Ancient Chinese UFO Records: Song Dynasty Sky Anomalies

Ancient Chinese classical texts contain numerous records similar to modern UFOs, especially during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Official historical works such as the Song Shi·Tianwen Zhi (History of Song: Astronomical Records) and the Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian (Long Draft of the Continued Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government) document a large number of “unusual celestial phenomena”—from “flying stars entering the moon” (a light point flying into the moon) to “red vapor spanning the sky” (red light crossing the sky).

In 1072 (the fifth year of Xining under Emperor Shenzong of Song), residents of Suzhou reported seeing a luminous object “as large as a cartwheel” flying over the city, emitting red and blue light, hovering in the sky for about an hour before disappearing. In 1193 (the fourth year of Shaoxi under Emperor Guangzong of Song), the Hubei region recorded that “a star fell in the southwest, its light illuminating the ground, with a sound like thunder, then it scattered into dozens of small stars.”

Although these records are difficult to directly equate with modern UFO concepts, their displayed high maneuverability, hovering capability, and multi-colored light changes bear striking similarities to modern UFO reports.

📚 Sources

• Song Shi·Tianwen Zhi (1345), compiled by Tuotuo et al.
• Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, compiled by Li Tao
• Li Weidong, “Ancient Chinese UFO Records” (2009), Taiwan UFO Research Society