Short Course

We are delighted to announce the new online short course from the Sophia Centre

Cosmic Connections:

An Introduction to Chinese Cultural Astronomy and Astrology

With Berna Lee

An online short course from the Sophia Centre and the Sophia Centre Press

In partnership with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David

And the online MA degree in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology

The Sophia Centre short courses are part of the Sophia Centre’s academic and scholarly outreach programme. The short courses are open to everyone.

Dates

The seminars will be held on Thursdays at 16:00 – 18:00 UK time.

There will be five seminars on February 27 and March 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Course Objective

This course will provide an introduction to the theory and practice of Chinese astrology, offering a foundational understanding of its historical roots, practical applications and cultural significance. We will explore the interconnected layers within Chinese culture, including philosophical foundations, astrological practices, and their relationship to personal and social beliefs. The course will examine the holistic perspectives of the Chinese cosmological view, emphasizing the interplay of the three realms – heaven, earth and humanity as described in the Tao Te Ching. We will explore the historical origins and contemporary relevance of Chinese astrology, as well as its role in shaping Chinese culture.

Schedule

Week 1: Introducing the Historical Development of Chinese Astrology:

In the first week, we will look into Chinese astrology through the historical roots and philosophical background of the concept of Tao. We will also explore some of the earliest astrological texts, including Sima Qian's "The Grand Scribe Record" (Shiji) from 100 BCE, along with examples of archaeological finds and records throughout history from the Neolithic period (4th millennium BCE). Additionally, we will consider how history, politics, and culture in China shape people's understanding of astrology, including the historical significance of the Mandate of Heaven, which determined the worthiness of kingship based on celestial signs, as well as political revolutions that influenced public perception.

Suggested Readings/Videos:

Nicholas Campion, Astrology and Cosmology in the World’s Religions (New York and London: New York University Press, 2012), 95-109. Read here.

Pankenier, David W., 'The Cosmic Center in Early China and Its Archaic Resonances', Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 7.S278 (2011), pp. 298–307. Read here.

Wang, Aihe, Cosmology and Political Culture in Early China (Cambridge University Press, 2000). Read here.

Week 2: Traditional Occult Practices

The second week, we will explore how various Chinese traditional occult practices—such as medicine, divination, astrology, and feng shui 山醫卜星相—developed under historical and political influences. We will examine their practical applications, including feng shui and healing methods like acupuncture, and how these practices historically aimed to influence one's fate. Key concepts or the Chinese intellectual foundations that underpin these practices will be explored, including: Yin-Yang, the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams and the Ganzhi system that is a language common to all astrological practices. By looking into the foundational building blocks, we will gain a clearer understanding of the intricate connections between these practices and their philosophical roots.

Suggested Readings/Videos:

Andrew Koh, 'The Rich Resonance of Huangdi Neijing and its Clinical use', Australian Journal of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, 10 (2016), pp. 19-31. Read here.

Shigeru Nakayama, ‘Characteristics of Chinese Astrology’, Isis, 57.4 (1966), pp. 442–54. Read here.

This is free to read online outside the university with a personal account to JSTOR, but not to download. If the link doesn’t work, search for JSTOR, create a personal account and find the article.

Yuan Chen, Legitimation Discourse and the Theory of the Five Elements in Imperial China, Journal of Song-Yuan Studies, Vol. 44 (2014), 325-364. Read here.

Week 3: The Chinese notion of Fate, Ming Yun

This week, we will examine how historical and cultural factors shape personal perspectives on fate. We will explore the Chinese notion of fate, or ming yun (命運), which reflects the cosmological view of fate as the 'cycle (yun 運) of fate (ming 命).' In this context, ming signifies the innate qualities of humans in the heavenly realm, while yun represents the interactions between the earthly and human realms within the natural order. Drawing from my MA research, we will investigate connections between ancient philosophies, contemporary thought, and how worldviews, culture, history, and China's three main religions—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—along with personal experiences and the interplay of fate and free will, influence Chinese astrologers' practices. This exploration will provide insight into the approaches and views on personal fate among contemporary Chinese astrologers.

Suggested Readings:

Bernadette Brady, ‘Theories of Fate Among Present Day Astrologers’, PhD thesis, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2011. Chapter 1. Read here.

Bill Mak, ‘Theravada Buddhism as Part of the Buddhist Revival in Mainland China and Hong Kong: Two Paradigms’ in Nayanjot Lahiri, Upinder Singh (eds) Buddhism in Asia: Revival and Reinvention (Delhi: Manohar Publishers, 2016), pp.339-345. Read here.

Lisa Raphals, ‘Fate, Fortune, Chance, and Luck in Chinese and Greek: A Comparative Semantic History’, Philosophy East and West (University of Hawaii Press 2003), Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 537-574. Read here.

This is free to read online outside the university with a personal account to JSTOR, but not to download. If the link doesn’t work, search for JSTOR, create a personal account and find the article.

Week 4: Cultural and Societal Influences

In Week 4, we will explore the broader cultural and societal factors that shape the understanding of Chinese astrology and the concept of fate. We will examine historic poems, artworks, and antiquities like the Dunhuang cave paintings to analyze how local culture and cross-cultural influences have contributed to the appreciation and evolution of astrology. Building on the individual beliefs discussed in Week 3, we will consider how these historical developments inform the contemporary practice of Chinese astrology. Finally, we will investigate modern influences—such as social media, magazine columns, and television—that have contributed in development of Chinese astrology today.

Suggested Readings:

Campion, Nicholas, Astrology and Popular Religion in the Modern West: Prophecy, Cosmology and the New Age Movement (Abingdon: Ashgate, 2012; London: Routledge 2015), author’s draft, chap 1. Download PDF here.

Ming Dong Gu, ‘Patterns of Tao (Dao): The Birth of Chinese Writing and Aesthetics’, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Spring 2016, Vol. 74, No. 2 (Spring 2016), pp 151-163. Read here.

This is free to read online outside the university with a personal account, but not to download.

Xin, Yu, Personal Fate and the Planets: A Documentary and Iconographical Study of Astrological Divination at Dunhuang, Focusing on the "Dhāraṇī Talisman for Offerings to Ketu and Mercury, Planetary Deity of the North", Buddhism, Daoism, and Chinese Religion, Cahiers d’Extreme-Asie (Annee 2011), pp.163-190. Read here.

Week 5: Astrological Influence in the Chinese Way of Life

In the final week, we will investigate the holistic and interconnected nature of astrological practices and their influence on daily life, focusing on how these rituals connect international Chinese communities. We will explore the Chinese Almanac, which provides guidance on the 24 semi month terms—distinct periods that signify seasonal changes throughout the year. These traditions are reflected in rituals that help people align with their environment, such as the Tai Sui ritual performed during the Lunar New Year, honoring the deity governing prosperity as signified by Jupiter's position. By examining these contemporary applications within Chinese communities, we will reinforce the relevance of astrology in everyday life and synthesize historical and modern practices to understand how astrology informs the way Chinese people orient themselves within the world.

Suggested Readings:

Nathan Sivin, ‘Cosmos and Computation in Early Chinese Mathematical Astronomy, Y’oung Pao, Second Series, Vol. 55, Livr. 1/3 (1969), pp. 1-73 (73 pages), pp. 3-9. Read here.

This is free to read online outside the university with a personal account, but not to download. If the link doesn’t work, search for JSTOR, create a personal account and find the article.

蔡伯勵傳人Lai Choipak Family Lineage, 通勝2025 (2025 Chinese Almanac), 永經堂Wing King Tong. Read here.

Delivery

The course is taught live online using Zoom and recorded in order to enable you to follow the seminars if you cannot attend live. Each seminar will have time for Q & A's. You will be able to access the recordings for personal revision until the end of April 2025.

Moodle

All students will be able to log into the course page on Moodle where all the recordings of the lectures will be uploaded after each session. Also in this area are extensive support material plus a weekly discussion forum for additional questions or general comments.

Registration

The cost which covers all five lectures is £150.

Students and graduates of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David can enrol at the University rate of £120.

By registering I agree to follow the Sophia Project netiquette guide.

To register and pay, please click the link to www.eventbrite.com.

The acknowledgement of payment from Eventbrite will be sent to the email address that you have registered with Eventbrite. The day before the course starts, the link to join the seminar will also be sent to this address. If you wish the link to be sent to a different email address, please contact sophiacentre@sophia-project.net.

You should register by Eventbrite if possible but, if you can't, email Dr Nick Campion at n.campion@uwtsd.ac.uk and you can arrange to pay by cheque or bank transfer.

Terms and Conditions

Fees and Refunds – Fees must be paid in full before the commencement of the course. Refunds will be made if students withdraw from the course before it commences. There are no refunds after students log into the Course Moodle page, which is opened up two days before the course begins.

Forum conduct - All students are expected to follow the netiquette guide and be respectful of other students and the tutor in their forum posts. The course tutor will remove any postings they consider to be inappropriate. The course tutor also reserves the right to block a student from posting on the forums if the student disregards a request by the tutor to revise their forum conduct.

Zoom conduct – Students attending the Zoom lectures live are expected to be focused on these lectures and only use the chat box for question directed at the lecture material. Students who misuse the chat box will be removed from the lecture.

Technology – It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient broadband and sufficient skills in operating their computer or tablet to enable them to engage with this online course.

Sophia Centre Short Courses are taught as part of our outreach programme from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. If you would like to take your studies further, you may apply for our unique, on-line, fully accredited Master's programme in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, the only academic programme in the world to look explore our relationship with the sky, and the history, philosophy and culture of astrology.