The ancients who learned to draw the twelve constellations

As we all know, the 12-constellation system belongs to the western stargazing culture, while our own is 28 stars. However, due to the exchange and collision between cultures, it is not impossible to introduce the twelve constellations. The twelve constellations on Dunhuang murals may be records of foreign cultures.

These murals are located in Cave 6 1 of Mogao Grottoes, and the construction time has not yet been determined. Because Cave 6 1 was excavated in the Five Dynasties, some people think that these murals were created in the Xixia period. However, Xixia was too long ago, and the probability that the twelve constellations appeared in China at that time was very low. Some people think that these murals were completed in the Yuan Dynasty.

Looking back, in Babylon, what were the names of the twelve constellations? Zodiac killer. . According to records, these concepts were introduced into China from India in the 6th century. By the Sui Dynasty, there was a translation of the twelve constellations.

Foreign cultures always leave traces in history. In the Tang Dynasty's work "Five Stars and Twenty-eight Dwellings", Liang Lingzan described each constellation as different types of elves. Although it is painted with 28 stars, you can vaguely see the shadows of the twelve constellations, such as some traces of Sagittarius and Libra.

At that time, people's understanding of the twelve constellations was very different from now. Like what? Capricorn? Be regarded as? Whales? ,? The largest is more than ten miles long? . And then what? Gemini? What's it called? Yin and Yang? 、? Virgo? What's your name? Two girls? . Finally, in 1885, Kang Youwei unified the names of the twelve constellations and became the names we are familiar with now.

As for the murals in Dunhuang, they must be influenced by the culture of the twelve constellations. Although the murals have fallen off for a long time, the image of the twelve constellations can still be seen as a whole. For example, Cancer is a big crab, Gemini is two men, and Capricorn is a bit special, from the head of a sheep to a leader.

Looking at the 28 stars and the zodiac together, I always feel that I have broken the dimension. Cultural exchange is sometimes really a magical thing, which can spark a different kind of spark.