• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.119-128
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• 2010

Gaecheonjeol is the National Foundation day of Korea when people hold a harvest ceremony. Nowadays, two representative harvest ceremonies of Korea are performed at Mt. Mari (摩利山) and Mt. Taebaek (太白山) on Gaecheonjeol (October 3rd). We study 28 flags with constellations appearing in the ceremony of Mt. Taebaek. These flags are lying in the outer of the circular stone wall during the ceremony. They represent an oriental heavenly star chart. We examine the shape, the connecting-pattern, the name, and the number of constellations drawn in the flags, and find several errors, such as, a wrong position, a typo of name, an irregular size, an omission, and so forth. Traditionally, the 28 oriental constellations are usually divided into four groups and each group has its own colour for each direction: Blue (E), Black (N), White (W), and Red (S). For the constellation flags in Mt. Taebaek, the colour of the flags is painted based on geographical directions, but the constellations are arranged followed by the direction of the celestial sphere. Thus, constellations in the northern and southern parts are counterchanged. Finally, we suggest some possible criteria for constellation map of the flags in this paper. CheonSangYeolChaBunYaJiDo (天象列次分野之圖) and CheonMunRyuCho (天文類抄) can be essential references for correcting constellations drawn in the flags of Mt. Taebaek.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.65-76
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• 2016

We study a manuscript that includes 28 oriental constellations in the flags of barracks in Gangjin. According to the Joseon Chronicles, the constellation flags in the manuscript are thought to have originated from Seon-Pil Kim (金善弼) who first made 28 constellation flags for the barracks in 1878 during the Joseon Dynasty. Seon-Pil Kim was a commander and he used the 28 constellation flags for communications in a military camp. The flags also contain 28 animals and letter-like symbols with constellation maps. We examine the constellation maps in flags in terms of shapes and number of stars, and compare them with those of constellations in the Korean and Chinese star charts such as CheonSangYeolChaBunYaJiDo (天象列次分野之圖), Joseon-Butienge (朝鮮步天歌), Suzhou (蘇州) Star Chart, and Tang-Butiange (唐步天歌). Finally, we found that the shape of constellations in the flags might be similar to those in the Chinese Tang-Butienge. We also found several errors such as the shape, connecting pattern, and number of constellations drawn in the flags. It seems that the constellation flags were unofficially used in military camps in the late Joseon dynasty. Meanwhile, the 28 constellations are divided into four groups and each group has its own color and direction. We suppose that the constellation flags might represent the positions of military camps and each group of flags has their own color based on their cardinal points.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.375-402
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• 2009

Korean historical constellations and their names are similar to Chinese ones. Although Korean historical astronomy is influenced by China, they have distinct differences in each shape and names of the constellations. We, therefore, compare Bocheonga (步天歌) of the early Joseon dynasty (朝鮮, $1392{\sim}1910$) preserved in Gyujanggark (奎章閣) with that of the Sui dynasty ((隋代, $581{\sim}618$ of China written by Wang Ximing(王希明) in terms of star charts and descriptions of the contents. We find out that the two books are partly different all over the books. First, there are definite differences in preface, three area of constellations (三垣) in the heaven, and the description of the Milky Way. Second, some of constellations show different in shape, the number of stars. Especially connecting pattern in some constellations shows different in each other. Third, Joseon Bocheonga describes their colors for some stars. These mean that Joseon has a unique tradition of star maps unlike Chinese one. We also summarize the differences and distinctive characteristics of Joseon star charts compared with Chinese ones.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 2003

Chon-Mun-Ryu-Cho (天文類抄), written (edited) by Lee Sun-Ji (李純之) during the period of King Se-Jong, is a representative astronomy book of Cho-Sun (朝鮮: A.D. 1392-1910) Dynasty. We find and study in the first page of the book; the description of 28 oriental constellations as a Sasin (four mythical oriental animals)-animal sky map which is not widely known yet. The map consists of four groups of constellations, each of which represents the Sasin: Chang-Ryong (蒼龍: dragon), Baek-Ho (白虎: tige.s with Ki-Rin [離隣: Oriental giraffe]), Ju-Jak (朱崔: Chinese phoenix), Hyun-Mu (玄武: a tortoise interwined with a snake). Each group (animals) spans 2 ～ 7 of 28 oriental constellations (宿). As we know from the illustration (論說) of the Chon-Sang-Yol-Cha-Bun-Ya-Ji-Do (天象列次分野之圖), a representative sky map of Cho-Sun Dynasty, astronomy in Cho-Sun Dynasty is closely related to that in Go- Gu-Rye. (高句麗: B.C. 37 -A.D. 668) Dynasty. Since these Sasin-animals appear in most mural paintings of Go-Gu-Rye. (高句麗) tombs, visualization of sky with these animal constellations could have been established as early as in Go-Gu-Ryer Dynasty. We also reconstruct this ”A Sasin-animal Korean sky map” based on the shapes of the Sasin and Ki-Rin from Go-Gu-Ryer paintings and 28 oriental constellations in Chon- S an g- Yol- C h a- B un- Ya- J i- Do.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2013

Honsangui (celestial globe) which is a water-hammering method astronomical clock is recorded in "Juhaesuyong" which is Volume VI of supplement from "Damheonseo", written by Hong Dae-Yong (1731~1783). We made out the conceptual design of Hong Dae-Yong's Honsangui through the study on its structure and working mechanism. Honsangui consist of three rings and two layers, the structure of rings which correspond to outer layer is similar to his own Tongcheonui (armillary sphere) which is a kind of armillary sphere. Honsang sphere which correspond to inner layer depicts constellations and milky way and two beads hang on it as Sun and Moon respectively for realize the celestial motion. Tongcheonui is operated by the pendulum power but Honsangui is operated by water-hammering method mechanism. This Honsangui's working mechanism is the traditional way of Joseon and it was simplified the working mechanism of Shui y$\ddot{u}$n i hsiang t'ai which is a representative astronomical clock of China. This record of Honsangui is the only historical record about the water-hammering method working mechanism of Joseon Era and it provide the study of water-hammering method mechanism with a vital clue.