ASTRONOMY ON ORACLE BONE INSCRIPTIONS

In this paper we review the records of astronomical phenomena on oracl e bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty. The history of research on t he bone inscriptions is less than loo years from their discovery and a rticles on oracle bone astronomy are even more recent. Since the peopl e of the Shang Dynasty deeply worshipped the celestial bodies, for exa mple the Sun, Moon and Stars, many bone inscriptions, recording astron omical phenomena, have been found by palaeographers and astronomers. B y means of a study of published rubbings, we discuss the astronomical records of bone inscriptions, such as solar and lunar eclipses, solar phenomena, planets, comets, new stars or supernovae and certain fixed stars. In particular some records, such as solar and lunar eclipses, s unspots and comets are discussed in detail. It is concluded that astro nomy in the Shang Dynasty (from about 1500-1050 BC) had already attain ed a fair level. However, the names of some planets and rather bright stars such as Venus and Mars, or Sirius and Vega, have not yet been de ciphered from bone inscriptions. We give several suggestions for exten ding study in this area.