Research Article

Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture

Number: 117 April 30, 2026
  • Zhaozhong Jiang *
EN TR

Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture

Abstract

Considered as the rotation axis of the northern celestial hemisphere, north pole star was called altun qazŋuq “gold stake” in OT (Old Turkic). The article finds that Turkic north pole star tradition exerted its influence on Chinese culture twice. At the first time, the Chinese transcribed OT qazŋuq into gōzhèn (勾陳) in the Warring States period. And at the second time, the transmission took place in the Qing dynasty, when the government tried to confirm that the huge rock called altan γadasu in Mongolian was the origin of the Yellow River, the Mongolian translation of OT altun qazŋuq was translated into “gold north pole star” (黃金北極星).

Keywords

Project Number

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of South-Central Minzu University (Grant Number: CSQ24044); the Teaching Research Project of South-Central Minzu University (Grant Number: JYX24005)

Ethical Statement

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of South-Central Minzu University (Grant Number: CSQ24044); the Teaching Research Project of South-Central Minzu University (Grant Number: JYX24005); and the Key Research Project of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education (Grant Number: 22JZD024). An initial draft of this work was read at the 12th Conference on the History of Science, Hsinchu Tsinghua University, Mar. 2021.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Asian Cultural Studies, Turkish Cultural History

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Zhaozhong Jiang * This is me
0000-0001-8877-792X
China

Publication Date

April 30, 2026

Submission Date

May 15, 2024

Acceptance Date

February 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 117

APA
Jiang, Z. (2026). Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture. Bilig, 117, 53-70. https://doi.org/10.12995/bilig.8108
AMA
1.Jiang Z. Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture. Bilig. 2026;(117):53-70. doi:10.12995/bilig.8108
Chicago
Jiang, Zhaozhong. 2026. “Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture”. Bilig, nos. 117: 53-70. https://doi.org/10.12995/bilig.8108.
EndNote
Jiang Z (April 1, 2026) Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture. Bilig 117 53–70.
IEEE
[1]Z. Jiang, “Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture”, Bilig, no. 117, pp. 53–70, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.12995/bilig.8108.
ISNAD
Jiang, Zhaozhong. “Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture”. Bilig. 117 (April 1, 2026): 53-70. https://doi.org/10.12995/bilig.8108.
JAMA
1.Jiang Z. Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture. Bilig. 2026;:53–70.
MLA
Jiang, Zhaozhong. “Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture”. Bilig, no. 117, Apr. 2026, pp. 53-70, doi:10.12995/bilig.8108.
Vancouver
1.Zhaozhong Jiang. Influence of Turkic North Pole Star Tradition on Chinese Culture. Bilig. 2026 Apr. 1;(117):53-70. doi:10.12995/bilig.8108

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