In ancient times, people often regarded meteorites as sacred objects. For example, the ancient Romans regarded meteorites as messengers of God, and they built a bell tower to worship them where the meteorites fell. Hungarians carried the meteorite into the church and chained it to prevent this "gift from God" from flying back to the sky. There is also a meteorite in Mecca, the holy place of Islam, which is regarded as a "sacred stone". In some ancient civilizations, meteorites were often used as funerals for emperors and dignitaries.
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In the first year of Zhiping, when it was sunny in Changzhou, the sky thundered. That is a big star, like the moon, which is seen in the southeast. Occasionally, it will vibrate again and move to the southwest. Another earthquake struck Xu Shiyuan, a citizen of Yixing County. Flames were blazing far and near, and all fences in Xu Shi were burned. It's time for the fire to rest. It depends on something as big as a cup and extremely deep underground. Looking down, the stars are shining inside. It was dark for a long time, but it was still hot. It took me a long time to find that it was more than three feet deep, but what I got was a round stone, still hot, as big as a fist, with a slightly pointed end, as heavy as iron. Shen Zheng of the State Guard got it and sent it to Jinshan Temple in Runzhou. So far, it has been hidden in the box, and tourists will see it when they arrive. Wujiu Wang is very detailed about this.
Translation:
In the first year of the Northern Song Dynasty, at sunset in Changzhou, there was a thunderous noise in the sky, which turned out to be a loud noise.
Stars, almost like the moon, appear in the southeast. After a while, it rang again and moved to the southwest. After another shock, the stars landed in the yard of a family named Xu in Yixing County. People in the distance and nearby saw it. The fire was bright and the walls of the Xu family were burned down.
At this time, the fire went out. Look, there is a deep hole the size of a teacup on the ground. Looking down, the stars are in the cave, with a faint light. After a long time, the sky gradually darkened, and it was too hot to get close. After a long time, I dug the hole, which was more than three feet deep, and got a round stone, which was still very hot. It is as big as a fist, with a slightly sharp end, iron color and iron weight.
Shen Zheng, the magistrate of Changzhou, got it and sent it to Jinshan Temple in Runzhou for preservation. It is still hidden in a box, and visitors will open the box for people to see when they get there. Wujiu Wang wrote an article about this and recorded it in great detail.
Author information:
Shen Kuo (103 1- 1095), born in Qiantang, Hangzhou (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang), was a scientist and politician in the Northern Song Dynasty. Ren Zongjia Jinshi Zongshen participated in Wang Anshi's political reform movement. In the fifth year of Xining (1072), he was promoted to supervisor of Tianbu, and went to Zhejiang to inspect water conservancy and officers the following year. In the eighth year of Xining, he sent envoys to Liao country to refute Liao country's claim to land. The following year, he served as a bachelor of Hanlin, and made the third secretary right, rectifying Shaanxi salt policy. Later, Yanzhou (now Yan 'an, Shaanxi) was famous for strengthening its defense against Xixia. In the fifth year of Yuanfeng (1082), Song Jun was defeated by Xixia in the battle of Yongle City and was demoted.
Shen Kuo-one of the most outstanding scientists in the history of China. He is proficient in astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, agriculture and medicine; He is also an outstanding engineer, excellent strategist, diplomat and politician. At the same time, he is knowledgeable, good at writing and proficient in other people's calendars, music, medicine, divination and so on. Meng Qian Bi Tan, written in his later years, recorded in detail the outstanding contributions of working people in science and technology and their own research results, reflecting the brilliant achievements of natural science in ancient China, especially in the Northern Song Dynasty. Meng Qian's pen talk is not only an academic treasure house in ancient China, but also occupies an important position in the history of world culture.
Related information:
Whisper-meteorite collection record
Shan Hai Jing says: "The earth is sandwiched between Liuhe and the four seas. The sun shines, the stars follow, and the four seasons are disciplined. He is too old, God is born, and his things are different, or heaven or life, only saints can understand. " But in my opinion, through the ages, the sage who can understand other ways is Yi Liao. The distant road covers the sky, and the stars and the moon are misty, so no mortal can cross it.
"Zuo Zhuan" said: "Meteorites, stars". Meteorites are no different from all sentient beings in the world, and they are no different from the lowly loess in the Central Plains. However, it is whispers, a bridge to heaven and an angel of God. I have spent my whole life eating and sleeping, and I want to collect meteorites from all over the world in one room. However, the size of the world, the vastness of the universe and the length of time are beyond the reach of human beings. Although there are not many collections, I often play with them and get the treasure. Oh! Come on, be happy!
Time is relentless, Lian Po is old after all. What I have heard, seen and collected in my life is recorded here for future generations:
Rizhao meteorite: Shipenshan, 40 miles south of Rizhao County, Yizhou Prefecture. "Huainan Zilan Ming Chapter" says: "The past four poles were abandoned, Kyushu was split, the sky was not covered, and the land was incomplete; Fire never goes out, water never stops; Wild animals eat people, while birds prey on the old and the weak. So nuwa refined five-color stones to make up the sky, and the broken claws were enough to set up four poles, killing the black dragon and helping Jizhou, and accumulating reed ash to stop the lewd water. Tianbu, four poles are positive; Water is dry, Jizhou is flat; When a cunning worm dies, it destroys people's livelihood; Go back to the state and hold a round of days. " There is also a horseshoe-shaped crater on the top of the mountain, where meteorites are scattered. At the foot of the mountain, a meteorite stands outside the south gate of Yutao Luonan. The natives said: Pangu opened the heavens and the earth, and the sun, the moon and the stars each performed their duties, and the four seas were one family, and they were happy. Unexpectedly, the sun exploded, meteorites fell, and even rocks broke ground. "The four poles are abolished and Kyushu is split", and the people are not happy. Fortunately, the goddess of mending heaven was at the top of the mountain, and xi bathed in the East China Sea, saving many lives. It is to build an old mother temple at the foot of the mountain to worship Nu Wa He and pile meteorites on the high platform to worship the sun god. Its temples have been destroyed and its monuments still exist; Its platform is gone and meteorites are visible.
Luo Yi Meteorite: There is no trace of meteorite between Yihe River and Luohe River, and its location cannot be verified. According to the chronicles of bamboo books, "after Yu's death, the rain and gold fell in Xiayi for eight years." The chronicles of bamboo books also say: "Ten Years in Xia Jie", ... the stars fell like rain at night, and the earthquake exhausted Elo.
Blue Mountain Meteorite: 40 miles west of Lanshan County, Yizhou District. There are still stone remains, which look like iron cows. Locals regard it as a god and erect temples to worship it. The temple has been broken, and the temple monument still exists. It is said that the meteorite fell in the Tang Dynasty and became a temple because of the magical cow.
Shouguang Meteorite: fifty miles west of Shouguang County, Qingzhou Prefecture. "Twenty-four History of Song Dynasty" says: "In the first month of the third year of Qinglong in Wei Mingdi, the meteorite was in Shouguang". There is a meteor village in Naidi, and there is a meteorite-shaped stone mortar next to the village, also called meteor stone mortar, which is one of the eight scenic spots in Shouguang. Li Zhenyong said: "Yu Haicun's name is a meteor. You choose to stay here. Whoever returns to heaven with a jade pestle seems to use a high hill to expose the earth. "
Back to Germany. 50 miles north of Guide House. "Spring and Autumn Annals" said: "In the sixteenth year of Lu Xigong, in the spring of the first month, Wang Shenshuo died in the fifth year of the Song Dynasty". The Atlas of Yuanhe County has been published for seven years: "The meteorite water source is four miles north of the county (Songcheng County). In the Spring and Autumn Period, it was lost in the Song Dynasty, and its land was a pool.
Wenxian meteorite. Eight miles west of Wenxian County, Huaiqing Prefecture. "Twenty-four History of Song Dynasty" contains: "In May of the fifth year of Jin Taikang, two meteorites were discovered in Ding Si, Wen and Heyang. In the first month of the sixth year of Taikang, the meteorite was in Wensan. " There is a Han Yu tomb in Ximeng County, Wenxian County, and there is a giant meteorite next to it, which is undoubtedly Wenxian meteorite.
Flying meteorites. Three miles east of Feixiang County, Guangping Prefecture. "Twenty-four History of Song Shu" says: "In May of the eighth year of Xian Di, the stars in Jincheng fell in Feixiang."
Wuwei meteorite. Wuwei county, liangzhou. "Twenty-four histories-Song Shu" says: "In May of the eighth year of Xihe, the stars fell to the fat country. In the first month of the ninth year of the first river, the meteorite was in Liangzhou. "