1．Further Application and Research of Coordinate Systems
In this volume, I continue studying the working mechanism of coordinate systems and expand the research scope, gaining fruitful achievements from the construction of coordinate frameworks. The first chapter sorts out relevant research ideas and supplements unexplained contents from the volume one. It preliminarily explores the origin and evolution of Zi in Twelve Chen, uncovers the graphic mysteries of tiger‑devouring‑human you vessels and the Simuwu Square Cauldron, and launches research on avian denominations.
2.Retrieve the Unrecorded Calendar Formulated in 8600 BC ,Studies in Section 1, Chapter 3 reveal a long‑forgotten calendrical era dating back to around 8600 BC, with an upper limit of 9600 BC, numerically marked as -8600. Centering on Qincheng(aviary symbols) and records from dynastic astronomical treatises, deductive reasoning is adopted to confirm the existence of this calendar period, interpret professional astronomical terms and star names recorded on celestial charts. The ancient Chinese calendar has never been lost; it is preserved in historical documents including Book of Han · Treatise on Pitch‑pipes and Calendar and Book of Sui·Treatise on Pitch‑pipes and Calendar, as well as star labels on the Suzhou Stone Carved Star Chart. Terms such as Fu'er, Sheti and Tiantian contain profound implications, serving as keys to exploring ancient astronomical secrets. These assumptions are verified after reading Tsinghua Bamboo Slips · Wu Ji (Five Calendars).
Ancient people in China were proven capable of measuring the vernal equinox point. Successive speculated equinox positions correspond respectively to Zishen, Jinggui, Liuxingzhang, Yizhen, Fangxin, Weiji and Douniu lunar mansions. These hypotheses cannot be validated nor denied with sufficient evidence, thus reserved as pending research issues.
3.Connotation Analysis of Stars
This part carries out preliminary analysis on star meanings recorded in ancient astronomical works. Celestial bodies including Tiankou, Tiantian and Fu'er are interpreted. Some conclusions prove accurate, while incorrect deductions guide the exploration of more ancient vernal equinox positions, which are revised afterward.
Judgments on remote equinox origins are based on star connotation analysis. The character Er in Fu'er was initially regarded as the symbol of vernal equinox. Further research identifies a distinctive star as the actual equinox indicator. Relevant discussions are mentioned in Section 5, Chapter 3 of the volume One and expanded in volume Two. It is deduced that the Jinggui mansions once stood for the vernal equinox, and further analysis traces the earliest equinox to Douniu mansions around -19500. The result remains speculative and awaits verification in Volume three.
4.Research on Relationship between Thirty‑Six Animal Symbols and Twenty‑Eight Mansions .
Important findings are obtained in Section 5, Chapter 3 concerning the connection between Thirty‑Six Animal Symbols and Dizhi(the Twelve Earthly Branches Zodiac). Animal Symbols are confirmed as alternative names of stars. My research shows that both Baopuzi Inner Chapters: Dengshe and Baize Album of Spirits and Demons relate to the Twenty‑Eight Lunar Mansions. Their incomplete content results from historical loss of documents.
Traditional academia holds that the Twenty‑Eight Mansions were formed by removing eight categories from the Thirty‑Six Animal Symbols. My study puts forward an opposite viewpoint: the Thirty‑Six Animal Symbols evolved on the basis of the Twenty‑Eight Mansions. It is concluded that the eight redundant Qincheng(aviary symbols) among the Thirty‑Six Animal Symbols came into being when four sets of three mansions originally situated at the Four Cardinal Seasonal Points departed from their initial positions. After shifting,their locations are similiar to pososition ,where the Jiaokang, Weiji, Yizhen and Shibi mansions marked in the Xia Dynasty.
In the new coordinates, one aviary symbols out of every three original aviary symbols at each cardinal point became superfluous, resulting in four redundant names in total. The emergence of eight extra aviary symbols indicates the Four Cardinal Seasonal Points shifted twice，about 60‑degree shift.
Scholars generally believe the Twenty‑Eight Lunar Mansions took shape in the Zhou Dynasty. Based on researches on mansion numbers aligned with the equator and ecliptic, lunar lodging mansions and paired mansions, Zhao Yongheng and Li Yong concluded that the optimal formation period spanned 120 years from -5690 to -5570.
In my opinion ,Calculated by two shifts of the Four Cardinal Seasonal Points, if taking the Xia Dynasty as the benchmark, the celestial position shifted twice by 30 degrees respectively. The total time span equals 4296 years. Counting backward 4296 years from 2200 BCE, the year reaches -6496, the period when Jing and Gui Mansions served as the vernal equinox marker. Such results can be easily obtained through simple logical deduction.Upon completing the manuscript and revising this chapter, I adopted later acquired knowledge, combined interpretations of Shanhaijing(Classic of Mountains and Seas) and patterns on the Chu Silk Manuscript, and dated the period far earlier. I intuitively regard the Chu Silk Manuscript as a basic Tufa (celestial mapping document).
5.In Section 8 ,The term of “quanheng ”and “Mingtang(Bright Hall)”
The concept of “quanheng ” is recorded in the Heavenly Market Enclosure (Tianshiyuan)and the Supreme Palace Enclosure(Taiweiyuan) across historical materials. Both celestial regions once served as Mingtang(Bright Hall) observatories for astronomical calibration and geocentric observation in different periods. The Wudizuo(Five Emperor Seat) functioned as Mingtang(the Bright Hall) from -4160 to -3890, while the Dizuo(Imperial Throne) served the same role around -10200, matching the chronology of the lost ancient calendar and historical records about Fangxin mansions being the Bright Hall.
This chapter also explores the origins of Twelve Chen and Twelve Ci (Twelve Jupiter Stations).