Chinese astrology began in the Shang Dynasty. (1226 BCE to 1161 BCE) The Chinese culture believed that solar eclipses were caused by a mythical dragon devouring the sun. It was also believed that eclipses in general told the future of the emperor. Due to this, predicting solar eclipses was deemed of the highest importance; so much so, that two astrologers were once beheaded because they failed to predict a solar eclipse. Astrologers not wanting to be beheaded used many methods and tools in order to try and accurately predict solar eclipses
