A solar eclipse versified in the Shijing

摘要

A solar eclipse versified in an ode called 'At the conjunction in the I Oth month' in the Shijing [SIC] has been analyzed under the light of the present astronomy. We have shown that the solar eclipse on 735 BC November 30 is a unique candidate of the eclipse in 801-720 BC satisfying the following three requirements: (1) the sexagenary cyclic day of the eclipse was xin-mao, (2) the sun became faint in the capital, and (3) the moon was eclipsed not long before the solar eclipse. The eclipse was at least very close to annular in Hao [SIC] (the Capital of Western Zhou). The maximum magnitude of every eclipse between.794 BC and 764 BC was too small to say 'the sun became faint' like in the ode. These results strongly support the dating of the eclipse by Hirayama and Ogura (1915, Tokyo Sugaku-Buturigakkwai Kizi, Ser.2, 8, 2) and reject any dating in 794-764 BC.