The 1395 Planisphere, Cheongsang Yeolcha Bunya-Ji-Do, and Two Earlier Star Maps in Korea

摘要

A number of star maps that predate the 1395 planisphere are recorded in Korean histories such as the Samguk Sagi, Koryo-sa and Munheon Bigo. A number of scholars have been searching for such star maps over the last decade or so, but without success. Fortunately, while one of us (NIS) was preparing the first volume of his series on the History of Korean Astronomy, he discovered two old star maps in the Yonsei University Library, and concluded that both maps may possibly predate the oldest-known Korean planisphere, Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunya-ji-Do. Of these two star charts, the older looking one has neither a title nor the name of its maker. However, the other star map has the title Geonsang Yeolcha Bunya-ji-Do. Its maker's name is Kwon Keun and it dates to 1395, the same year as the Cheonsang Yeolch Bunya-ji-Do. In this paper we first discuss the 1395 planisphere in some detail, and then introduce the two early star maps.