Ancient East Asian records, especially from China, Japan, and Korea, provide some of the most detailed early observations of supernovae, preserved under the term “guest starts” (客星). These observations were part of systematic sky-monitoring traditions for the purpose of royal divination, prognostication, and omen interpretation. The sudden appearance of bright and new stars was carefully recorded in historical texts, with notes on their position, color, and duration. Dating back as early as 185 CE, these records describe events so bright that they were visible for months and even in daylight. They serve as crucial evidence for reconstructing historical supernovae, including the famous supernova 1054.
Supernova of 185 CE
This is possibly the earliest recorded supernova by Chinese astronomers during the Han (漢) Dynasty:
中平二年十月，有客星出於南門中，大如半筥，五色喜怒，稍小，至後年六月滅。 ——《後漢書·天文志》
(“In the 2nd year of Zhongping reign period [185 CE], a guest star appeared within the Nanmen constellation. It was as large as half a bamboo basket, showing five colors, gradually shrinking, and disappeared in the 6th month of the following year.”)
According to the record, the supernova lasted for ~ 8 months and was so bright at its peak that it appeared to display multiple colors. Based on the stated position, it is widely considered to be associated with the remnant RCW 86. Because this event occurred at such an early time, it is not preserved in Korean or Japanese sources, which makes the Chinese record uniquely important.
Supernovae of 386 CE and 393 CE
Two other events follow during the Eastern Jin (東晉) Dynasty:
太元十一年，有客星出於南斗，凡見三月。——《宋書·天文志》
(“In the 11th year of Taiyuan reign period [386 CE], a guest star appeared in Nandou constellation (i.e. lunar mansions) and was visible for three months.”)
太元十八年二月，客星見於尾宿，至九月滅。——《晉書》
(“In the 18th year of Taiyuan reign period [393 CE], a guest star appeared in Wei constellation and disappeared in the 9th month.”)
The association between these two events to the currently known remnant remains unclear.
Another uncorrelated historical coincidence is that at that epoch, the northern state Former Qin (前秦) launched a total war to Eastern Jin in southern China, while suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Fei River (淝水之戰) three years prior to the supernova of 386 CE despite overwhelming numerical superiority. As a result, the northern empire rapidly disintegrated into rebellion and fragmentation. In contrast, Eastern Jin survived until 420 CE, and the subsequent Southern Dynasties (南朝) continued to rule the southern region until 589 CE.
Supernova of 1006
This is widely regarded as the brightest stellar event in recorded history and was observed worldwide, including Egypt, Europe, Middle East, and East Asia.
景德三年四月戊寅，周伯星見，出氐南騎官西一度，狀如半月，有芒角，煌煌然可以鑒物，曆庫樓東，八月，隨天輪入濁，十一月，復見在氐。自是常以十一月辰見東方，八月西南入濁。——《宋史》
(“In the 3rd year of Jingde reign period [May 6, 1006], an important star appeared. It emerged one degree west of the Di constellation, near the Qi-Guan (Rider Officers) star. Its shape resembled a half-moon, with pointed rays. It shone brilliantly, bright enough to illuminate objects. It was located east of the Calendar Bureau tower. In the 8th month, it followed the celestial sphere and disappeared into murkiness. In the 11th month, it reappeared in Di. From then on, it regularly appeared in the eastern sky in the 11th month at dawn, and in the 8th month it entered the southwestern sky and became obscured.”)
〔景德〕三年三月乙巳，〔客星〕出東南方。——《宋史》
(“In the 3rd year of Jingde reign period [April 16, 1006], a “guest star” appeared in the southeastern sky.”)
〔景德〕三年，有大星出氐西，眾莫能辨；或言國皇妖星，為兵凶之兆。克明時使嶺表，及還，亟請對，言：”臣按《天文錄》、《荊州占》，其星名曰周伯，其色黃，其光煌煌然，所見之國大昌，是德星也。臣在塗聞中外之人頗惑其事，願許文武稱慶，以安天下心。——《宋史》
(“In the 3rd year of the Jingde, a great star appeared to the west of Di. None among the observers could identify it. Some said it was an ominous star, a sign of war and misfortune for the state. …”)
一條院 寛弘三年 四月二日 葵酉 夜以降 騎官中 有大客星 如熒惑 光明動耀 連夜正見南方。—— 《明月記（めいげつき）、寛喜二年冬記》
(“In the 3rd year of Kankou [May 1, 1006], from nightfall onward, within the asterism Kikan (Rider Officers), there appeared a great guest star. It resembled Mars, shining brilliantly and flickering. For several consecutive nights it was clearly visible in the southern sky.”)
Supernova of 1054
至和元年五月己丑，出天關東南可數寸，歲餘稍沒。——《宋史·天文志》
(“In the 1st year of the Zhihe [June 19, 1054], a star appeared a few degrees to the southeast of Tianguan star (ζ Tauri). After more than a year, it gradually faded from view.”)
嘉祐元年三月辛未，司天監言：自至和元年五月，客星晨出東方，守天關，至是沒。——《宋史·仁宗本紀》
(“In the 1st year of the Jiayou [April 17, 1056], the Bureau of Astronomy reported: Since the 5th month of the 1st year of the Zhihe [June 19, 1054], a guest star had appeared in the eastern sky at dawn and remained by Tianguan star. It had disappeared by this time.”)
至和元年五月己丑，客星晨出天關之東南可數寸，嘉祐元年三月乃沒。——《續資治通鑒長編卷一七六》
(“similar as above …”)
至和元年七月二十二日，守將作監致仕楊維德言：伏睹客星出現，其星上微有光彩，黃色。……嘉祐元年三月，司天監言：客星沒，客去之兆也。初，至和元年五月，晨出東方，守天關，晝見如太白，芒角四出，色赤白，凡見二十三日。——《宋會要》
(“similar as above …”)
後冷泉院 天喜二年 四月中旬以降 丑時客星觜參度見東方 孛天關星 大如歲星。——《明月記》
(“During the reign of Go-Reizei, in the 2nd year of Tenki [mid-May, 1054], from around 2 am, a guest star was seen in the eastern sky within the Zui and Shen constellations. It appeared as a broom star at Tianguan, as large as Jupiter.”)
Supernova of 1181
淳熙八年，客星見於奎宿，凡見一百八十五日。——《宋史》
(“In the 8th year of Chunxi [1181], a guest star appeared in Kui constellation and was visible for 185 days.”)
治承五年六月小廿五日庚午。戌克。客星见艮方。镇星色青赤有芒角。是宽弘三年出见之后无例云々。——《吾妻鏡（あずまかがみ）》
(“In the 5th year of Jishou [July 19, 1181], at around 8 pm, a guest star was seen in the northeastern direction. It had the color of bluish-red like Saturn and displayed pointed rays. It was said that no similar event had been recorded since the appearance in the third year of Kankou [1006].” The record should also be seen in Meigetsuki (明月記).
This event is recently linked to a possible remnant (Pa 30).
Supernova of 1572
Also known as Tycho’s Supernova as it was observed by Tycho Brahe in Europe. Around the same time, the records in East Asia include:
先（隆慶六年）十月初三丙辰夜，客星見東北方，如彈丸，出閣道旁，壁宿度，漸微芒有光，歷十九日壬申夜，其星赤黃色，大如盞，光芒四出……按是星曆萬曆元年二月，光始漸微，至二年四月乃沒。——《明神宗實錄》
(“Previously, at the night of the sixth year of Longqing [November 8, 1572], a guest star was seen in the northeastern sky. It was like a pellet, appearing beside Gedao star group, within the Bi constellation. Its light was faint at first, with only slight rays. After nineteen days, the star became reddish-yellow, as large as a cup, with rays extending in all directions. … It is recorded that by the 2nd month of the 1st year of Wanli [March, 1573], its brightness gradually began to fade, and by the 4th month of the 2nd year of Wanli [May, 1574], it finally disappeared.”)
A note is that, the supernova appeared just as the Emperor Wanli (萬曆) had ascended the throne at the age of nine. Its appearance was interpreted as an ominous sign, warning that the emperor should reflect upon his governance and moral behavior. The Grand Secretary, Zhang Juzheng (張居正), instructed the young emperor to promptly examine himself, in order to appease “Heaven’s displeasure”.
[宣祖五年]朔甲寅，客星現於策星之側，大於金星。——《朝鮮王朝實錄、宣祖修正實錄》
(“In the 5th year of Seonjo [November 11, 1572] on the day of the new moon, a guest star appeared beside Chaek star, larger than Venus.”)
(Errors or omissions may exist in this post. The discussion reflects current understanding of the author and is open to revision in light of further evidence.)
