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ASTRONOMY IN KOREA

By W. Carl Rufus

Ancient Korean Astronomy

Looking for survivals of ancient Korean astronomy is like searching for the claws of the dragon. All we can hope to do is to find its tracks. We are not thinking of the terrestrial dragon, but the celestial Blue Dragon, Chung Ryong of the east, as etherial as the blue of the sky, forever untrapped, but always there. It is composed of the first seven of the twenty eight zodiacal constellations or lunar mansions, known in China 4,500 years ago. It covers a quarter of the zodiac occupying approximately the position of the constellations, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio. The fifth of its seven asterisms is Sim the heart of the dragon containing three stars : the central one is Tai Wha Big Fire, which marvellous to relate is Antares, the well-known red giant star, the largest known to modern science, so large that our star, the sun, could be placed at its center and the planets, Mercury, Venus, the Earth and Mars in their orbits around the sun would be within its surface.

The Black Tortoise, Hyun Moo comes next in the zodiac corresponding in general to Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius. Although it stretches along the ecliptic it is assigned to the north direction. The White Tiger, Paik Ho of the west covers the quadrant of Aries, Taurus and Orion. Then follows the Red Bird, Chu Chak of the south, corresponding with Gemini, Cancer and Leo and completing the circle of the zodiac.

Figure 1 is a copy of the twenty eight asterisms made by tracing them from the planisphere of King Yi Tai-jo, ana omitting all other constellations excepting the Seven Stars to be mentioned later. North is at the top, south at the bottom, east at the left and west at the right At the bottom is the Red Bird of the south with its head to the [page 2] west, as you see by using a little imagination. Its Wing, Ik , is twenty seventh zodiacal asterism The Blue Dragon is at the left with its head downward. Among its designated groups of stars are the Horns, Neck, Heart and

Tail , , , , , , , . The Tail is most easily re-cognized. The other animals are left to the imagination. The accepted order of the zodiacal constellations sets the beginning at the head of the aragon near the autumnal equinox, 180 from the vernal equinox, the conventional starting point of the astronomy of the West (See Table 1.) Pictures of these four mythological animals appear on the inner walls of Koguryu tombs west of Pyengyang and have been adjudged to be the best paintings in the Orient that survive from that period. Illustrations given herewith (Figures 2-5) are from the great tombs near Kang Su about 550 A. D. Colored reproductions have been published by the Government General.

The Blue Dragon is on the east wall ; the Red Bird on the south, usually two, one on each side of the entrance ; the White Tiger on the west ; and the Black Tortoise on the north. The Black Tortoise, which is the masterpiece, faces the visitor as he enters from the south. Art critics may attempt its description ; but we claim it astronomically. It is singular that its name is not plural, as there are two animals, the tortoise and the serpent Together they represent the Eum-Yang the negative-positive or fem-inine-masculine in nature. These evolved from the Tai Kuk or Tai Il the Great Absolute or Great Monad, represented by a circle containing two inverted commas, one white for Yang and the other black for Eum. Back of Tai Kuk is sometimes posted Mu Kuk Absolute Nothingness. The union of these two primary essences is essential in creation. In astronomy, or more specifically in cosmogony, this picture of Eum-yang symbolizes their cop-ulation in cosmic creation. It stands for the nebular hypothesis of Laplace, the planetesimal theory of Chamberlain and Moulton or the essence of concepts yet unborn. In biology[page 3] it symbolizes the unsolved riddle of the origin of life. Its ramifications would take us far afield into Korean art, literature, ceremony, music and other realms. *

Lolang or Naknang

The excellent archeological work of the Government General of Chosen makes available a large amount of valuable material beginning with the Lolang tombs across the Tai-tong river from Pyengyang.** Lolang was a province of the Han dynasty of China, founded about 100 B. C., which flourished during the illustrious period of the Hans and left a permanent impress on Korea, especially in the north. The Grand Beginning of the Hans, established by the reorganization of their calendar, was December 24, 105 B. C. Discoveries at Pyeng Yang, especially in the tomb of Wang Hsii and the Printed Basket tomb, include lacquered ware, jewelry, toilet articles, dishes and other utensils.

Among the numerous decorative tiles used in the construction of the Lolang tombs is one that probably represents the oldest astronomical survival found in Korea. Mr. Koizumi, director of the Pyeng Yang Museum, calls it the oldest symbol of the moon in this country. (Figure 8). It contains the figure of an elongated animal with head, ears and fore part resembling a rabbit in the attitude of pounding in a mortar. The other part looks more like a frog. In

* An earlier conception of Eum-yang is found in one of the tombs, in which the tortoise seems to have minor significance. (Figure 6.) The two principles are symbolized by two interlocking circles with outward germinating cruves. A later work of art (Figure 7) embodies the same idea in greater detail. The central figure appears like a hybrid tortoise- serpent in dragon form. Beginning at the right, which represents the east, and passing around in counterclockwise direction, their differentiation may be traced. At the top the germination is evident, followed by an indication of the five elements composed of the four directions and the center, still expanding and developing into symbolic clouds at the bottom representing the heavens.

** Permission was kindly granted to make reporduction from the archeological publication.

[page 4] front is another hare-like animal. This represents an old Chinese legend of a woman, who stole the elixir of life from her husband and to escape his wrath flew to the moon, where she continues to prepare the medicine of immortality. Another production at the time of the Tang dynasty treats the same subject (Figure 9).

Of greater interest are the remains of two divination sets, evidently considered very valuable, as one was found in each of the tombs previously mentioned, Wang Hsii and Painted Basket A set consisted of two boards, a square one symbolizing the earth, and a circular one above it representing heaven. The Wang Hsii volume has a reconstructed drawing to represent the original, (Figure 10) which resembles the general conception of the diagram of the twenty eight constellations. At the center of the disk are the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper. North is at the top and south is at the bottom ; but the other directions are reversed from the star chart; east is at the right and west is at the left in accordance with terrestrial maps. In the Painted Basket volume the photograph of the Dipper appears up side down on account of the reversal (Figure 11). It contains only six stars, however, which is the number in the constellation Tou also used in divination. The direction of the handle was the essential feature and could be indicated by two stars as well as by three ; which may account for dropping one star. Surrounding the central part which contains the constellation, are circular bands with eight of the ten stems,* the twelve branches and twelve terms of two characters each having astrological significance. (Tables II and III).

On the square board are bands with the eight stems and twelve branches corresponding with those above. Other bands have the eight trigrams and the twenty eight zodiacal constellations. Blank bands on both the disk and the square as reconstructed indicate parts that could not be

* The fifth and sixth, moo, ki , represent the center and the element earth, so they are omitted.

[page 5] deciphered. Evidently the disk was rotated on the square to illustrate the apparent motion of the heavens over the earth.

To interpret this system we must go back to the time of Yo and Soon 2356 B. C. to 2205 B. C. The ten stems, twelve branches, eight trigrams and twenty eight constella-tions preceded their reigns. Fixing the quadrants, the four cardinal points and the directions on the ecliptic are credited to the royal astronomers of their period. The seven directors of Yo and Soon are thought to be the Seven Stars of the Dipper. According to ancient record Yo and Soon worshipped heaven and the directors and made it their first duty to arrange the calendar, the celestial signs and sacri- ficial seasons. For instruments they had the turning sphere and transverse tube. Thus they brought peace and prosperity to their people. The succeeding rules of China and Korea emulated their example.

On the astrological set are the four quadrants, east south, west and north ; but the center, of course, is lacking. On the star chart all parts are included ; but the central part containing the constellations around the north pole, is walled off mythologically and represents the kings palace surrounded by his court and ministers. The Seven Stars constitute the director at the center working it is said like the tongue.

The handle of the Dipper (Seven Stars) always points toward the Blue Dragon which accounts for its prime im-portance. This quadrant was visible on spring evenings and the directors pointed east, so we have the reason for associating Dragon, east and spring. Similarly Bird, south and summer; Tiger, west and autumn; Tortoise, north and winter.

* During evenings in spring the dipper is above the pole with the handle to the righ