Space Research.The
Bamboo Annals, or
Zhushu Jinian in Mandarin, chronicle the history of China from the earliest legendary time to the time of their probable composition, in the 4th century BCE. Historical events aside, unusual observations in the sky make an occasional appearance in the text. Although this chronicle has been known to scholars for a long time, a fresh look at such old texts sometimes yields surprising new insights. In this case, the authors examined the mention of a "five-coloured light" seen in the northern part of the sky on a night towards the end of the reign of king Zhao of the Zhou dynasty. While the exact year is uncertain, they used up-to-date reconstructions of Chinese chronology to settle on 977 and 957 BCE as the two most likely years, depending on how Zhao's reign is dated. They found the record of the "five-coloured light" to be consistent with a large geomagnetic storm. When the mid-latitude aurora is sufficiently bright, it can present a spectacle of multiple colours. The researchers cite several examples of this from historical records much closer to our time. The earth's north magnetic pole is known to have been inclined to the Eurasian side in the mid-10th century BCE, about 15° closer to central China than at present. Therefore, the auroral oval could have been visible to observers in central China at times of significant magnetic disturbance. The study estimates that the equatorward boundary of the auroral oval would have been located at a magnetic latitude of 40° or less on the occasion.
This would be the earliest datable record of an aurora known from anywhere in the world. The finding comes barely two years after that of the previous holder of this distinction - several records of candidate aurorae inscribed on cuneiform tablets by Assyrian astronomers in the period 679-655 BCE. Some scientists have also associated Ezekiel's vision, which is now dated to 594 or 593 BCE, with auroral visibility in the Middle East, but caveat must be noted for its reliability. Otherwise, another datable record of an early candidate aurora has been found for 567 BCE in the astronomical diary of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II.
Why did it take so long for scientists to recognise the aurora in the five-coloured light of this chronicle entry? One reason is that the
Bamboo Annals had a chequered history. The original manuscript was lost, rediscovered in the 3rd century CE and lost again during the Song dynasty. In the 16th century, a variant text was printed in which the object in the sky was not a five-coloured light, but a comet. Now the new study shows that this cannot have been the original reading.
It is interesting in itself that popular descriptions of the northern lights can be pushed this far back in time. Such historical information is valuable for other reasons as well, however. It helps scientists to model long-term patterns in space weather variability and solar activity, on timescales from decades to millennia. Understanding these fluctuations can, in turn, help societies prepare for future solar eruptions of great magnitude and the disruption of technological infrastructure that they may cause. This record is now the only known historical reference to a space weather event before the Homeric Grand (Solar) Minimum (810 - 740 BCE), which should preferably be called the Neo-Assyrian Grand Minimum owing to Homer's controversial historicity and dates.
See further:Marinus Anthony van der Sluijs & Hisashi Hayakawa, 'A Candidate Auroral Report in the
Bamboo Annals, Indicating a Possible Extreme Space Weather Event in the Early 10th Century BCE',
Advances in Space Research, 69. 3 (2022),
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2022.01.010.
Reader Comments
I'm beyond puss-footing around with the nonsense of reporting of alleged events back to 3500 BC, your link could be insightful for some, alas not me.
As for being full of glib, no, I'm not insincere and shallow. I'm deadly serious and have the courage of my conviction, I'm beyond this schoolboy nonsense.
I believe it is for others to make their own discoveries and only then will they become wise.
Tony van der Sluijs is himself a victim of "academia", given that he's had to self-publish most of his important works due to lack of interest or outright academic hostility. He lost a "travelling scholar" position due to a single non-woke remark made to an entrenched faculty loon. I acquired this knowledge by personal communication with the man. To claim he is "preaching from academia" is a non-sequitur based firmly on your ignorance - van der Sluijs is at the persecuted fringe of academia, which is why I firmly believe his views to be the cutting edge of research into the origins of mythology and their connections to "transient natural events", as he describes catastrophism.
Tony made his own discoveries and "became wise" as a result - yet you laugh at the idea of learning from his wisdom or, as he would prefer, critique, refine and improve his views. Why is that? You've done nothing here to present an opposing view, with evidence, of his claim that this ancient Chinese text represents the earliest known textual description of a mid-latitude aurora. I commend the man (and his Japanese co-author) for their valuable contribution to auroral and mythological studies.
I'm Winternights3, you've obviously not read any of my posts.
"You've done nothing here to present an opposing view, with evidence, of his claim that this ancient Chinese text represents the earliest known textual description of a mid-latitude aurora."
If it's not a mid latitude aurora, then what is it, and what's the evidence for your alternative view?
Regards WN3.
I exposed your claims above as baseless and they still are. Go crawl into the dunce corner mate until you're ready to actually debate with evidence at hand.
What research have you done in the last week, how many field trips have you engaged, what conclusions have you drawn. NOTHING.
As for research, I'm plowing through the Old Testament in Hebrew as I collate catastrophist texts for my book on draconology and OT electrical, plasma and geomagnetic transient phenomena.
Crickey mate, you're hopeless. You're the living definition of the proverb, "Assume, and you make an ass out of u and me."
I believe I've a bug in my system 🤔 not that worries me as I soon find it and resolve the issue.
Interestingly though, said bug gave me an insight as to what your doing too. Hmm .
So, before this exchange turns into some unnecessary shambles, you go your way and so will I.
Any thoughts?
As for research, I'm plowing through the Old Testament in Hebrew as I collate catastrophist texts for my book on draconology and OT electrical, plasma and geomagnetic transient phenomena. Currently dwelling on conclusions regarding the occasional visible aspect of the 'divine glory', aka. כבוד יהוה etc.
Crickey mate, you're hopeless. You're the living definition of the proverb, "Assume, and you make an ass out of u and me."
A comet did indeed induce an exceptionally powerful Coronal Mass Ejection which drove the auroral display further south than usual. Reading between the lines of revised texts with eyes in the present clears up all the confusion...a tale that time again is about to tell. History repeats as it is subject to immutable cosmic law written in indelible celestial ink.
'New studies' as seen through the jaded eyes of academia notwithstanding, the cosmos announces its ineffable refrain. There is no 'time' other than the immediate and instant moment. Time is a human reference as seen through the geometrical necessity of a rotating dimensionality. Infinity does not reckon time from the vantage of its timeless dwelling. Time, times and half a time is but a mere tinkering with an irresolute mind. Time is a pliable tool through which much is misconstrued.
UNPRECEDENTED Comet C/2017 K2 could be likened to a neodymium magnet planetoid composed of a high concentration of sintered rare earth elements (REE), conductive metals and even perhaps some radioactive components all fused together into one big, bad mama of a comet. Without a doubt, comets cause CMEs due to their opposing electrical potential relative to the sun. UNPRECEDENTED Solar Cycle 25 is about to set the bamboo afire.
Strap on your seat belts...we're in for one hell of a ride. [Link]
A comet did indeed induce an exceptionally powerful Coronal Mass Ejection which drove the auroral display further south than usual. Reading between the lines of revised texts with eyes in the present clears up all the confusion...a tale that time again is about to tell. History repeats as it is subject to immutable cosmic law written in indelible celestial ink.
'New studies' as seen through the jaded eyes of academia notwithstanding, the cosmos announces its ineffable refrain. There is no 'time' other than the immediate and instant moment. Time is a human reference as seen through the geometrical necessity of a rotating dimensionality. Infinity does not reckon time from the vantage of its timeless dwelling. Time, times and half a time is but a mere tinkering with an irresolute mind. Time is a pliable tool through which much is misconstrued.
UNPRECEDENTED Comet C/2017 K2 could be likened to a neodymium magnet planetoid composed of a high concentration of sintered rare earth elements (REE), conductive metals and even perhaps some radioactive components all fused together into one big, bad mama of a comet. Without a doubt, comets cause CMEs due to their opposing electrical potential relative to the sun. UNPRECEDENTED Solar Cycle 25 is about to set the bamboo afire.
Strap on your seat belts...we're in for one hell of a ride. [Link]
"Theories do not alter facts and that the universe remains unaffected even though texts crumble." Thomas Huxley
An X flare .... will await events.
We have 3 decades before the next planet falls from the Sun! ?See the parable of the carpenter's son, Sonne, and the timing clues therein.