Dipper, Sword, Snake and Turtle Four constellations as indicators for the ecliptic pole in ancient China? Stefan Maeder (PhD, M.A.) Kokugakuin University Tokyo Email: sjdmaeder @aol.com Keywords: Archaeoastronomy – ecliptic-pole – Chinese constellations – Big Dipper Abstract: The findings outlined in the following article occurred in the course of an international archaeological survey focusing on early representations and accounts of the “Big Dipper”-asterism in Ursa Major. They encompass the tentative identification of three ancient Chinese constellations, namely the sword, the snake and the turtle, which –together with the “Big Dipper” - surround the pole of the ecliptic at even distances to each other and to the pole itself. In fact they form a cross-shape with the ecliptic pole at its center. The sword-constellation consists of the central stars of Cygnus (without the outer “wing”-stars). The snake-constellation contains Corona Borealis as the distinct central coil, the four northern stars of Hercules as its head and the three northern stars of Bootes as its tail. The head, shell and tail of the turtle-constellation are accurately matched by the six major stars of Cassiopeia, the feet by two stars immediately south of the celestial “W”-shape. These representations are found on charm/amulet coins whose obverse script is based on currency coins first issued by the later Han-period (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.) without the symbols on the back. Whether the symbols on the reverse side of the coins were added already contemporary with their use as currency or later is as yet an unsettled matter. The representations are all rendered mirror inverted including the angle towards each other and towards the center of the coin. They point towards an independent undercurrent in Chinese astronomy/astrology during the first centuries A.D. which may provide a new impulse for research into the history of art and religion not only in China itself, but also in the countries influenced by its cultural achievements. 1. Introduction: After more than 100 years of archaeo-astronomical studies it is still an exception that an archaeologist should write on a subject, which - when viewed 1