The Universe Known by the Ancient People in China

The ancients in China once put forward the theory of "covering the sky" and "Huntian". In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a legend of the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon among the people. Zhang Heng, a scholar in the Han Dynasty, also put forward the concept of infinite universe.

Huntian said that the shape of heaven and earth is like an egg, and the relationship between heaven and earth is like an eggshell wrapped with egg yolk. Zhang Heng thinks that Huntian theory is more in line with the actual observation.

The early theory of covering the sky was that the sky was round and the place was like a chess game. The dome-shaped sky covered the square flat earth, but the dome-shaped sky could not match the square edge of the earth. Then it was suggested that the sky was not connected with the earth, but hung high on the earth like a big umbrella, supported by eight pillars around the earth, and the shape of the sky and the earth was like a pavilion with a dome-shaped top.

Extended information:

Achievements in observing the universe

The comet recorded in 24 BC in China is considered as the earliest record of Halley's comet in the world. From then on to 1986, Halley's comet * * * returned for 3 times, which was recorded in China. In 1973, Chinese archaeologists found an exquisite picture of comets in an ancient tomb of the Han Dynasty in Mawangdui, Changsha, Hunan Province. In addition to comets, there were clouds, gas, occultation stars and stars painted on the picture.

Resources: Baidu Encyclopedia-Universe