Tibetan astronomy

Tibetan astronomy describes the study of space in Tibet. Its religious elements are strongly influenced by Buddhism, and by both Chinese astronomy and Indian astronomy. ^[1]

History

One story describes that study of the cosmos began in Tibet because an old woman, who spun yak wool every day and every hour of the night with enough moonlight. She noticed there were different amounts of moonlight each night and sunlight each day and began to track this to plan her spinning. ^[2]

In 1318, the 3rd Karmapa received a vision of Kalachakra which he used to introduce a revised system of astronomy and astrology named the "Tsurphu Tradition of Astrology" (Standard Tibetan : Tsur-tsi) which is still used in the Karma Kagyu school for the calculation of the Tibetan calendar. ^{[3] [4]}

Description of cosmos

The Buddhist Tantra of Kalachakra is the basis of Tibetan astronomy. It explains some phenomena in a similar manner as modern astronomy science. Hence, Sun eclipse is described as the Moon passing between the Sun and the Earth. ^{[5] [ dubious – discuss ][ better source needed ]}

Tibetan astronomy describes methods for predicting eclipses, planet position, and building a calendar. ^[6]

Further reading

• Alexander Berzin Tibetan Astrology and Astronomy. in Maitreya Magazine (Emst, Holland), vol. 11, no. 4 (1989).
• Berzin, A Tibetan Astro Studies. in Chö-Yang, Year of Tibet Edition (Dharamsala, India), (1991).

References

1. Berzin, Alexander (1987). "An Introduction to Tibetan Astronomy and Astrology". The Tibet Journal. 12 (1). Retrieved 11 July 2025.
2. Johnson-Groh, Mara (April 2013). Stories of the Stars The History and Folklore of Tibetan Ethnoastronomy (Physics, Scandinavian Studies thesis). India, Himachal Pradesh, Dharamsala: SIT Study Abroad. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
3. The Third Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, site of Karma Lekshey Ling Institute ^{[ dead link ]}
4. Staff. "Kagyu Lineage: The Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284 - 1339)". Kagyu Office of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
5. An Introduction To Tibetan Astro. Science Archived February 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
6. Berzin, Alexander (1987). "An Introduction to Tibetan Astronomy and Astrology". The Tibet Journal. 12 (1). Retrieved 11 July 2025.