Sunspot Observed in Period of Koguryo Kingdom

Pyongyang, September 29 (KCNA) — Among the cultural heritages of the Korean nation is an astronomical and meteorological observation technology created in the period of Koguryo Kingdom (B.C. 277-A.D. 668).

People of Koguryo Kingdom had regularly observed the astronomical and meteorological phenomena at Chomsongdae in the Walled City of Pyongyang. At that time, there was an office specializing in the observation of celestial sphere like the sun. Through the astronomical observation, they made the astronomical chart carved on a stone in the late 5th century-early 6th century.

Recorded on the Koguryo part of “Samguksagi” (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), edited in 1145, are articles on the solar eclipse and comets. Noticeable of them is an article that the sunspot was observed in 640, which says that sunlight disappeared for three days and appeared again in September.

This historical record goes to prove that the Korean nation observed the sunspot nearly 1 000 years earlier than the Europeans. -0-