Wuxian (Chinese: 巫咸) was a Chinese shaman, or Wu (Chinese: 巫; pinyin: wū; Wade–Giles: wu; lit. 'shaman') who practiced divination, prayer, sacrifice, rainmaking, and healing in Chinese traditions dating back over 3,000 years. Wuxian lived in the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC) of China, and served under king Tai Wu. He is considered one of the main ancient Chinese astronomers alongside more historical figures such as Gan De and Shi Shen, the latter two of whom lived during the Warring States (403–221 BC). He has also been represented as one of the "Three Astronomical Traditions" on the Dunhuang map which was made during the Tang dynasty (618–907).
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👉 Wu Xian (astronomer) in the context of Chinese astronomy
Astronomy in China has a long history stretching from the Shang dynasty, being refined over a period of more than 3,000 years. The ancient Chinese people have identified stars from 1300 BCE, as Chinese star names later categorized in the twenty-eight mansions have been found on oracle bones unearthed at Anyang, dating back to the mid-Shang dynasty. The core of the "mansion" (宿 xiù) system also took shape around this period, by the time of King Wu Ding (1250–1192 BCE).
Detailed records of astronomical observations began during the Warring States period (fourth century BCE). They flourished during the Han period (202 BCE – 220 CE) and subsequent dynasties with the publication of star catalogues. Chinese astronomy was equatorial, centered on close observation of circumpolar stars, and was based on different principles from those in traditional Western astronomy, where heliacal risings and settings of zodiac constellations formed the basic ecliptic framework. Joseph Needham has described the ancient Chinese as the most persistent and accurate observers of celestial phenomena anywhere in the world before the Islamic astronomers.
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Wu Xian (astronomer) in the context of Dunhuang map
The Dunhuang map or Dunhuang Star map is among the earliest known graphical depictions of the night sky in ancient Chinese astronomy, dating to the Tang dynasty (618–907). Prior to the discovery of this map, much of the star-related information recorded in early Chinese texts had been subject to speculations. The map provides visual corroboration of those textual records and forms part of a scroll that includes a series of illustrations found among the Dunhuang manuscripts. It is currently regarded as the world's oldest known complete star atlas.
The manuscript containing the star map was discovered in the early 20th century in the Mogao Caves and was taken along with hundreds of other manuscripts during a British expedition to Dunhuang. The scroll containing the Dunhuang map is currently held in the British Library.