The Book of Documents records a solar eclipse in the late autumn of King Zhongkang's reign, prompting ritual drumming to "rescue the sun." The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project places it at 5 November 1970 BC — one of the earliest recorded eclipses in the world.
Account
The Book of Documents records that "on the first day of the last month of autumn, the stars did not gather in the Fang mansion" — a solar eclipse during the reign of King Zhongkang of the Xia Dynasty. The Zuo Zhuan adds that blind musicians beat drums, officials galloped through the streets, and commoners ran in panic. The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project identifies 5 November 1970 BC as the most probable date.
Contested
⚠️ Partially disputed: Scholars disagree on the text's authenticity and the exact date. The Yin Zheng chapter's composition date is debated, and modern ΔT (Earth rotation) studies are used to back-calculate the event.
Sources
- Book of Documents, "Yin Zheng"
- Zuo Zhuan, Duke Zhao 17