An apocryphal text describes the five planets appearing "like a string of pearls, bright as linked jade" during the reign of Yu the Great. The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project dated it to 1953 BC.
Account
The apocryphal Classic of Filial Piety records that during Yu the Great's reign, the five planets gathered in a single celestial region — "like a string of pearls, bright as linked jade." The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project proposed 1953 BC.
Debunked
⚠️ Doubtful: The record contradicts Yu's recorded lifespan and reign length. The apocryphal source is unreliable, and another five-planet conjunction occurred in April 1972 BC.
Sources
- Apocryphal Classic of Filial Piety