The Myth of Hsi and Ho: Did Ancient Chinese Astronomers Really Lose Their Heads Over a Missed Eclipse?
Researchers believe the story of Hsi and Ho, two royal astronomers executed in 2134 B.C.E. for their inability to forecast a solar eclipse, is likely a myth that illustrates the dangerous politics surrounding ancient Chinese court astronomy. This narrative, originating from texts dating back to the late first millennium B.C.E., suggests they failed to fulfill their responsibilities due to drinking, resulting in their execution for inaccurate celestial predictions. David Pankenier, an emeritus Sinologist, describes the story as "clearly mythical," lacking any proof of their actual existence. Christopher Cullen posits it might be connected to issues with the lunisolar calendar. While Chinese records became accurate by the third or fourth century B.C.E., eclipse predictions were only possible during the Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.). The New York Times recognized this legend in 1970 as the earliest documented account of a total solar eclipse.
Key facts
- The legend dates the alleged execution to October 22, 2134 B.C.E., though other versions give different timelines.
- Two royal astronomers, identified in modern sources as Hsi and Ho, were said to have been beheaded for failing to predict an eclipse or perform eclipse rituals.
- David Pankenier of Lehigh University says the story is "clearly mythical" and that no evidence shows the two men existed.
- Christopher Cullen of the University of Cambridge argues the original tale concerned lunisolar calendar management, not an eclipse.
- Chinese astronomers could not predict eclipses in 2134 B.C.E.; reliable anticipation emerged only under the Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.).
- A 170s C.E. account describes a royal astronomer correctly forecasting a December 8 solar eclipse from earlier observations, with an inaccurate location.
- The New York Times in 1970 described the legend as the earliest surviving written record of a total solar eclipse.
- Alexus McLeod of Indiana University Bloomington says harsh punishment for astronomers was plausible because their role was heavily political.
Entities
Artists
- David Pankenier
- Alexus McLeod
- Christopher Cullen
- Hsi
- Ho
- Georgia Michelman
Institutions
- Lehigh University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Cambridge
- The New York Times
- Smithsonian magazine
- Library of Congress
- European Southern Observatory
- New York University
Locations
- China
- Lehigh University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Cambridge
- England
- New York
- Chile
- La Silla Observatory
- France