Eclipses and Dragons: Chinese Year of The Dragon, Looming Eclipse, Taiwan’s Disaster, and the Gaza Conflict

Solar eclipse (Photo: © Dharshani Gk Arts | Dreamstime.com)

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By Akerele Christabel

April 6, 2024
4:16 pm
Los Angeles, CA

What does the year of the dragon portend for the world? Eclipses have always been the subject of wonder to humans who lived before science explained the phenomena. Even with science unraveling the eclipse myth, humankind has never ceased to stand in awe as darkness swallows up the sun and casts a shadow upon the planet. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun’s rays from reaching the Earth. The phenomenon called an eclipse is a rare cosmic event. An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align, allowing the Moon to cast its shadow on our planet. When this happens, the Moon casts two types of shadows. Only part of the Sun is covered

What does the year of the dragon portend for the world?

Eclipses have always been the subject of wonder to humans who lived before science explained the phenomena. Even with science unraveling the eclipse myth, humankind has never ceased to stand in awe as darkness swallows up the sun and casts a shadow upon the planet.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun’s rays from reaching the Earth. The phenomenon called an eclipse is a rare cosmic event. An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align, allowing the Moon to cast its shadow on our planet.

When this happens, the Moon casts two types of shadows. Only part of the Sun is covered during a partial solar eclipse, causing a specific type of shadow. The other type, which some argue is the most spectacular, is known as a total solar eclipse, where the Moon covers the Sun completely, leaving only a visible ring of light in the sky.

One of the earliest records of an eclipse appears in the ancient Chinese document Shu Ching (Book of History), which describes a day on which “the Sun and Moon did not meet harmoniously.” Historians believe this refers to the solar eclipse of October 22, 2134 B.C.E. The legend tells of two royal astronomers, Hsi and Ho, who neglected their duties and got drunk on the job. As a result, they failed to predict the event and were beheaded by the emperor.

Eclipse observation in China around 1840. Astronomers calmly observe an eclipse and the servants, terrified, prostrate themselves on the ground to placate the bad omen. Credit: History of China and India © Mary Evans / Explorer.
(Photo: Brunier and Luminet, Glorious Eclipses, Cambridge University Press/eclipsewise.com)

Historically, eclipses have shaped human history in many ways, lending credence to the power of natural phenomena over human action. The Greek historian Herodotus recorded how a total solar eclipse brought an unexpected peace between the warring Lydians and Medes. During the Battle of Halys, also known as the Battle of the Eclipse, the sky suddenly turned dark as the sun disappeared behind the moon. Both factions interpreted the phenomenon as a sign that the gods wanted the conflict to end. Therefore, they negotiated a ceasefire.

But for the incidence of an eclipse, history might remember the famous explorer Christopher Columbus differently. Twelve years after his landing in San Salvador, Christopher Columbus was exploring the Central American coast when woodworms attacked his ship, causing leaks and forcing him to make an emergency stop in Jamaica. He and his crew spent more than a year there awaiting relief. The Indigenous people of the island initially welcomed the men, offering them food and shelter, but cut off their supplies when the Spaniards failed to provide fair trade in return, and some of Columbus’ crew members began stealing from them.

Columbus consulted the almanac he had brought and read about an upcoming total lunar eclipse. Ferdinand writes that Columbus told the Jamaicans that the gods were unhappy with them for failing to provide assistance and that they would show their disapproval by turning the moon a bloody red color. The eclipse occurred on schedule, and Ferdinand claims the Jamaicans then promised to resume feeding Columbus and his crew.

These incidents, among several others, show how much of human history was shaped by these phenomena called eclipses. Humanity is set for another one on April 8, 2024.

Year of The Dragon and The Coming Eclipse

Traditional chinese dragon on a background of the full moon (Photo: © Katoosha
| Dreamstime.com)

The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle that links each year to an animal sign. These 12 animal signs are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The order of the animal signs is fixed, with the Dragon being the fifth in the cycle.

Each year also corresponds to one of the five basic elements in Chinese cosmology: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. Combining the animal signs and the five elements creates a 60-year cycle. The Chinese lunisolar calendar determines the specific animal and element associated with a particular year. In 2024, the Year of the Dragon is connected with the element of Wood. The Lunar New Year began on February 10, 2024.

The year of the dragon represents an auspicious year for superstitious Chinese. In the year ahead, expect opportunities for fortune, improvement, abundance, and challenges.

For many Chinese, the coming together of an eclipse and the most celebrated year in East Asia holds great significance, as it can be interpreted as either a positive or negative sign.

The 2024 total solar eclipse will happen on Monday, April 8. It will reach the Mexican Pacific coast at 11:07 a.m. Pacific Time, and then traverse the US in a northeasterly direction from Texas to Maine and into easternmost Canada.

Taiwan Earthquake

A 7.2 earthquake occurred in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city. (Photo: ambito)

Taiwan was rocked by the strongest earthquake in a quarter-century on Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of nine people and leaving dozens stranded at quarries and a national park.

Just before 8 a.m., the earthquake struck, injuring over a thousand individuals. Centered off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, the scene was one of devastation. Some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed. Just over 150 kilometers (93 miles) away in the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and schools evacuated students to sports fields as aftershocks followed.

Quakes regularly jolt Taiwan, and its population is among the best prepared for them. However, authorities expected a relatively mild earthquake and did not send out alerts. The eventual quake was strong enough to scare even people used to such shaking. In terms of damage, Taiwan emerged largely unharmed.

Interpretations of this event can be positive or negative. An earthquake happening to China’s little rebellious neighbor during the year of the dragon may be something to gloat about for some.

Israel-Hamas War

Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip in a photo released Dec. 30. (Photo: Israel Defense Forces via Reuters)

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) is bracing for potential attacks as “Quds Day” approaches. Quds Day has been marked by historically tense situations involving the Jewish nation and their hostile neighbors.

Therefore, Israel is preparing for potential actions from Hamas or its Iranian allies. It has canceled all leave for military personnel serving in combat units and has called on its reserves to bolster air defense units. As a preemptive defensive measure, Israel has disrupted GPS systems around the nation. This is to prevent weapons reliant on GPS from accurately hitting their targets within Israel’s territory.

With all these events occurring during the Chinese Year of the Dragon, it remains to be seen what the rest of this “auspicious” year portends for the rest of the global population.