Wei shu — treatises on celestial phenomena and on the calendar

《魏书·天象志》《律历志》 554 CE · Wei Shou

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Overview

It records the revision of the Zhengguang calendar — the main source for northern calendrical work.

Key data

ItemDetail
Completed554 CE
AuthorWei Shou
ChaptersCelestial Phenomena 1–4; Calendar 5–6
Core contentNorthern Wei calendar and phenomena

The work

The Wei shu was written by Wei Shou of the Northern Qi and treats of the Northern Wei. Its treatises on phenomena and the calendar are detailed, and precious amid the loss of northern documents.

The calendrical treatise

It records the revision of the Zhengguang calendar and the arguments of Li Yexing and others.

The Zhengguang was among the longer-lived calendars of the north, carried on by Eastern Wei, Western Wei and Northern Zhou; this treatise is the main source for it.

The treatise on phenomena

It records the omens and phenomena of the Northern Wei in annalistic form, full enough to be read beside the southern treatises for comparison.

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Compiled and arranged by Chujia Kuang.