Astrology and Cosmology in Early China : Conforming Earth to Heaven

The Ancient Chinese Were Profoundly Influenced By The Sun, Moon And Stars, Making Persistent Efforts To Mirror Astral Phenomena In Shaping Their Civilization. In This Pioneering Text, David W. Pankenier Introduces Readers To A Seriously Understudied Field, Illustrating How Astronomy Shaped The Culture Of China From The Very Beginning And How It Influenced Areas As Disparate As Art, Architecture, Calendrical Science, Myth, Technology, And Political And Military Decision-making. As Elsewhere In The Ancient World, There Was No Positive Distinction Between Astronomy And Astrology In Ancient China, And So Astrology, Or More Precisely, Astral Omenology, Is A Principal Focus Of The Book. Drawing On A Broad Range Of Sources, Including Archaeological Discoveries, Classical Texts, Inscriptions And Paleography, This Thought-provoking Book Documents The Role Of Astronomical Phenomena In The Development Of The 'celestial Empire' From The Late Neolithic Through The Late Imperial Period. -- Publisher's Description. Part One. Astronomy And Cosmology In The Time Of Dragons -- Part Two. Aligning With Heaven -- Part Three. Planetary Omens And Cosmic Ideology -- Part Four. Warring States And Han Astral Portentology -- Part Five. One With The Sky. David W. Pankenier, Lehigh University. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 529-569) And Index. In this landmark text, David W. Pankenier introduces readers to a seriously understudied field, illustrating how astronomy shaped the culture of ancient China. Drawing on a broad range of sources, he reveals how astronomical concepts influenced almost every area of social organization, from art and architecture, to political and military decision making. Drawing on a vast array of scholarship, this pioneering text illustrates how profoundly astronomical phenomena shaped ancient Chinese civilization