Steve Mullin (18
May 2025) "The Chinese record
the crucifixion in 31 ad?"
I had saved the text
of the recording and events in case others have not heard. Here
is that explanation:
The
Chinese did observe an unusual eclipse around that time.
日月薄食。百姓有過，在予一人，大赦天下。
With my limited Chinese, it sounds like the
highlighted words mean: "sun moon thin eclipse.
hundred surnames have sin, on upon one man, great
forgiveness heaven under." It sounds like Jesus, but
an alternative interpretation is that the Chinese
king has taken responsibility for the sin and is
proclaiming general amnesty.
It comes from 後漢書 (Book of the Later Han)
from a long time ago. The Latter Han dynasty ruled
China from 25 AD to 220 AD, and this quote is from
the first king Gwangwu.
Here's the fuller quote in case anyone can
read Chinese or knows a good translator.
日月薄食。百姓有過，在予一人，大赦天下。
With my limited Chinese, it sounds like the highlighted words mean: "sun moon thin eclipse. hundred surnames have sin, on upon one man, great forgiveness heaven under." It sounds like Jesus, but an alternative interpretation is that the Chinese king has taken responsibility for the sin and is proclaiming general amnesty.
It comes from 後漢書 (Book of the Later Han) from a long time ago. The Latter Han dynasty ruled China from 25 AD to 220 AD, and this quote is from the first king Gwangwu.
Here's the fuller quote in case anyone can read Chinese or knows a good translator.
癸亥晦，日有食之，避正殿，寑兵，不聽事五日。詔曰：「吾德薄致災，讁見日月，〈讁，責也。音直 革反。左傳曰：「人君為政不用善，自取讁於日月之災也。」〉戰慄恐懼，夫何言哉！今方念愆，庶消厥咎。其令有司 各修職任，奉遵法度，惠茲元元。百僚各上封事，無有所諱。其上書者，不得言聖。」
夏四月壬午，詔曰：「比陰陽錯謬，日月薄食。百姓有過，在予一人，大赦天下。公、卿、司隷、州牧 舉賢良、方正各一人，遣詣公車，朕將覽試焉。」〈公車，門名。公車所在，因以名焉。漢官儀曰：「公車掌殿司馬 門，天下上事及徵召皆緫領之。」〉
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%BE%8C%E6%BC%A2%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B71%E4%B8%8B
Another volume in the Book of the Latter Han seems to talk about the same day:
七年三月癸亥晦，日有蚀之，在毕五度。(Solar eclipse in 3rd month of 7th year...)
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%BE%8C%E6%BC%A2%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7108
This adds more commentary about how on the day of the eclipse, the "heaven man collapsed":
七年三月癸亥晦，日有蝕之，潛潭巴曰：「癸亥日蝕，天人崩。」鄭興曰：「頃年日蝕，每多在晦，皆 月行疾也。君亢急，臣下促迫。」在畢五度。
http://www.sidneyluo.net/a/a03/108.htm
This information comes from the book "Finding God in Ancient China", but I confirmed that the quotes existed in other sources.
http://www.amazon.com/Finding-God-Ancient-China-Worshiped/dp/0310292387
And here is a sermon that mentions it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g72Mb8wEdcI&feature=youtu.be&t=36m32s
Zion,
Thanks for providing this interesting information. I was able to find the following excerpt from the book you mention online:
Steve M