Solar and Lunar Eclipse Records in Vietnam from Ancient Times Through to the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

We present 124 solar and 59 lunar eclipse records ranging from the third century BCE to 1888 CE, which were collected from the three Vietnamese historical sources: Việt Sử Lược (VSL), Đại Việt Sử Ký Toan Thư supplemented by Đại Việt Sử Ký Tục Biên (TT&TB) and Đại Nam Thực Lục Chính Biên (ĐNTL-CB). We also present another 29 solar eclipse records (eight of them are the same as those in the TT&TB) collected from Đại Nam Thực Lục Tiền Biên (ĐNTL-TB). We examine these records (most of them are too brief to allow us to determine whether they were based on observations or predictions) by using modern eclipse simulation software. Our findings are as follows: (1) The average reliabilities of the solar and the lunar eclipse records since the tenth century are found to be 72% and 81%, respectively, except for the records of the ĐNTL-TB. (2) A very low reliability (31%) of the solar eclipse records in the ĐNTL-TB is found to have a strong link with improper calculation of the calendar used in the same time, and this fact suggests that many of those records were based on predictions. (3) After the introduction of the Hiệp Kỷ calendar, the Eclipse-Recorded (ER) ratio of the solar eclipse records reached 79%, which is unexpectedly large if most of the records were based on observations because an annually averaged percentage of sunshine in Huế is roughly estimated to be merely ~40%. (4) A timing diagram of 34 date-specified lunar eclipse records over a period from the early fourteenth century to the mid-nineteenth suggests that in Vietnam during the period between the mid-seventeenth century and probably the early nineteenth century (when the Hiệp Kỷ calendar was introduced) the beginning of the day was at dawn, and during the other periods it was at midnight.

Appendices

Appendix 4.1

Solar Eclipse Records in the VSL , TT&TB and ĐNTL-CB

We provide the original texts in classical Chinese and their English translation of the solar eclipse records collected from the Vietnamese historical sources; the Việt Sử Lược (VSL), the Đại Việt Sử Ký Toan Thư (TT) supplemented by the Đại Việt Sử Ký Tục Biên (TB), and the Đại Nam Thực Lục Chính Biên (ĐNTL-CB). For the translation of the Chinese sexagenary cycle used for a day and so on, we also give its Chinese name in parentheses. We omit the Chinese sexagenary cycle used for a year in the sources unless necessary. It is noticed that, in the Chinese calendar during a period between 221 BCE and 105 BCE, a year started with the tenth month, followed by the eleventh, the twelfth, the first, …, and ended with the ninth month and that, in historical sources in those days, the months of the year were arranged in order from the first month to twelfth month. Thus, during the period, the tenth, the eleventh and the twelfth month of a year are equivalent to those months of the previous year in ordinary calendars, respectively.

For each record, we provide the following: its described eclipse date converted into the Julian/Gregorian calendar, an English translation of the text, the original text in classical Chinese followed by an abbreviation for the historical source name. For the source name abbreviations, see Table 4.A1. Moreover, we give the catalog numbers of Oppolzer’s (1887) Canon of Solar Eclipses (Oplzr.SE) and of Espenak and Meeus’s (n.d.-a) Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: –1999 to +3000 (5MCSE). As far as records in the TT, we also give Ho’s (1964) list number (Ho #iv) of solar eclipse records. We also remark how the eclipse was seen (unless covered with cloud) in the capital of the dynasty on the described date according to the JavaScript Solar Eclipse Explorer developed by Espenak and O’Byrne (n.d.-a). The magnitude at mid-eclipse (or that at moonrise or moonset if a mid-eclipse occurred below the horizon) is shown in parentheses: for example, “a partial eclipse (0.nn) was observable in Đông Kinh”.

Table 4.A1 Examples of the abbreviation for the names of the historical sources used in Appendices 4.1 through 4.3.

Table 4.A2 lists the geographical coordinates of the capitals of historical Vietnamese dynasties that related to eclipse records appearing in Appendices 4.1 through 4.3. Since we do not have so accurate information on the positions of some of the palaces, more precisely, of most of the observation sites, the coordinates listed in the table are rather tentative, and have some uncertainty (probably up to ~0.1 deg), which is considered, however, as negligible for our purposes.

Table 4.A2 The capitals of Vietnamese Dynasties that are related to the eclipse records listed in Appendices 4.1 through 4.3. The geographical coordinates given here are those adopted in this chapter. They have some uncertainty. See the text.

Phiên Ngung, Mê Linh and Long Biên were the capitals of the Triệu Dynasty (207 BCE–111 BCE), Trưng Sisters (CE 40–43) and Early Lý (Tiền Lý) Dynasty (544–602), respectively. Hoa Lư was the capital of the Early Lê and Lý Dynasties (before moving the capital) (980–1010), and Thăng Long was the capital of the Lý and Trần Dynasties (1010–1400). Đông Kinh was the capital of the Lê Dynasty (1428–1527, 1533–1789) except for 1533–1597, during which the capital was Vạn Lại. Huế was the capital of the Nguyễn Dynasty (1802–1945).

(1-1):

20 December 205 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 4th year, winter, 10th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)四年冬十月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2387, 5MCSE #04277, Ho #iv-01. A partial eclipse (0.40) was observable in Phiên Ngung.

(1-2):

18 January 204 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 4th year, 11th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)四年十一月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-02. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-3):

21 February 188 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 20th year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)二十年春正月朔, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-03. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-4):

17 July 188 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 20th year, summer, 5th month, there was a total eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)二十年夏五月, 日食, 既. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2425, 5MCSE #04315, Ho #iv-04. Since the record gives the eclipse month only, we assumed the eclipse occurred on the last day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.93) was observable in Phiên Ngung on the last day of the month.

(1-5):

26 July 186 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 22nd year, summer, 6th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)二十二年夏六月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-05. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-6):

4 December 179 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 30th year, winter, 10th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)三十年冬十月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-06. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth. The Hanshu says: “11th month” instead of “10th month”. See Sub-subsection 4.5.1.2.

(1-7):

22 December 178 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 31st year, winter, 10th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)三十一年冬十月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2449, 5MCSE #04339, Ho #iv-07. A partial eclipse (0.61) was observable in Phiên Ngung.

(1-8):

21 January 177 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 31st year, 11th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)三十一年十一月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-08. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-9):

9 June 160 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 48th year, summer, 4th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)四十八年夏四月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-09. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-10):

6 March 154 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 54th year, spring, 1st month … the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)五十四年春正月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅是月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-10. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth. The Hanshu says: “2nd month”. instead of “1st month”. See Sub-subsection 4.5.1.2.

(1-11):

27 November 154 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 55th year, winter, 10th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun

(趙 武帝)五十五年冬十月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-11. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth. Ho (1968) gave a wrong converted date.

(1-12):

22 October 148 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 60th year, autumn, 9th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)六十年秋九月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-12. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-13):

10 November 147 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 61st year, autumn, 9th month, …, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)六十一年秋九月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅是月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2523, 5MCSE #04413, Ho #iv-13. A partial eclipse (0.56) was observable in Phiên Ngung.

(1-14):

10 December 147 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 62nd year, winter, 10th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)六十二年冬十月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-14. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-15):

8 September 144 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 64th year, autumn, 7th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)六十四年秋七月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2530, 5MCSE #04420, Ho #iv-15. An annular eclipse (0.94) was observable in Phiên Ngung. The Sun rose after the eclipse started.

(1-16):

28 August 143 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 65th year, autumn, 7th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)六十五年秋七月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2532, 5MCSE #04422, Ho #iv-16. A partial eclipse (0.43) was observable in Phiên Ngung.

(1-17):

20 March 139 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 69th year, spring, 1st month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)六十九年春正月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-17. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-18):

1 November 138 BCE

(Emperor Vũ of Triệu,) 70th year, 9th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 武帝)七十年九月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2545, 5MCSE #04435, Ho #iv-18. A partial eclipse (0.33) was observable in Phiên Ngung.

(1-19):

19 August 134 BCE

(King Văn of Triệu,) 3rd year, autumn, 7th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 文王)三年秋七月晦, 日食.[TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2555, 5MCSE #04445, Ho #iv-19. A partial eclipse (0.57) was observable in Phiên Ngung.

(1-20):

6 May 127 BCE

(King Văn of Triệu,) 10th year, spring, 3rd month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 文王)十年春三月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-20. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-21):

9 July 122 BCE

(King Minh of Triệu,) 3rd year, summer, 5th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(趙 明王)三年夏五月晦, 日食. [TT (NK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #2582, 5MCSE #04472, Ho #iv-21. A partial eclipse (0.70) was observable in Phiên Ngung.

(1-22):

19 April 41 CE

(King Trưng,) 2nd year, spring, 2nd month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(徵王)二年春二月晦, 日食.[TT (NK)-3]

Oplzr.SE #2986, 5MCSE #04876, Ho #iv-22. A partial eclipse (0.90) was observable in Mê Linh.

(1-23):

8 April 479

(Year) kỷ-mùi (ji-wei), spring, 3rd month, 1st day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Sun.

己未*春三月朔, 日食. [TT (NK)-4]

Oplzr.SE #4003, 5MCSE #05889, Ho #iv-23. A partial eclipse (0.64) was observable in Vietnam**.

* The year is also given in the Chinese calendar as “Shengming reign period, 3rd year”.

** Vietnam was under the Chinese domination. We assumed the observation site was present Hanoi.

(1-24):

6 February 547

Thiên Đức reign period, 4th year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

天徳四年春正月朔, 日食. [TT (NK)-4]

Oplzr.SE #4170, 5MCSE #06056, Ho #iv-24. A partial eclipse (0.51) was observable in Long Biên.

(1-25):

24 February 993

Hưng Thống reign period, 5th year, spring, 2nd month, day kỷ-mùi (ji-wei), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

興統五年春二月己未朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-1]

Oplzr.SE #5225, 5MCSE #07108, Ho #iv-25. A partial eclipse (0.31 at sunset) was observable in Hoa Lư. The Sun set before mid-eclipse.

(1-26):

28 May 998

Ứng Thiên reign period, 5th year, summer, 5th month, day mậu-ngọ (wu-wu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

應天五年夏五月戊午朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-1]

Oplzr.SE #5237, 5MCSE #07120, Ho #iv-26. The eclipse was not observable in Hoa Lư.

(1-27):

23 October 998

Ứng Thiên reign period, 5th year, winter, 10th month, day bính-tuất (bing-xu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

應天五年冬十月丙戌朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-1]

Oplzr.SE #5238, 5MCSE #07121, Ho #iv-27. The eclipse was not observable in Hoa Lư.

(1-28):

29 March 1028

Thiên Thành reign period, 1st year, spring, 3rd month, day bính-thân (bing-shen), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

天成元年春三月丙申朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-2]

Oplzr.SE #5307, 5MCSE #07190, Ho #iv-28. The eclipse was not observable in Thăng Long.

(1-29):

15 February 1040

Càn Phù Hữu Đạo reign period, 2nd year, spring, 1st month, day đinh-hợi (ding-hai), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

乾符有道二年春正月丁亥朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-2] and [VSL-1]*

Oplzr.SE #5334, 5MCSE #07217, Ho #iv-29. A partial eclipse (0.88) was observable in Thăng Long.

* The VSL says: “日有食之” instead of “日食”.

(1-30):

13 September 1075

Thái Ninh reign period, 4th year, autumn, 8th month, day canh-dần (geng-yin), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

太寧四年秋八月庚寅朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-3]

Oplzr.SE #5420, 5MCSE #07303, Ho #iv-30. The eclipse was not observable in Thăng Long.

(1-31):

23 October 1093

Hội Phong reign period, 2nd year, winter, 10th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

會豐二年冬十月朔, 日有食之. [VSL-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-32):

9 December 1105

Long Phù Nguyên Hóa reign period, 5th year, 11th month, 1st day of the month. The Sun was over half eclipsed.

龍符元化五年十一月朔, 日食過半. [VSL-2]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-33):

17 November 1183

Trinh Phù reign period, 8th year, winter, 11th month, day nhâm-ngọ (ren-wu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

貞符八年冬十一月壬午朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-4]

Oplzr.SE #5691, 5MCSE #07574, Ho #iv-31. A partial eclipse (0.31) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-34):

29 February 1188

Thiên Tư Gia Thụy reign period, 3rd year, spring, 2nd month, day đinh-mão (ding-mao), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

天資嘉瑞三年春二月丁卯朔, 日有食之. [VSL-3]

Oplzr.SE #5702, 5MCSE #07585. The eclipse was not observable in Thăng Long.

(1-35):

26 July 1188

Thiên Tư Gia Thụy reign period, 3rd year, autumn, 7th month, day giáp-tý (jia-zi), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

天資嘉瑞三年秋七月甲子朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-4]

Oplzr.SE (#5703), 5MCSE (#07586), Ho #iv-32. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth. Day giáp-tý (jia-zi) is not the first day of the 7th month but of the 8th month according to Chinese calendar we use. On that day, a partial eclipse (0.90) was observable in Thăng Long. This one-month discrepancy can be explained by a difference in positioning an intercalary month in the year between the Vietnamese and Chinese calendars, as discussed in Sub-subsection 4.5.1.3. Therefore, we consider that this record is ‘moderately’ correct.

(1-36):

17 February 1189

Thiên Tư Gia Thụy reign period, 4th year, spring, 2nd month, day tân-dậu (xin-you), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

天資嘉瑞四年春二月辛酉朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-4] and [VSL-3]*

Oplzr.SE #5704, 5MCSE #07587, Ho #iv-33. A partial eclipse (0.88) was observable in Thăng Long.

* “辛酉 (tân-dậu)” is not included in the VSL.

(1-37):

11 March 1206

Trị Bình Long Ứng reign period, 2nd year, 2nd month, day nhâm-tý (ren-zi), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

治平龍應二年二月壬子朔, 日有食之. [VSL-3]

Oplzr.SE #5747, 5MCSE #07630. A partial eclipse (0.47 at sunset) was observable in Thăng Long. The Sun set before mid-eclipse.

(1-38):

27 March 1229

Kiến Trung reign period, 5th year, spring, 3rd month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

建中五年春三月, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-34. Since the record gives the eclipse month only, we assumed the eclipse occurred on the 1st day of the month. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-39):

26 September 1242

Thiên Ứng Chính Bình reign period, 11th year, 9th month, day canh-thìn (geng-chen), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

天應政平十一年九月庚辰朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE #5840, 5MCSE #07722, Ho #iv-35. A partial eclipse (0.81) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-40):

14 May 1249

Thiên Ứng Chính Bình reign period, 18th year, summer, 4th month, day nhâm-dần (ren-yin), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

天應政平十八年夏四月壬寅朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE #5857, 5MCSE #07739, Ho #iv-36. A partial (0.99) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-41):

12 April 1260

Thiệu Long reign period, 3rd year, spring, 3rd month, day mậu-thìn (wu-chen), 1st day of the month. There was a total eclipse of the Sun.

紹隆三年春三月戊辰朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE #5884, 5MCSE #07765, Ho #iv-37. A partial eclipse (0.83) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-42):

25 June 1275

Bảo Phù reign period, 3rd year, summer, 6th month, day canh-tý (geng-zi), 1st day of the month. There was a total eclipse of the Sun.

寶符三年夏六月庚子朔, 日有食之, 既. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE #5922, 5MCSE #07803, Ho #iv-38. A partial eclipse (0.93), not a total one, was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-43):

7 November 1287

Trùng Hưng reign period, 3rd year, winter, 10th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

重興三年冬十月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE #5951, 5MCSE #07832, Ho #iv-39. A partial eclipse (0.06) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-44):

23 March 1289

Trùng Hưng reign period, 5th year, 3rd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

重興五年三月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE #5954, 5MCSE #07835, Ho #iv-40. A partial eclipse (0.23) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-45):

21 January 1292

Trùng Hưng reign period, 8th year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

重興八年春正月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-5]

Oplzr.SE #5962, 5MCSE #07843, Ho #iv-41. A partial eclipse (0.68) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-46):

25 April 1343

Thiệu Phong reign period, 3rd year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹豐三年夏四月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6080, 5MCSE #07960, Ho #iv-42. A partial eclipse (0.77) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-47):

22 February 1346

Thiệu Phong reign period, 6th year, spring, 2nd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹豐六年春二月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6087, 5MCSE #07967, Ho #iv-43. A partial eclipse (0.36) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-48):

11 February 1347

Thiệu Phong reign period, 7th year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹豐七年春正月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6089, 5MCSE #07969, Ho #iv-44. A partial eclipse (0.30) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-49):

11 December 1349

Thiệu Phong reign period, 9th year, 11th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹豐九年十一月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6096, 5MCSE #07976, Ho #iv-45. The eclipse was not observable in Thăng Long.

(1-50):

26 May 1351

Thiệu Phong reign period, 11th year, summer, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹豐十一年夏五月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6099, 5MCSE #07979, Ho #iv-46. The eclipse was not observable in Thăng Long.

(1-51):

25 March 1354

Thiệu Phong reign period, 14th year, 3rd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹豐十四年三月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6105, 5MCSE #07985, Ho #iv-47. A partial eclipse (0.93) was observable in Thăng Long. The Sun set before the eclipse ended. The mid-eclipse occurred before sunset.

(1-52):

16 May 1360

Đại Trị reign period, 3rd year, summer, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

大治三年夏五月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6119, 5MCSE #07999, Ho #iv-48. The eclipse was not observable in Thăng Long.

(1-53):

5 June 1369

Đại Trị reign period, 12th year, summer, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

大治十二年夏五月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-7]

Oplzr.SE #6140, 5MCSE #08020, Ho #iv-49. A partial eclipse (0.94) was observable in Thăng Long.

(1-54):

23 January 1422

Yongle reign period of Ming, 20th year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

明 永楽二十年春正月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-10]

Oplzr.SE #6258, 5MCSE #08138, Ho #iv-50. A partial eclipse (0.54) was observable in Vietnam (Hanoi)*.

* Vietnam was dominated by the Chinese Ming dynasty. Here, we assume that the observation was made in Thăng Long.

(1-55):

7 June 1434

Thiệu Bình reign period, 1st year, 5th month, day đinh-sửu (ding-chou), 1st day of the month. Business at the Imperial Court was suspended. Before that, the Astrologer Bùi Thì Hanh confidentially reported that, on 1st day of the fifth month, the spirit of a black monkey would eat the Sun, so there would be an eclipse of the Sun on that day.

紹平元年五月丁丑朔, 輟朝.先是, 太史裴時亨密奏, 五月初一日有黒猿精啖日, 日當食, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅ [TT (BK)-10]

Oplzr.SE #6286, 5MCSE #08166, Ho —. This is a record of an eclipse prediction. A partial eclipse (0.30) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-56):

20 November 1435

Thiệu Bình reign period, 2nd year, 11th month, day mậu-thìn (wu-chen), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹平二年, 十一月戊辰朔, 日有食. [TT (BK)-11]

Oplzr.SE #6289, 5MCSE #08169, Ho #iv-51. A partial eclipse (0.41) was observable in Đông Kinh. This eclipse was predicted about one month before: “(The same year,) the 9th month, 26th day. The Astrologer Bùi Thì Hanh confidentially reported that there would be an eclipse of the Sun on the first day of the eleventh month… (九月⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅二十六日, 太史裴時亨密奏, 十一月朔日有食⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅)”.

(1-57):

10 November 1444

Thái Hòa reign period, 2nd year, winter, 10th month. … There was an eclipse of the Sun.

太和二年冬十月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅日有食之. [TT (BK)-11]

Oplzr.SE #6309, 5MCSE #08189, Ho #iv-52. Since the record gives the eclipse month only, we assumed the eclipse occurred on the 1st day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.82) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-58):

6 March 1467

Quang Thuận reign period, 8th year, 2nd month, day đinh-dậu (ding-you), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

光順八年二月丁酉朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-12]

Oplzr.SE #6358, 5MCSE #08238, Ho #iv-53. A partial eclipse (0.54) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-59):

4 February 1505

Đoan Khánh reign period, 1st year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

端慶元年春正月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-14]

Oplzr.SE #6443, 5MCSE #08323, Ho #iv-54. The eclipse was not observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-60):

29 January 1511

Hồng Thuận reign period, 3rd year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the sun.

洪順三年春正月朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-15]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-55. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-61):

30 May 1527

Thống Nguyên reign period, 6th year, 5th month, 1st day of the month. The astronomical bureau reported that there would be an eclipse of the Sun. (The eclipse was) not verified.

統元六年五月初一日, 司天奏日食, 不驗. [TT (BK)-15]

Oplzr.SE #6495, 5MCSE #08375, Ho —. The eclipse was not observable in Vạn Lại. This is a record of an eclipse prediction.

(1-62):

2 October 1587

Quang Hưng reign period, 10th year, 9th month, day đinh-hợi (ding-hai), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

光興十年九月丁亥朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.SE #6632, 5MCSE #08512, Ho #iv-56. A partial eclipse (0.12) was observable in Vạn Lại.

(1-63):

31 July 1590

Quang Hưng reign period, 13th year, 7th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

光興十三年七月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.SE #6638, 5MCSE #08518, Ho #iv-57. A partial eclipse (0.89) was observable in Vạn Lại.

(1-64):

20 May, 1594

Quang Hưng reign period, 17th year, 4th month, day kỷ-dậu (ji-you), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun. But it was rainy.

光興十七年四月己酉朔, 日蝕, 天雨. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.SE #6647, 5MCSE #08527, Ho #iv-58. A partial eclipse (0.02) was observable in Vạn Lại.

(1-65):

22 September 1596

Quang Hưng reign period, 19th year, 8th month, …, intercalary (8th) month, …, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

光興十九年八月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅閏月朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.SE #6653, 5MCSE #08533, Ho #iv-59. A partial eclipse (0.17) was observable in Vạn Lại.

(1-66):

11 May 1603

Hoằng Định reign period, 4th year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

弘定四年夏四月朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.SE #6669, 5MCSE #08548, Ho #iv-60. A partial eclipse (0.61) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-67):

29 March 1615

Hoằng Định reign period, 16th year, 3rd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

弘定十六年三月朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.SE #6696, 5MCSE #08575, Ho #iv-61. A partial eclipse (0.60) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-68):

25 October 1631

Đức Long reign period, 3rd year, winter, 10th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

徳隆三年冬十月朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.SE #6736, 5MCSE #08615, Ho #iv-62. The eclipse was not observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-69):

29 March 1634

Đức Long reign period, 6th year, 3rd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

徳隆六年三月朔, 日食. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.SE #6742, 5MCSE #08621, Ho #iv-63. A partial eclipse (0.69) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-70):

26 Janurary 1637

Dương Hòa reign period, 3rd year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

陽和三年春正月朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.SE #6749, 5MCSE #08628, Ho #iv-64. A partial eclipse (0.37) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-71):

13 February 1638

Dương Hòa reign period, 3rd year, 12th month, the last day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

陽和三年十二月晦, 日食. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-65. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-72):

17 December 1664

Cảnh Trị reign period, 2nd year, 11th month, day mậu-tý (wu-zi), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景治二年十一月戊子朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-19]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —, Ho #iv-66. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-73):

2 July 1666

Cảnh Trị reign period, 4th year, 6th month, day canh-tuất (geng-xu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景治四年六月庚戌朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-19]

Oplzr.SE #6824, 5MCSE #08702, Ho #iv-67. A partial eclipse (0.43) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-74):

30 April 1669

Cảnh Trị reign period, 7th year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was a total eclipse of the Sun.

景治七年夏四月朔, 日食, 既. [TT (BK)-19]

Oplzr.SE #6832, 5MCSE #08710, Ho #iv-68. A partial eclipse (0.97) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-75):

3 September 1671

Cảnh Trị reign period, 9th year, 8th month, day kỷ-dậu (ji-you), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景治九年八月己酉朔, 日有食之. [TT (BK)-19]

Oplzr.SE #6838, 5MCSE #08716, Ho #iv-69. The eclipse was not observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-76):

11 June 1676

Vĩnh Trị reign period, 1st year, summer, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

永治元年夏五月朔, 日食. [TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6850, 5MCSE #08728. A partial eclipse (0.55) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-77):

4 January 1677

Vĩnh Trị reign period, 1st year, 12th month, 1st day of the month.永治元年十二月朔, 日食. [TB-1] There was an eclipse of the Sun.

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-78):

28 February 1691

Chính Hòa reign period, 12th year, 2nd month, day đinh-tị (ding-si). There was an eclipse of the Sun.

正和十二年二月丁巳, 日食. [TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6887, 5MCSE #08765. A partial eclipse (0.53) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-79):

17 February 1692

Chính Hòa reign period, 13th year, spring, 1st month, day tân-hợi (xin-hai), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

正和十三年春正月辛亥朔, 日食. [TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6889, 5MCSE #08767. A partial eclipse (0.42) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-80):

21 April 1697

Chính Hòa reign period, 18th year, 3rd month, day tân-tị (xin-si), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

正和十八年三月辛巳朔, 日食. [TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6903, 5MCSE #08781. A partial eclipse (0.69) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-81):

19 February 1700

Chính Hòa reign period, 21st year, spring, 1st month, day ất-mùi (yi-wei), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

正和二十一年春正月乙未朔, 日食. [TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6909, 5MCSE #08787. The eclipse was not observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-82):

4 August 1720

Bảo Thái reign period, 1st year, autumn, 9th [7th]* month, day bính-dần (bing-yin), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

保泰元年, 秋九[七]*月丙寅朔, 日食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.SE #6961, 5MCSE #08838. A partial eclipse (0.62) was observable in Đông Kinh.

* The day bính-dần (bing-yin) is 1st day of 7th month of the year, not of 9th month. According to Chen (1984–86), one of the several versions of TB gives “7th month”, which is adopted in this chapter.

(1-83):

15 July 1730

Vĩnh Khánh reign period, 2nd year, 6th month, day giáp-tuất (jia-xu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

永慶二年六月甲戌*朔, 日食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.SE #6987, 5MCSE #08864. A partial eclipse (0.11) was observable in Đông Kinh.

* first day of sixth month of the year should be mậu-tuất (wu-xu) in the Chinese sexagenary cycle. According to Chen (1984–86), another historical source Lê Sử Toản Yếu (黎史纂要) gives day mậu-tuất (wu-xu).

(1-84):

4 July 1731

Vĩnh Khánh reign period, 3rd year, 6th month, day nhâm-thìn (ren-chen), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

永慶三年六月壬辰朔, 日食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.SE #6989, 5MCSE #08866. A partial eclipse (0.21) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-85):

29 December 1731

Vĩnh Khánh reign period, 3rd year, 12th month, day canh-dần (geng-yin), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

永慶三年十二月庚寅朔, 日食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.SE #6990, 5MCSE #08867. A partial eclipse (0.50 at sunrise) was observable in Đông Kinh. The Sun rose after the eclipse started. The mid-eclipse occurred before sunrise.

(1-86):

16 October 1735

Vĩnh Hựu reign period, 1st year, 9th month, day đinh-dậu (ding-you), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

永祐元年九月丁酉朔, 日食. [TB-3]

Oplzr.SE #6999, 5MCSE #08876. A partial eclipse (0.18) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-87):

20 February 1746

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 7th year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景興七年春正月朔, 日食. [TB-4]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-88):

30 January 1748

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 9th year, spring, 1st month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景興九年春正月朔, 日有食之. [TB-4]

Oplzr.SE #7032, 5MCSE #08909. The eclipse was not observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-89):

25 May 1751

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 12th year, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景興十二年五月朔, 日食. [TB-4]

Oplzr.SE #7040, 5MCSE #08917. A partial eclipse (0.15) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-90):

6 November 1752

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 13th year, winter, 10th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景興十三年冬十月朔, 日有食之. [TB-4]

Oplzr.SE #7043, 5MCSE #08920. A partial eclipse (0.34) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-91):

16 August 1765

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 26th year, autumn, 7th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景興二十六年秋七月朔, 日食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.SE #7076, 5MCSE #08952. The eclipse was not observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-92):

25 May 1770

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 31st year, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景興三十一年五月朔, 日食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.SE #7088, 5MCSE #08964. A partial eclipse (0.76) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-93):

6 September 1774

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 35th year, 8th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

景興三十五年八月朔, 日食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.SE #7099, 5MCSE #08975. A partial eclipse (0.96) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(1-94):

28 August 1802

Gia Long reign period, 1st year, 8th month, day kỷ-hợi (ji-hai), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嘉隆元年八月己亥朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-I.18]

Oplzr.SE #7171, 5MCSE #09046. A partial eclipse (0.55) was observable in Huế.

(1-95):

6 June 1807

Gia Long reign period, 6th year, 5th month, day nhâm-dần (ren-yin), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嘉隆六年五月壬寅朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-I.32]

Oplzr.SE #7183, 5MCSE #09058. A partial eclipse (0.35) was observable in Huế.

(1-96):

4 April 1810

Gia Long reign period, 9th year, 3rd month, ất-mão (yi-mao), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嘉隆九年三月乙卯朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-I.40]

Oplzr.SE #7190, 5MCSE #09065. A partial eclipse (0.27) was observable in Huế.

(1-97):

1 February 1813

Gia Long reign period, 12th year, spring, 1st month, day kỷ-tị (ji-si), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嘉隆十二年春正月己巳朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-I.46]

Oplzr.SE #7198, 5MCSE #09073. The eclipse was not observable in Huế.

(1-98):

17 July 1814

Gia Long reign period, 13th year, 6th month, day canh-thân (geng-shen), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嘉隆十三年六月庚申朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-I.48]

Oplzr.SE #7201, 5MCSE #09076. A partial eclipse (0.80) was observable in Huế.

(1-99):

16 May 1817

Gia Long reign period, 16th year, summer, 4th month, giáp-tuất (jia-xu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嘉隆十六年夏四月甲戌朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-I.55]

Oplzr.SE #7207, 5MCSE #09082. A partial eclipse (0.93) was observable in Huế. It was almost annular at mid-eclipse. This eclipse is one of the two predicted by Nguyễn Hữu Thận in 1815: “Gia Long reign period, 14th year, 11th month (in December, 1815). [Nguyễn] Hữu Thận reported that his retainers’ calculation of the movement of celestial bodies leads to the occurrence of a solar eclipse on 1st day of 4th month and of 10th month in the year đinh-sửu (ding-chou) (嘉隆十四年十一月, ⋅⋅⋅[阮]有慎因奏曰, 臣推歩天象至, 丁丑四月十月朔, 倶當有日食)”. See Subsection 4.5.3 and #1-100.

(1-100):

9 November 1817

Gia Long reign period, 16th year, winter, 10th month, day tân-mùi (xin-wei), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嘉隆十六年冬十月辛未朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-I.56]

Oplzr.SE #7208, 5MCSE #09083. A partial eclipse (0.80) was observable in Huế. This is another eclipse of the two predicted by Nguyễn Hữu Thận in 1815. See Subsection 4.5.3 and #1-99.

(1-101):

4 March 1821

Minh Mệnh reign period, 2nd year, 2nd month, day nhâm-ngọ (ren-wu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

明命二年二月壬午朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-II.7]

Oplzr.SE #7217, 5MCSE #09092. A partial eclipse (0.73) was observable in Huế.

(1-102):

27 June 1824

Minh Mệnh reign period, 5th year, 6th month, day quý-tị (gui-si), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

明命五年六月癸巳朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-II.27]

Oplzr.SE #7226, 5MCSE #09101. A partial eclipse (0.49 at sunrise) was observable in Huế. The Sun rose after mid-eclipse.

(1-103):

14 April 1828

Minh Mệnh reign period, 9th year, spring, 3rd month, day canh-tý (geng-zi), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

明命九年春三月庚子朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-II.51]

Oplzr.SE #7235, 5MCSE #09110. A partial eclipse (0.73 at sunset) was observable in Huế. The Sun set before mid-eclipse.

(1-104):

9 October 1828

Minh Mệnh reign period, 9th year, autumn, 9th month, day mậu-tuất (wu-xu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

明命九年秋九月戊戌朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-II.54]

Oplzr.SE #7236, 5MCSE #09111. A partial eclipse (0.51 at sunrise) was observable in Huế. The Sun rose after mid-eclipse.

(1-105):

4 March 1840

Minh Mệnh reign period, 21st year, spring, 2nd month, day nhâm-tuất (ren-xu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun. Before that, the Astronomical Bureau reported that, on the first day of the month, there would be an eclipse of the Sun in the hour of tị (si, 9:00 – 11:00).

明命二十一年春二月壬戌朔, 日有食之.先是, 欽天監奏, 是月朔巳刻, 日當食. [ĐNTL-CB-II.210]

Oplzr.SE #7263, 5MCSE #09138. A partial eclipse (0.66) was observable in Huế. This record is followed by saying: “…in the hour of tị (si), there were dark clouds with rain. (the eclipse) was not seen… (⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅巳刻, 陰雲帯雨, 望之不見⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅)”. Thus, this is a record of an eclipse prediction. The eclipse started at 9:08 and ended at 11:57, reaching its maximum at 10:31. Thus, the predicted time is consistent with that obtained with eclipse computation. The prediction was made four months before: “The Astronomical Bureau reported that the calculation of the movement of the Sun and Moon leads to the occurrence of a solar eclipse on 1st day of 2nd month and of 10th month in the following year. (欽天監奏言, 推算日月行度, 開年二月初一日, 日當食)”.

(1-106):

8 July 1842

Thiệu Trị reign period, 2nd year, summer, 6th month, day mậu-dần (wu-yin), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹治二年夏六月戊寅朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-III.9]

Oplzr.SE #7270, 5MCSE #09145. A partial eclipse (0.51) was observable in Huế.

(1-107):

21 December 1843

Thiệu Trị reign period, 3rd year, 11th month, day kỷ-tị (ji-si), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹治三年十一月己巳朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-III.34]

Oplzr.SE #7273, 5MCSE #09148. A partial eclipse (0.83) was observable in Huế.

(1-108):

9 October 1847

Thiệu Trị reign period, 7th year, autumn, 9th month, day đinh-sửu (ding-chou), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

紹治七年秋九月丁丑朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-III.72]

Oplzr.SE #7282, 5MCSE #09157. A partial eclipse (0.84 at sunset) was observable in Huế. The Sun set before mid-eclipse.

(1-109):

23 February 1849

Tự Đức reign period, 2nd year, 2nd month, day canh-tý (geng-zi), 1st day of the month There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳二年二月庚子朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.4]

Oplzr.SE #7287, 5MCSE #09162. A partial eclipse (0.65) was observable in Huế. The Sun rose after the eclipse started. The mid-eclipse occurred after sunrise. This eclipse was predicted three months before: “The Astronomical Bureau reported that there would be an eclipse of the Sun on the 1st day of the 2nd month of the following year (欽天監奏言, 開年二月朔, 日食)”.

(1-110):

12 February 1850

Tự Đức reign period, 3rd year, spring, 1st month, day giáp-ngọ (jia-wu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳三年春正月甲午朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.5]

Oplzr.SE #7289, 5MCSE #09164. A partial eclipse (0.59) was observable in Huế. This eclipse was also predicted two months before: “The Astronomical Bureau reported that there would be an eclipse of the Sun on the 1st day of the 1st month of the following year (欽天監奏言, 開年正月朔, 日食)”.

(1-111):

11 December 1852

Tự Đức reign period, 5th year, 11th month, day đinh-mùi (ding-wei), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳五年, 十一月丁未朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.8]

Oplzr.SE #7295, 5MCSE #09170. A partial eclipse (0.33) was observable in Huế. This record is followed by saying: “The officials of the Astronomical Bureau had not reported any prediction of the eclipse before. Then they were demoted (欽天監臣不先奏, 坐降)”.

(1-112):

18 September 1857

Tự Đức reign period, 10th year, 8th month, 1st day of the month, day kỷ-dậu (ji-you). There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳十年八月朔己酉, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.17]

Oplzr.SE #7305, 5MCSE #09180. A partial eclipse (0.72) was observable in Huế. This eclipse was predicted one month before: The ĐNTL-CB says: “10th year in the Tự Đức reign period, 7th month (in August – September, 1857), the Astronomical Bureau reported that there would be an eclipse of the Sun on the 1st day of next month (嗣徳十年七月, 欽天監奏, 來月朔日當食)”.

(1-113):

8 July 1861

Tự Đức reign period, 14th year, 6th month, day mậu-ngọ (wu-wu), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳十四年六月戊午朔, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.24]

Oplzr.SE #7315, 5MCSE #09190. A partial eclipse (0.74) was observable in Huế. This record is followed by saying: “The officials of the Astronomical Bureau had not reported any prediction of the eclipse before. Then they were punished (監臣以不先推奏, 得罰)”.

(1-114):

21 December 1862

Tự Đức reign period, 15th year, 11th month, day kỷ-dậu (ji-you), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳十五年十一月己酉朔, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.27]

Oplzr.SE #7319, 5MCSE #09194. A slightly partial eclipse (0.005) was observable in Huế.

(1-115):

8 March 1864

Tự Đức reign period, 17th year, 2nd month, day nhâm-thân (ren-shen), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳十七年二月壬申朔, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.29]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-116):

6 May 1864

Tự Đức reign period, 17th year, summer, 4th month, day tân-mùi (xin-wei), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳十七年夏四月辛未朔, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.29]

Oplzr.SE #7322, 5MCSE #09197. A partial eclipse (0.64) was observable in Huế. The Sun rose after the eclipse started. The mid-eclipse occurred after sunrise.

(1-117):

18 August 1868

Tự Đức reign period, 21st year, autumn, 7th month, day bính-tý (bing-zi), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳二十一年秋七月丙子朔, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.39]

Oplzr.SE #7332, 5MCSE #09207. A partial eclipse (0.78) was observable in Huế.

(1-118):

12 December 1871

Tự Đức reign period, 24th year, 11th month, day đinh-hợi (ding-hai), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳二十四年十一月丁亥朔, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.45]

Oplzr.SE #7340, 5MCSE #09215. A partial eclipse (0.36) was observable in Huế.

(1-119):

6 April 1875

Tự Đức reign period, 28th year, 3rd month, day mậu-tuất (wu-xu). There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳二十八年三月戊戌, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.53]

Oplzr.SE #7347, 5MCSE #09222. A total eclipse (1.01) was observable in Huế. The total eclipse lasted 3 min 02 sec.

(1-120):

12 January 1880

Tự Đức reign period, 32nd year, 12th month, day canh-tý (geng-zi). There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳三十二年十二月庚子, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.62]

Oplzr.SE #7358, 5MCSE #09233. The eclipse was not observable in Huế.

(1-121):

19 March 1882

Tự Đức reign period, 35th year, 2nd month, day đinh-tị (ding-si). There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳三十五年二月丁巳, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.67]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(1-122):

17 May 1882

Tự Đức reign period, 35th year, summer, 4th month, day bính-thìn (bing-chen). There was an eclipse of the Sun.

嗣徳三十五年夏四月丙辰朔, 日食. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.67]

Oplzr.SE (#7364), 5MCSE (#09239). A partial eclipse (0.44) was observable in Huế.

(1-123):

6 March 1886

Đồng Khánh reign period, 1st year, 2nd month, day ất-sửu (yi-chou), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

同慶元年二月朔乙丑, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-VI.3]

Oplzr.SE #7373, 5MCSE #09248. The eclipse was not observable in Huế.

(1-124):

19 August 1887

Đồng Khánh reign period, 2nd year, 7th month, day bính-thìn (bing-chen), 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

同慶二年七月丙辰朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-CB-VI.7]

Oplzr.SE #7376, 5MCSE #09251. A partial eclipse (0.09) was observable in Huế.

Appendix 4.2

Solar Eclipse Records in the ĐNTL-TB

We provide the original texts in classical Chinese and their English translation of the solar eclipse records collected from the Đại Nam Thực Lục Tiền Biên (ĐNTL-TB) in the same format as used in Appendix 4.1. Since the Nguyễn Lords did not have their reign name to indicate years, we use the temple name of the ruling king of the time in parenthesis. The palace of the Nguyễn Lords was located in Huế. See Tables 4.A1 and 4.A2 in Appendix 4.1 for the historical source abbreviations used here and the geographical coordinate of Huế, respectively.

(2-1):

2 October 1587

(Thái tổ) 30th year, autumn, 9th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太祖)三十年秋九月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6632, 5MCSE #08512. A partial eclipse (0.06) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TT (#1-62).

(2-2):

31 July 1590

(Thái tổ) 33rd year, autumn, 7th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太祖)三十三年秋七月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6638, 5MCSE #08518. A partial eclipse (0.95) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TT (#1-63).

(2-3):

11 May 1603

(Thái tổ) 46th year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太祖)四十六年夏四月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-1]

Oplzr.SE #6669, 5MCSE #08548. A partial eclipse (0.48) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TT (#1-66).

(2-4):

29 March 1615

(Huy Tông) 2nd year, spring, 3rd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(熙宗)二年春三月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-2]

Oplzr.SE #6696, 5MCSE #08575. A partial eclipse (0.45) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TT (#1-67).

(2-5):

21 July 1667

(Thái Tông) 19th year, 6th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太宗)十九年六月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-5]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-6):

5 August 1671

(Thái Tông) 23rd year, autumn, 7th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太宗)二十三年秋七月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-5]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-7):

27 April 1672

(Thái Tông) 24th year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太宗)二十四年夏四月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-5]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-8):

28 November 1674

(Thái Tông) 26th year, 11th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太宗)二十六年十一月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-5]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-9):

13 April 1676

(Thái Tông) 28th year, 3rd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太宗)二十八年三月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-5]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-10):

31 May 1677

(Thái Tông) 29th year, summer, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太宗)二十九年夏五月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-5]

Oplzr.SE #6852, 5MCSE #08730. The eclipse was not observable in Huế.

(2-11):

21 May 1678

(Thái Tông) 30th year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(太宗)三十年夏四月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-5]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-12):

1 November 1690

(Anh Tông) 3rd year, winter, 10th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(英宗)三年冬十月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-6]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-13):

16 May 1692

(Hiển Tông) 1st year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)元年夏四月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-14):

22 July 1694

(Hiển Tông) 3rd year, summer, 6th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)三年夏六月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-15):

13 April 1695

(Hiển Tông) 4th year, 3rd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)四年三月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-16):

8 October 1695

(Hiển Tông) 4th year, 9th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)四年九月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-17):

4 March 1696

(Hiển Tông) 5th year, spring, 2nd month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)五年春二月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-18):

27 May 1702

(Hiển Tông) 11th year, summer, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)十一年夏五月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-19):

16 May 1703

(Hiển Tông) 12th year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)十二年夏四月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-20):

7 October 1706

(Hiển Tông) 15th year, autumn, 9th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)十五年秋九月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-7]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-21):

2 May,1707

(Hiển Tông) 16th year, summer, 4th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)十六年夏四月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-8]

Oplzr.SE #6927, 5MCSE #08805. The eclipse was not observable in Huế.

(2-22):

14 September 1708

(Hiển Tông) 17th year, 8th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)十七年八月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-8]

Oplzr.SE #6931, 5MCSE #08809. A partial eclipse (0.95 at sunset) was observable in Huế. The Sun set before mid-eclipse.

(2-23):

19 January 1711

(Hiển Tông) 19th year, 12th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)十九年十二月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-8]

Oplzr.SE #6936, 5MCSE #08814. The eclipse was not observable in Huế.

(2-24):

24 May 1713

(Hiển Tông) 22nd year, 5th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)二十二年五月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-8]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-25):

4 April 1715

(Hiển Tông) 24th year, 3th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(顯宗)二十四年三月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-8]

Oplzr.SE —, 5MCSE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(2-26):

15 July 1730

(Túc Tông) 5th year, summer, 6th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(肅宗)五年夏六月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-9]

Oplzr.SE #6987, 5MCSE #08864. A partial eclipse (0.13) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TB (#1-83).

(2-27):

4 July 1731

(Túc Tông) 6th year, 6th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(肅宗)六年六月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-9]

Oplzr.SE #6989, 5MCSE #08866. A partial eclipse (0.41) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TB (#1-84).

(2-28):

16 October 1735

(Túc Tông) 10th year, autumn, 9th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(肅宗)十年秋九月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-9]

Oplzr.SE #6999, 5MCSE #08876. A partial eclipse (0.06) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TB (#1-86).

(2-29):

6 September 1774

(Duệ Tông) 9th year, 8th month, 1st day of the month. There was an eclipse of the Sun.

(睿宗)九年八月朔, 日有食之. [ĐNTL-TB-11]

Oplzr.SE #7099, 5MCSE #08975. A partial eclipse (0.86) was observable in Huế. The eclipse was also recorded in TB (#1-93).

Appendix 4.3

Lumar Eclipse Records in the TT&TB and ĐNTL-CB

We provide the original texts in classical Chinese and their English translation of the lunar eclipse records collected from the Đại Việt Sử Ký Toan Thư (TT) supplemented by the Đại Việt Sử Ký Tục Biên (TB), and the Đại Nam Thực Lục Chính Biên (ĐNTL-CB) in a format similar to that used in Appendices 4.1 and 4.2. (For the lunar eclipse records in the TT&TB, see also Okazaki (2014).

In comparison with Appendices 4.1 and 4.2, we replace the catalog/list numbers of Oplzr.SE, 5MCSE, and Ho #iv by those of Oppolzer’s (1887) Canon of Lunar Eclipses (Oplzr.LE), Espenak and Meeus’s (n.d.-b) Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 (5MKLE) and Ho’s (1964) list number (Ho #vii) of lunar eclipse records, respectively. For lunar eclipse computations, we used JavaScript Lunar Eclipse Explorer developed by Espenak and O’Byrne (n.d.-b) and also Lmap developed by Takesako (n.d.) in some cases.

In some of the lunar eclipse records, an eclipse date was indicated by using the word “望 (vọng) or Full Moon day (of the month),” which only tells us that an eclipse date is someday around 15th day of the month. In this case, we present its converted date in italics prefixed by a tilde (~), which is tentatively obtained by putting 15th day for the Full Moon day. In the other lunar eclipse records, an eclipse date was specified by day number (of the month) or by the Chinese sexagenary cycle. However, such an eclipse date, even in reliable records, is not necessarily equal to its corresponding computed eclipse date because of the same day/the following day issue (see Subsection 4.5.5). In these circumstances, we added a computed eclipse date in brackets immediately after a converted date in all the (reliable) lunar eclipse records. An eclipse timing is expressed in true solar time in the capital of the Dynasty in those days. It is noted that, in this Appendix, a computed eclipse date after midnight remains unchanged (i.e., the same day is used throughout the night) because we employ a clock of more than 24 hours to avoid possible confusion caused by the date change at midnight.

(3-1):

~13 April 1169 [ — ]

Chính Long Bảo Ứng reign period, 7th year, spring, 3rd month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

政隆寶應七年春三月望, 月蝕. [TT (BK)-4]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —, Ho #vii-01. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth, though a partial eclipse (0.60) was observable in Thăng Long one month before. This one-month discrepancy may be explained by a difference in positioning an intercalary month in the year between Vietnamese and Chinese calendars. However, we have no other information supporting the interpretation as found in the case of #1-35. See Sub-subsection 4.5.1.3.

(3-2):

22 October 1306 [22 October 1306]

Hưng Long reign period, 14th year, autumn, 9th month, 15th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon in the hour of tuất (xu, 19:00 – 21:00).

興隆十四年秋九月十五日, 戌時, 月蝕. [TT (BK)-6]

Oplzr.LE #3895, 5MKLE #07989, Ho #vii-02. A total eclipse (1.05) was observable in Thăng Long. The eclipse started at 19:07 and ended at 22:26, and the totality started at 20:30 and ended at 21:03. Thus, we may say that the eclipse timing given by the record is in good agreement with that obtained with an eclipse computation.

(3-3):

~13 November 1388 [14 November 1388]

Xương Phù reign period, 12th year, winter, 10th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was a total eclipse of the Moon.

昌符十二年冬十月望, 月食, 既. [TT (BK)-8]

Oplzr.LE #4017, 5MKLE #08180, Ho #vii-03. A total eclipse (1.32) was observable in Thăng Long.

(3-4):

20 April 1437 [20 April 1437]

Thiệu Bình reign period, 4th year, 3rd month… day ất-tị (yi-si), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

紹平四年三月乙巳, 月有食. [TT (BK)-11]

Oplzr.LE #4091, 5MKLE #08291, Ho #vii-04. Day ất-tị (yi-si) is the fifteenth day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.14) was observable in Đông Kinh. This record is followed by saying: “The Astrologer Bùi Thì Hanh confidentially reported that (the eclipse) should be hidden and not be saved. (太史裴時亨密奏, 隠之不救.)”.

(3-5):

~24 August 1439 [24 August 1439]

Thiệu Bình reign period, 6th year, autumn, 7th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

紹平六年秋七月望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-11]

Oplzr.LE #4094, 5MKLE #08296, Ho #vii-05. A total eclipse (1.35) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-6):

~12 June 1443 [12 June 1443]

Thái Hòa reign period, 1st year, 5th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

太和元年五*月望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-11]

Oplzr.LE #4100, 5MKLE #08305, Ho #vii-06. A total eclipse (1.81) was observable in Đông Kinh.

* The conflated version of the TT by Chen (1984-86) gave “四月 (4th month)”. Other versions of the TT, however, yield “五月 (5th month)”. We adopted here “5th month”.

(3-7):

~24 November 1444 [25 November 1444]

Thái Hòa reign period, 2nd year, winter, 10th month …, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

太和二年冬十月⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅月食. [TT (BK)-11]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MCSE #08308, Ho #vii-07. Since the record gives the eclipse month only, we assumed the eclipse occurred on the Full Moon day of the month. A penumbral eclipse, which is almost unobservable, occurred in Đông Kinh.

(3-8):

13 September 1448 [12 September 1448]

Thái Hòa reign period, 6th year, 8th month…, (The Astrologer) Thì Hanh gave an absurd report (to the Emperor) that there would be an eclipse of the Moon in the hour of mẹo (mao, 29:00 – 31:00) on 16th day of the month. …The eclipse was not seen.

太和六年八月⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅時亨妄奏, 是月十六日, 卯時, 月食.⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅不見食. [TT (BK)-11]

Oplzr.LE #4107, 5MKLE #08317, Ho —. This is a record of an eclipse prediction. Although the record mentions that the eclipse of the Moon was not seen, a partial eclipse (0.09) actually occurred in Đông Kinh at low altitude (14° – 0°) during 28:55–29:58, as predicted almost exactly by (Bùi) Thì Hanh. However, he was falsely charged with a crime of this ‘absurd’ prediction report.

(3-9):

11 April 1465 [11 April 1465]

Quang Thuận reign period, 6th year, 3rd month, 16th day of the month, there was a total eclipse of the Moon.

光順六年三月十六日, 月食, 既. [TT (BK)-12]

Oplzr.LE #4131, 5MKLE #08355, Ho #vii-08. A total eclipse (1.25) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-10):

11 March 1476 [10 March 1476]

Hồng Đức reign period, 7th year, spring, 2nd month, 16th day of the month, there was a total eclipse of the Moon.

洪徳七年春二月十六日, 月食, 既. [TT (BK)-13]

Oplzr.LE #4148, 5MKLE #08379, Ho #vii-09. A total eclipse (1.11) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-11):

3 September 1476 [3 September 1476]

Hồng Đức reign period, 7th year, 8th month, 16th day of the month, there was a full eclipse of the Moon at initial mark of the 5th night watch (approximately 27:10 – 27:25).

洪徳七年八月十六日, 夜五更初刻, 月蝕, 全分. [TT (BK)-13]

Oplzr.LE #4149, 5MKLE #08380, Ho —. A total eclipse (1.28) was observable in Đông Kinh. This is the only record that expresses time in the night watch system. “初刻 (initial mark)” is an unusual expression for the night watch system. We assumed here that it would be equivalent to “一点 (1st point)” which was widely used in the night watch system in those days. The eclipse started at 27:58 and the totality started at 29:03. The Moon set at 29:54 before the eclipse ended. Thus the eclipse timing mentioned in the record is not in good agreement with that obtained by an eclipse computation.

(3-12):

18 January 1478 [18 January 1478]

Hồng Đức reign period, 8th year, 12th month, 15th day of the month, there was a total eclipse of the Moon.

洪徳八年十二月十五日, 月食, 既. [TT (BK)-13]

Oplzr.LE #4150, 5MKLE #08383, Ho #vii-10. A slightly partial eclipse (0.03) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-13):

8 January 1479 [8 January 1479]

Hồng Đức reign period, 9th year, 12th month, 16th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

洪徳九年十二月十六日, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-13]

Oplzr.LE #4152, 5MKLE #08385, Ho #vii-11. A penumbral eclipse, which is almost unobservable, occurred in Đông Kinh; the Moon rose after the last contact with the umbra and before the last contact with the penumbra.

(3-14):

26 October 1482 [26 October 1482]

Hồng Đức reign period, 13th year 9th month, 15th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon in the hour of tuất (xu, 19:00 – 21:00).

洪徳十三年九月十五日, 戌時, 月蝕. [TT (BK)-13]

Oplzr.LE #4157, 5MKLE #08394, Ho #vii-12. A partial eclipse (0.89) was observable in Đông Kinh. The eclipse started at 22:23 and ended at 25:39. Thus the eclipse timing given in the record is not in good agreement with that obtained with an eclipse computation.

(3-15):

5 July 1525 [4 July 1525]

Thống Nguyên reign period, 4th year, summer, 6th month, 15th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

統元四年, 夏六月十五日, 月食. [TT (BK)-15]

Oplzr.LE #4220, 5MKLE #08489, Ho #vii-13. A partial eclipse (0.21) was observable in Đông Kinh. The Moon set before the eclipse ended.

(3-16):

30 December 1525 [29 December 1525]

Thống Nguyên reign period, 4th year, 12th month, 17th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

統元四年, 十二月十七日, 月食. [TT (BK)-15]

Oplzr.LE #4221, 5MKLE #08490, Ho #vii-14. A total eclipse (1.10) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-17):

26 April 1526 [ — ]

Thống Nguyên reign period, 5th year, 3rd month, 15th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

統元五年三月十五日, 月食. [TT (BK)-15]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —, Ho #vii-15. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the earth.

(3-18):

17 September 1587 [16 September 1587]

Quang Hưng reign period, 10th year, 8th month, day nhâm-thân (ren-shen), Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon on the night.

光興十年八月壬申望夜, 月食. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.LE #4315, 5MKLE #08636, Ho #vii-16. Day nhâm-thân is the fifteenth day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.76) was observable in Vạn Lại.

(3-19):

26 August 1589 [25 August 1589]

Quang Hưng reign period, 12th year, 7th month …, 16th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon in the hour of sửu (chou, 25:00 – 27:00) in the north. The Moon, eclipsed more than half, restored to fullness.

光興十二年七月十六日, 丑時, 月食, 在北方, 過半復圓. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.LE #4318, 5MKLE #08640, Ho #vii-17. A partial eclipse (0.24) was observable in the southwest in Vạn Lại. The eclipse started at 24:48 and ended at 26:31. Thus, we may say that the eclipse timing given in the record is in good agreement with that obtained with an eclipse computation.

(3-20):

~5 July 1591 [6 July 1591]

Quang Hưng reign period, 14th year, 5th month, Full Moon day of the month, day bính-tuất (bing-xu), there was an almost exhausted eclipse (an almost total) of the Moon in the southeast. The Moon restored to fullness after one double-hour.

光興十四年五月望丙戌, 月食, 巽方, 殆盡, 一箇時復圓. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.LE #4321, 5MKLE #08644, Ho #vii-18. Day bính-tuất is 22nd day of the month, which is inconsistent with the Full Moon day. We consider that, in this case, the day in the Chinese sexagenary cycle is incorrect. A total eclipse (1.53), lasting for 1h36m, was observable in the southwest through south in Vạn Lại in roughly the same way as described in the record.

(3-21):

~4 May 1594 [4 May 1594]

Quang Hưng reign period, 17th year, 3rd month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon. But it was very rainy.

光興十七年三月望, 月食, 天大雨. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.LE #4325, 5MKLE #08652, Ho #vii-19. A partial eclipse (0.67) was observable in Vạn Lại.

(3-22):

~11 May 1596 [ — ]

Quang Hưng reign period, 19th year, summer, 4th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

光興十九年夏四月望, 月食. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —, Ho —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(3-23):

6 August 1599 [6 August1599]

Quang Hưng reign period, 22nd year, 6th month, 16th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon on the night in the hour of dậu (you, 17:00 – 19:00).

光興二十二年六月十六日, 酉時, 月食. [TT (BK)-17]

Oplzr.LE #4334, 5MKLE #08664, Ho —. A total eclipse (1.28) was observable in Đông Kinh. The Moon rose at 18:26 after the totality started. The totality ended at 19:15 and the eclipse ended at 20:19. Thus, we may say that the eclipse timing given in the record is in good agreement with that obtained with an eclipse computation.

(3-24):

~4 June 1602 [4 June 1602]

Hoằng Định reign period, 3rd year, summer, 4th month…, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

弘定三年夏四月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅是月望, 月有食. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4338, 5MKLE #08671, Ho #vii-20. A total eclipse (1.66) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-25):

~2 July 1613 [ — ]

Hoằng Định reign period, 14th year, 5th month…, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

弘定十四年五月望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —, Ho #vii-21. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(3-26):

~30 August 1613 [ — ]

Hoằng Định reign period, 14th year, autumn, 7th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

弘定十四年秋七月望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —, Ho #vii-22. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(3-27):

3 March 1616 [3 March 1616]

Hoằng Định reign period, 17th year, spring, 1st month, 26th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

弘定十七年春正月二十六日, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4359, 5MKLE #08706, Ho #vii-23. “26th day of the month” is obviously an inappropriate day for a lunar eclipse. This contradiction can be resolved if we assume that one character “二 (two)” was added erroneously so that “26th day (二十六日)” should be read “16th day (十六日)”. Ho (1964) also remarked that “26th day” must be a misprint for “16th day.” Then, we adopt “16th day” for the date of the eclipse. A partial eclipse (0.93) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-28):

~20 February 1617 [20 February 1617]

Hoằng Định reign period, 18th year, spring, 1st month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

弘定十八年春正月望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4361, 5MKLE #08708, Ho #vii-24. A total eclipse (1.41) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-29):

16 August 1617 [16 August 1617]

Hoằng Định reign period, 18th year, autumn, 7th month, 16th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.弘定十八年秋七月十六日, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4362, 5MKLE #08709, Ho #vii-25. A total eclipse (1.40) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-30):

~9 February 1618 [9 February 1618]

Hoằng Định reign period, 19th year, spring, 1st month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

弘定十九年春正月望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4363, 5MKLE #08710, Ho #vii-26. A partial eclipse (0.17) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-31):

20 November 1630 [19 November 1630]

Đức Long reign period, 2nd year, winter, 10th month, 17th day of the month, day nhâm-tuất (ren-xu), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

徳隆二年冬十月十七日壬戌, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4382, 5MKLE #08741, Ho #vii-27. A partial eclipse (0.70) was observable in Đông Kinh. The Moon set before the eclipse ended.

(3-32):

16 May 1631 [15 May 1631]

Đức Long reign period, 3rd year, summer, 4th month, 16th day of the month, day kỷ-mùi (ji-wei), there was an eclipse of the Moon. But it was windy, rainy and dark by chance. (The eclipse was) Not seen.

徳隆三年夏四月十六日己未, 月食, 適風雨晦冥, 不見. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4383, 5MKLE #08742, Ho #vii-28. A total eclipse (1.87) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-33):

~8 November 1631 [8 November 1631]

Đức Long reign period, 3rd year, 10th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

徳隆三年十月望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4384, 5MKLE #08743, Ho #vii-29. A total eclipse (1.66) was observable in Đông Kinh. The Moon set before the eclipse ended.

(3-34):

4 May 1632 [4 May 1632]

Đức Long reign period, 4th year, 3rd month, 16th day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon in the hour of dậu (xu, 17:00 – 19:00).

徳隆四年三月十六日, 酉時, 月食. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4385, 5MKLE #08744, Ho #vii-30. A partial eclipse (0.56) was observable in Đông Kinh. The Moon rose at 18:23 after the eclipse started. The eclipse ended at 20:36. Thus, we may say that the eclipse time given in the record is in good agreement with that obtained with an eclipse computation.

(3-35):

~28 October 1632 [27 October 1632]

Đức Long reign period, 4th year, autumn, 9th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Sun in the hour of mẹo (mao, 29:00 – 31:00).

徳隆四年秋九月望, 卯時, 日食. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4386, 5MKLE #08745, Ho #vii-31. The character “日 (the Sun)” in this text should read “月 (the Moon)”, because the eclipse occurred on the Full Moon day. A partial eclipse (0.41) was observable in Đông Kinh. The eclipse started at 29:06. The Moon set at 30:19 before the eclipse ended. Thus, we may say that the eclipse timing given in the record is in good agreement with that obtained with an eclipse computation.

(3-36):

~14 March 1634 [14 March 1634]

Đức Long reign period, 6th year, spring, 2nd month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

徳隆六年春二月望, 月食. [TT (BK)-18]

Oplzr.LE #4387, 5MKLE #08750, Ho #vii-32. A partial eclipse (0.87) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-37):

16 June 1666 [16 June 1666]

Cảnh Trị reign period, 4th year, 5th month, day giáp-ngọ (jia-wu), Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景治四年五月甲午望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-19]

Oplzr.LE #4437, 5MKLE #08829, Ho #vii-33. Day giáp-ngọ (jia-wu) is the fourteenth day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.17) was observable in Đông Kinh. Ho (1964) gave the converted date which is one day earlier than the correct date.

(3-38):

30 November 1667 [30 Novembe 1667]

Cảnh Trị reign period, 5th year, winter, 10th month, day bính-tuất (bing-xu), Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景治五年冬十月丙戌望, 月有食之. [TT (BK)-19]

Oplzr.LE #4440, 5MKLE #08832, Ho #vii-34. Day bính-tuất (bing-xu) is the fifteenth day of the month. A total eclipse (1.72) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-39):

11 October 1707 [11 October 1707]

Vĩnh Thịnh reign period, 3rd year, autumn, 9th month, day ất-sửu (yi-chou), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

永盛三年秋九月乙丑, 月有食之. [TB-2]

Oplzr.LE #4504, 5MKLE #08934. Day ất-sửu (yi-chou) is the sixteenth day of the month. A total eclipse (1.70) was observable in Đông Kinh. The Moon rose before the totality ended.

(3-40):

29 July 1730 [29 July 1730]

Vĩnh Trị reign period, 2nd year, 6th month, day nhâm-tý (ren-zi), there was an eclipse of the Sun.

永慶二年六月壬子, 日食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.LE #4541, 5MKLE #08993. The character “日 (the Sun)” in this text should be read “月 (the Moon)”, because day nhâm-tý (ren-zi) is the fifteenth day of the month, on which a lunar eclipse occurred. A partial eclipse (0.30) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-41):

13 December 1731 [13 December 1731]

Vĩnh Khánh reign period, 3rd year, 11th month, day giáp-tuất (jia-xu), Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

永慶三年十一月甲戌望, 月食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.LE #4543, 5MKLE #08997. Day giáp-tuất (jia-xu) is the fifteenth day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.41) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-42):

~7 June 1732 [8 June 1732]

Vĩnh Khánh reign period, 4th year, intercalary 4th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

永慶四年閏四月望, 月食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.LE #4544, 5MKLE #08998. A total eclipse (1.51) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-43):

~3 October 1732 [ — ]

Vĩnh Khánh reign period, 4th year, autumn, 8th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

永慶四年秋八月望, 月食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(3-44):

1 December 1732 [1 December 1732]

Long Đức reign period, 1st year, winter, 10th month, day mậu-thìn (wu-chen), Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

龍徳元年冬十月戊辰望, 月食. [TB-2]

Oplzr.LE #4545, 5MKLE #08999. Day mậu-thìn (wu-chen) is the fourteenth day of the month. A total eclipse (1.77) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-45):

16 March 1737 [16 March 1737]

Vĩnh Hựu reign period, 3rd year, spring, 2nd month, day giáp-tuất (jia-xu), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

永祐三年春二月甲戌, 月食. [TB-3]

Oplzr.LE #4552, 5MKLE #09010. Day giáp-tuất (jia-xu) is the fourteenth day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.55) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-46):

25 July 1738 [ — ]

Vĩnh Hựu reign period, 4th year, 6th month, day canh-dần (geng-yin), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

永祐四年六月庚寅, 月食. [TB-3]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —. Day canh-dần (geng-yin) corresponds to the ninth day of the month, on which neither lunar nor solar eclipses should occur anywhere on the Earth.

(3-47):

~17 February 1753 [ — ]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 14th year, spring, 1st month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興十四年春正月望, 月有食之. [TB-4]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

(3-48):

~31 October 1762 [1 November 1762]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 23rd year, 9th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興二十三年九月望, 月食. [TB-4]

Oplzr.LE #4593, 5MKLE #09076. A partial eclipse (0.59) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-49):

7 March 1765 [7 March 1765]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 26th year, 1st month, day nhâm-thìn (ren-chen), Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興二十六年春正月壬辰望, 月食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.LE #4596, 5MKLE #09083. Day nhâm-thìn (ren-chen) is the sixteenth day of the month. A total eclipse (1.73) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-50):

24 February 1766 [24 February 1766]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 27th year, spring, 1st month, day bính-tuất (bing-xu), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興二十七年春正月丙戊, 月食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.LE #4598, 5MKLE #09085. Day bính-tuất (bing-xu) is the sixteenth day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.33) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-51):

~23 December 1768 [23 December 1768]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 29th year, 11th month, Full Moon day of the month, there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興二十九年十一月望, 月食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.LE #4602, 5MKLE #09093. A total eclipse (1.75) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-52):

23 October 1771 [23 October 1771]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 32nd year, 9th month, day quý-sửu (gui-chou), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興三十二年九月癸丑, 月食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.LE #4606, 5MKLE #09100. Day quý-sửu (gui-chou) is the fourteenth day of the month. A partial eclipse (0.37) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-53):

18 March 1772 [ — ]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 33rd year, 2nd month, day canh-thìn (geng-chen), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興三十三年二月庚辰*, 月食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.LE —, 5MKLE —. No eclipse occurred anywhere on the Earth.

* This record might be an erroneous duplicate of the next record (#3-54) happening in the transcription process because sentence expression in the two records is very similar one to another with only two character (二/三 and 辰/戌) differences.

(3-54):

17 April 1772 [17 April 1772]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 33rd year, 3rd month, day canh-tuất (geng-xu), there was an eclipse of the Moon.

景興三十三年三月庚戊, 月食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.LE #4607, 5MKLE #09101. Day canh-tuất (geng-xu) is the fifteenth day of the month. A total eclipse (1.77) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-55):

11 October 1772 [11 October 1772]

Cảnh Hưng reign period, 33rd year, 9th month, day đinh-mùi (ding-wei), there was an eclipse of the Sun.景興三十三年九月丁未, 日食. [TB-5]

Oplzr.LE #4608, 5MKLE #09102. The character “日 (the Sun)” in this text should be read “月 (the Moon)”, because day đinh-mùi (ding-wei) is the fifteenth day of the month, on which a lunar eclipse occurred. A total eclipse (1.64) was observable in Đông Kinh.

(3-56):

7 December 1843 [6 December 1843]

Thiệu Trị reign period, 3rd year, 9th month,… a circular from the Ministry of Rites of the Qing Dynasty mentioned that there would be a brief eclipse of the Moon on the 16th day of 10th month, this year ... (Being questioned by the Emperor’s Cabinet why the Astronomical Bureau reported no prediction of this eclipse, officials in charge said,) “In our country, according to the calculation of the Sun’s altitude at mao zheng 2 ke 6 fen (30:36*) when the eclipse of the Moon occurs, the Sun will already have risen before the eclipse. Then, it will be within the daytime eclipse. It will not be an eclipse (that deserved to be reported) …”紹治三年九月⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅清國禮部移文, 是年十月十六日月食分秒.⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅, 本國太陽高度推算, 月食當在, 卯正二刻六分, 則日既先出, 已屬晝分當食, 而不食, ⋅⋅⋅. [ĐNTL-CB-III.33]

Oplzr.LE #4720, 5MKLE #09282. This is a record of an eclipse prediction. In Beijing, the eclipse started about 10 min before the Moon set: It was a brief eclipse, as predicted by the circular from the Qing Dynasty. On the other hand, in Huế, the eclipse started at 30:37 or about 11 min after the Moon set. At that time, the Sun was at an altitude of 2°. Thus, the eclipse prediction made by the Astronomical Bureau is in excellent agreement with that obtained with a modern eclipse computation. This implies that, in their calendar calculation with the Hiệp Kỷ method (equivalent to Shixian), they had taken account of the difference in geographical coordinates between Beijing and Huế. Since this record is clearly reliable, it is counted as ‘observable’ in Fig. 4.2 and Table 4.2, although the eclipse was actually not observable.

* Under the Shixian calendar, which is equivalent to the Hiệp Kỷ calendar used in Period D, 1 day = 12 double hours = 96 ke (not 100 ke) so that 1 ke =15 min and 1 fen = 1 min (Saito, 1995).

(3-57):

17 January 1851 [17 January 1851]

Tự Đức reign period, 3rd year, 12th month…, an official of the Astronomical Bureau reported that on 16th day (of this month), there would be an eclipse of the Moon.

嗣徳三年十二月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅辰監臣奏, 十六日, 有月食.⋅⋅⋅. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.5]

Oplzr.LE #4731, 5MKLE #09301. This is a record of an eclipse prediction. A partial eclipse (0.37) was observable in Huế.

(3-58):

14 October 1856 [13 October 1856]

Tự Đức reign period, 9th year, 10th month, ... this month, Full Moon day of the month, day canh-ngọ (geng-wu), there was an eclipse of the Moon. The Astronomical Bureau had not reported its prediction before …

嗣徳九年十月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅是月庚午望, 有月食.欽天監無有預奏, ⋅⋅⋅. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.15]

Oplzr.LE #4742, 5MKLE #09313. This is a record of an eclipse observation. Day canh-ngọ (geng-wu) is not in the 10th month but in the 9th month, corresponding to “9th month, 16th day”, on which a lunar eclipse occurred in Huế. Then we regard that this record have been wrongly placed in the compilation process, and adopt “9th month, 16th day”.

(3-59):

13 August 1859 [13 August 1859]

Tự Đức reign period, 12th year, 7th month, … this month, Full Moon day of the month, day quý-mùi (gui-wei), there was an eclipse of the Moon. The Astronomical Bureau had not reported its prediction before …

嗣徳十二年七月, ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅是月癸未望, 有月食.欽天監無有預奏, ⋅⋅⋅. [ĐNTL-CB-IV.21]

Oplzr.LE #4746, 5MKLE #09320. This is a record of an eclipse observation. Day quý-mùi (gui-wei) is the fifteenth day of the month. A total eclipse (1.82) was observable in Huế.