THE TWENTY-EIGHT LUNAR MANSIONS OF CHINA

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  • 中国の二十八宿

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Abstract

This Paper attempts to place the development of the Chinese system of Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions (二十八宿) in multi-cultural framework, within which, contributions from cultures outside of China may be recognized. It systematically compares the Chinese system with similar systems from Babylonia, Arabia, and India. The results of such a comparison not only suggest an early date for its development, but also a significant level of input from, most likely, a Middle Eastern source. Significantly, the data suggest an awareness, on the part of the ancient Chinese, of completely arbitrary groupings of stars (the twelve constellations of the Middle Eastern Zodiac), as well as their equally arbitrary symbolic associations. The paper also attempts to elucidate the graphic and organizational relationship between the Chinese system of lunar mansions and (1.) the twelve Earthly Branches (地支) and (2.) the ten Heavenly Stems (天干).

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