【跨時空證言】伯利恆之星與漢朝：中國《天文志》中記載的基督降生[Testimony Across Time and Space] The Star of Bethlehem and the Han Dynasty: The Birth of Christ Recorded in China’s ‘TianWen Zhi’  (Treatise on Astronomy) 

兩千多年前，一顆特殊的星象宣告了基督耶穌的誕生。這不僅是《聖經》的記載，更被中國第一部斷代史《漢書·天文志》精確記錄。本文解析漢哀帝時期的「彗星」如何與「伯利恆之星」交織，展現東西方文明對同一歷史時刻的共同見證。
More than two thousand years ago, a special astronomical phenomenon announced the birth of Jesus Christ. This was not only recorded in the Bible but was also precisely documented in China’s first dynastic history, the “Treatise on Astronomy” of the Han Book. This article analyzes how the “comet” during the reign of Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty intertwines with the “Star of Bethlehem,” revealing the shared testimony of Eastern and Western civilizations to the same historical moment.

一、 辨明真理：造物主的「記號」而非迷信占星  
I. Discerning Truth: The “Sign” of the Creator, Not Superstitious Astrology

在深入歷史前，必須釐清聖經的立場：聖經嚴厲禁止占星術（試圖透過星盤掌控命運或崇拜受造物），但肯定上帝利用天體作為「記號」與「啟示」。
Before delving into history, we must clarify the biblical position: the Bible strictly forbids astrology (attempting to control destiny through star charts or worshiping creation), but affirms that God uses celestial bodies as “signs” and “revelation.”

造物主的主權： 「神說：『天上要有光體，可以分晝夜，作記號，定節令、日子、年歲。』」（創世記 1:14）
The Sovereignty of the Creator: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days, and years.'” (Genesis 1:14)

創造者的信息： 尋求真理應直接求問創造天地萬物的真神。伯利恆之星，宛如上帝在夜空拍下的一張宣傳照，而非占星家的算命工具。正如《詩篇》19:1 所言：「諸天述說神的榮耀；穹蒼傳揚祂的手工。」《詩篇》147:4 所言：「祂數點星宿的數目，一個個稱其名。」
The Creator’s Message: Those seeking Truth should inquire directly of the True God who created heaven and all things. The Star of Bethlehem is like a promotional photo taken by God in the night sky, not a divination tool for astrologers. As Psalm 19:1 says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 147:4 states: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”

二、 全球性的見證：為什麼中國必須看見這顆星？  
II. Global Witness: Why Must China See This Star?

聖經記載過許多神蹟（如紅海分開、地震等），但多發生在中東，屬局部性。然而，「景星」不同。正如賀宗寧長老指出：由於地球自轉，掛在天上的景星必然會被中國人看見。上帝向全人類宣告救主降臨時，這個天象必然是普世性的見證。
The Bible records many miracles (such as the parting of the Red Sea, earthquakes, etc.), but most occurred in the Middle East and were localized. However, the “auspicious star” is different. As Elder He Zongning pointed out: Due to Earth’s rotation, a star hanging in the sky must necessarily have been seen by the Chinese. When God announced the coming of the Savior to all humanity, this celestial phenomenon must have been a universal witness.

中國古代天文學並非僅是業餘愛好，而是一項嚴謹的國家制度。漢朝設有專職的天文官員，負責日夜監視天象，因為當時的人相信「天垂象，見吉凶」。根據《漢書·天文志》的明確記載： Ancient Chinese astronomy was not merely a hobby but a rigorous state system. The Han Dynasty employed professional astronomers responsible for monitoring the heavens day and night, as it was believed that “heaven reveals signs to predict fortune or misfortune.”

這證明了上帝的啟示是公平且廣大的。當西方博士在美索不達米亞觀察到這顆星時，東方的漢朝觀測者也正提筆在竹簡上刻下這神聖的光芒。中國的歷史紀錄，無意間成為了基督降生最客觀、最科學的「第二證人」。 This proves that God’s revelation is impartial and vast. While the Magi observed this star in Mesopotamia, Han observers in the East were also recording this divine light. Thus, Chinese historical records inadvertently became the most objective and scientific “second witness” to the birth of Christ.

三、 《漢書·天文志》中的精確紀錄：Item 156
III. Precise Records in the “Book of Han·Treatise on Astronomy”: Item 156

在《漢書·天文志》收集的 157 件天文異象中，第 156 件記載了與耶穌降生完全吻合的神蹟：
Among the 157 astronomical phenomena collected in the “Book of Han·Treatise on Astronomy” the 156th item records a miracle that perfectly aligns with the birth of Jesus:

記載： 「（漢哀帝建平）二年二月，彗星出牽牛七十餘日。」
The record states: “In the second month of the second year of Emperor Ai of Han Dynasty’s Jianping era, a comet appeared in the constellation Altair for more than seventy days.”

時間契合： 漢哀帝建平二年二月（公元前 5 年 3-4 月），正是大希律王去世（公元前 4 年）前一年多。這完全符合希律王屠殺伯利恆「兩歲以內」嬰孩的時間線。
Temporal Alignment: The second month of the second year of Emperor Ai of Han Dynasty’s reign, (March-April, 5 BCE) was more than a year before the death of King Herod the Great (4 BCE). This perfectly aligns with the timeline of Herod’s massacre of infants in Bethlehem “two years old and under.”

持續時日： 這顆星持續出現了 70 多天。這段時間足以讓博士們沿著絲綢之路，從長安或波斯旅行到耶路撒冷。
Duration: This star continued to appear for over 70 days. This period of time was sufficient for the Magi to travel along the Silk Road from Chang’an or Persia to Jerusalem.

四、 太初有道：漢哀帝的改元與基督的身份   IV. In the Beginning Was the Word: Emperor Ai of Han’s Era Name Change and the Identity of Christ

當這顆星在「牽牛」出現時，漢朝史官解讀為：「彗所以除舊佈新也……改更之像也。其出久者，為其事大也。」
When this star appeared at “Qianniu,” Han Dynasty historians interpreted it as: “The comet serves to eliminate the old and bring in the new…it is an image of change and renewal. The longer it remains, the greater the significance of the event.”

漢哀帝因恐懼「改更之象」，竟做出了一件歷史罕見的事：將年號改為「太初元將元年」。雖然他僅維持了三個月就恢復原號，但「太初」二字竟神祕地與基督的身份契合。
Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty, fearing the “omen of change,” did something rarely seen in history: he changed the era name to the year of “Taichu Yuan Jiang Yuan,” ( which literally means “The Great Primal Beginning, The Supreme Commander/General). Although he maintained this for only three months before reverting to the original era name, the two characters “Taichu” mysteriously aligned with the identity of Christ.

太初之意： 意為萬物未形成前的宇宙元初。  The primordial meaning: It refers to the cosmic origin before all things were formed.

聖經真理： 「太初 (Taichu) 有道，道與神同在，道就是神。」（約翰福音 1:1）
Biblical Truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

元將之義： 基督正是「最起始的統領」，是萬有的元首（歌羅西書 1:18）。
The Meaning of “Primal General”: Christ is precisely the “Primordial Commander,” the Head of all things (Colossians 1:18). (Read more here: https://voanews.xyz/literal-meaning/

五、 科學與地理：時差與導航的印證  
IV. Science and Geography: Evidence of Time Difference and Navigation

根據台灣黃一農教授的研究，伯利恆之星可能是兩顆彗星的接力：
According to research by Professor Huang Yi-nong from Taiwan, the Star of Bethlehem may have been a consecutive appearance of two comets:

第一顆（5 BC）： 出於牽牛，宣告「除舊佈新」，帶領博士啟程。
The first comet (5 BC): Emerged from Altair, announcing “out with the old and in with the new,” leading the Magi to set out on their journey.

第二顆（4 BC）： 出於河鼓（天鷹座）。這就是博士離開希律王府後「忽然」看見的那顆星（馬太福音 2:9）。
The second star (4 BC): Emerged from Aquila (Eagle Constellation). This is the star that the wise men “suddenly” saw after leaving King Herod’s palace (Matthew 2:9).

懸停效果： 劍狀彗星的尾巴向上指向，會產生指向地面特定地點的視覺效果。這在史書《羅馬史》（Dio Cassius）中也有類似的彗星「懸停」紀錄。
Hovering Effect: The tail of the sword-shaped comet points upward, creating a visual effect of pointing to a specific location on the ground. Similar records of a comet “hovering” are also documented in the historical text “Roman History” (Dio Cassius).

跨時空的子時對應  Cross-temporal correspondence of the midnight hour

時差計算： 耶穌降生於伯利恆的半夜子時。  Time calculation: Jesus was born in Bethlehem at midnight.

同步見證： 根據經緯度時差，長安此時正是清晨五點。這正是漢代觀星家在日出前一小時，於東南方地平線上看見該星的最佳時刻。
Synchronized testimony: According to the time difference in longitude and latitude, Chang’an at this time was exactly five o’clock in the morning. This was precisely the optimal moment for Han Dynasty astronomers to observe the star on the southeastern horizon one hour before sunrise.

絲綢之路與東方博士  The Silk Road and the Magi from the East

東方博士極可能來自中國（絲國 Shir）。從長安沿絲綢之路步行一萬公里到耶路撒冷，約需 13 個月，正好符合兩顆彗星出現的時間差（5 BC 到 4 BC）。The Magi most likely came from China (the Silk Country, Shir). Walking ten thousand kilometers from Chang’an along the Silk Road to Jerusalem would take approximately 13 months, which precisely corresponds to the time difference between the appearances of two comets (5 BC to 4 BC).

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六、 結論：上帝深愛中國人的證言  VI. Conclusion: Testimony of God’s Deep Love for the Chinese People

中國古籍中對「牽牛」的認識——主犧牲、天之橋樑、進天門之處——竟與聖經核心思想完全相符。這證明耶穌基督不是「外國人的神」，祂是全人類的拯救者。
The ancient Chinese understanding of the “Cowherd” in classical texts—as a sacrificial victim, a bridge of heaven, and the place to enter the heavenly gate—remarkably aligns completely with the core teachings of the Bible. This proves that Jesus Christ is not the “God of foreigners,” but the Savior of all humanity.

基督的誕生是震動天象、被中國人親眼見證並精確記錄在《漢書》中的歷史事實。祂是太初的道，也是生命的光，兩千年前祂就已向中國人發出愛的邀請。
The birth of Christ shook the celestial phenomena and was witnessed firsthand by the Chinese people, with precise records preserved in the Book of Han. He is the Logos in the beginning, and also the light of life. Two thousand years ago, He had already extended an invitation of love to the Chinese people.

耶穌基督降生時，上帝特意在夜空留下了全人類都能看見的「大字報」。中國古籍對這顆星的年份、位置及持續時間的精確記載，補足了聖經敘事以外的細節。
When Jesus Christ was born, God intentionally left a “grand proclamation” in the night sky that all of humanity could see. Ancient Chinese texts provide precise records of this star’s year, location, and duration, supplementing details beyond the biblical narrative.

祂是為世人犧牲的代罪羔羊： 除去世人罪孽的上帝羔羊。  He is the Sacrificial Lamb for the Atonement of the World: The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
約翰福音1:29「看哪，神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的！」
John 1:29: “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

祂是天門： 「我就是門；凡從我進來的，必然得救。」（約翰福音 10:9）
He is the Gate: “I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved.” (John 10:9)

基督的誕生不是西方人的宗教傳說，而是被中國人親眼見證並精確記錄在《漢書》中的歷史事實。上帝不僅愛猶太人，祂也透過星空，向兩千年前的中國人發出了救贖的邀請。
The birth of Christ is not a Western religious legend, but a historical fact witnessed firsthand by the Chinese people and precisely recorded in the Book of Han. God did not only love the Jewish people; He also extended an invitation of redemption to the Chinese people two thousand years ago through the stars.

• 拯救的意義： 耶穌降生是上帝作的「新事」（以賽亞書 43:19）。
  The Meaning of Salvation: The birth of Jesus is the “new thing” that God did (Isaiah 43:19).
• 上帝愛中國的證據： 中國人不僅看見了這顆星，更詳細記錄了它。這證明了耶穌基督是全人類的拯救者，祂愛中國人。
  Evidence of God’s Love for China: The Chinese not only saw this star, but recorded it in greater detail. This proves that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind, and He loves the Chinese people.

祂是太初的道，祂降生在至暗的子時，要成為世人的光。
He is the Word in the beginning, and He was born at the darkest hour of the night to become the light of the world.

Read about
1) Wise Men of the East in China https://voanews.xyz/124-2/
2) Ancient Chinese Records About Jesus’ Death and Resurrection https://voanews.xyz/86-2/

Read more here:

1. Wang, Xingchen (王星辰) and Yang, Yueqin (楊躍琴). “The Star of Bethlehem and China (伯利恆之星與中國).” Culture Regeneration (文化中國), no. 111 (August 2022). https://crrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/111-15-WangXingchen-YangYueqin.pdf

2. 耶稣降生时的景星，在中国历史上有记载吗？https://ocfuyin.org/oc152-22/

Watch this video Rev Albert Kang – Unknown God of Ancient China: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv2Phrua0Po
And this video THE FORGOTTEN GOD OF ANCIENT CHINA – Rev Albert Kang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ijwp3LRF0o&t=1514s

These videos explores the concept of “Shang Di” and how ancient Chinese history and language may contain echoes of biblical truth, relevant to understanding connections like Emperor Ai’s era name.

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