[meteorite-list] Re: Chinese Witnessed Meteorite Fall and Recovery 1064AD....Meteorites Hot or Cold?

[chris aubeck]

Hi Dirk,

What's the reference for that one? I find the fact that the same
erroneous ideas were attached to meteorites in 11th century China as
in 19th century America very interesting.

Best,

Chris


On 9/12/05, drtanuki <drtanuki at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear List:
>  I am reviewing some notes that I have made from
> Chinese ancient literature.  This is the best
> documented fall in ancient times in China: " In the
> 1st year of the Chih-Phing reign period (1064 AD),
> there was a tremendous noise like thunder at
> Chhang-Chou about noon.  A fiery star as big as the
> moon appeared in the south-east.  In a moment there
> was a further thunderclap while the star moved to the
> south-west, and then with more thunder it fell in the
> garden of the Hsu family in the I-hsing district.
> Fire was seen reflected in the sky far and near, and
> fences in the garden round were all burnt.  When they
> had extinguished, a bowl-shaped hole was seen in the
> ground, with the meteorite glowing from within it for
> a long time.  Even when the glow ceased it was too hot
> to be approached.  Finally the earth was dug up, and a
> round stone as big as a fist, still hot, was found,
> with one side elongated (i.e. pear shaped).  Its
> colour and weight were like iron.  The governor, Cheng
> Shen, sent it to the Chin Shan temple at Jun-Chou,
> where it it is still kept in a box and shown to
> visitors".  (There is no evidence that this meteorite
> exists yet today.)
> Reference: "Meng Chhi Pi Than" written by Shen Kua
> 
>  There is also written evidence that the oldest
> Chinese witnessed fall was in 662BC in China.
> 
> Best, Dirk Ross...Tokyo
> 
> 
> 
> 
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