An exhibition titled “Heavenly Questions: The Cosmological Vision of Chinese Civilization” at the Anhui Museum in Hefei has drawn approximately 350,000 visitors since launching in July, according to Xinhua. The showcase brings together nearly 300 artifacts from 48 institutions to present China’s historical understanding of the universe through jade cosmograms, celestial star charts, and bronze globes.
Ancient Artifacts Mapping the Cosmos
The exhibition features several rare historical instruments used to observe and measure the night sky. Among the star attractions is a jade slab dating back 5,800 to 5,300 years, according to Xinhua. The artifact features eight arrows at the center mapping spatial directions, while arrows at the four corners appear to align with solstice sunrises and sunsets. Additional highlights include China’s oldest equatorial instrument, a 165 BC marquis’ tomb disk featuring 28-star mansions, and a Western Han Dynasty bronze water clock identified as the earliest-dated water clock ever discovered.
Did you know? According to Xinhua, the exhibition’s jade cosmological diagram is possibly older than Stonehenge in Britain, and features a rubbing of a Southern Song Dynasty stone-carved astronomical chart engraved with over 1,400 stars.
Connecting Ancient Astronomy to Modern Space Exploration
In the final section of the exhibition, historical instruments such as globes and gnomons are displayed alongside models of modern Chinese spacecraft, including the Yutu lunar rover and lunar soil samples collected by the Chang’e-6 mission in 2024, as reported by Xinhua. Many of China’s contemporary space missions draw their names from ancient myths and historical figures. The moon mission is named after the goddess Chang’e, the Mars rover is named after the fire god Zhurong, and the sky-surveying telescope Mozi honors the philosopher credited with early optical experiments.
“This exhibition lets ancient astronomy and modern space exploration illuminate and interpret each other,” said Shi Yunli, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China and an advisor to the show, as quoted by Xinhua. Shi added that visitors standing between the bronze gnomon and the Yutu rover witness a 5,000-year chain of inquiry.
Research Infrastructure and Historical Context
Ancient Chinese astronomy developed over five millennia, characterized by detailed record-keeping of the night sky, calendar making, and instrument construction, according to the National Astronomical Observatories (NAO). The Center of Ancient Chinese Astronomy (COACA), established in 2008 and operated jointly by the NAO, the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, and Beijing Planetarium, conducts computational analysis of ancient calendars, archaeoastronomy research, and instrument reconstruction. Archaeological sites such as the Neolithic Taosi Observatory, constructed between 2600 and 2000 BC, demonstrate early seasonal tracking by observing sunrises through specific slots, while later achievements included Su Song’s water-powered astronomical clock tower built in 1092 AD, according to NAO documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Heavenly Questions” exhibition?
It is an artifact exhibition at the Anhui Museum featuring nearly 300 historical objects focused on ancient Chinese astronomy and cosmology.
Where does the exhibition title originate?
According to Xinhua, the title comes from “Tianwen,” an epic poem written more than 2,000 years ago by the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.
How long is the exhibition open?
The exhibition runs through mid-October at the Anhui Museum in Hefei, Anhui Province.
What modern space missions are referenced in the display?
The exhibition incorporates modern spacecraft models and samples, including the Yutu lunar rover and materials from the Chang’e-6 lunar mission.
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