Was Qin Shi Huang a Capricorn?

Today in a QQ group chat, someone mentioned that many great historical figures were Capricorns, including Qin Shi Huang, and proudly claimed to share the same zodiac sign. However, upon closer inspection, this claim seemed questionable. Setting aside the debate about attributing the massacre of Zhao’s surrendered soldiers to Qin Shi Huang, the assertion about his zodiac sign itself appeared flawed. Driven by curiosity, I decided to investigate what star sign the first emperor of China truly belonged to.

Who Was Qin Shi Huang?

Qin Shi Huang, born Ying Zheng, also known as Zhao Zheng, was the son of King Zhuangxiang of Qin. He was the first ruler in Chinese history to use the title “Emperor” (), proclaiming himself the “First Emperor” (). His reign brought monumental changes: he established a centralized government with the Three Lords and Nine Ministers system, replaced feudalism with a prefecture-county system, standardized writing scripts, unified axle widths for carts, and standardized weights and measures. As a legendary and transformative figure, he founded the Qin Dynasty—China’s first unified imperial dynasty—and his reforms profoundly influenced Chinese and world history, shaping the political framework of China for over two millennia.

The Historical Records

According to Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), specifically the Annals of Qin Shi Huang, it is written: “Qin Shi Huang was the son of King Zhuangxiang of Qin. As a hostage in the state of Zhao, King Zhuangxiang met Lü Buwei’s concubine, was delighted by her, married her, and she gave birth to the future emperor. Qin Shi Huang was born in Handan in the 48th year of King Zhaoxiang’s reign (259 BCE). At birth, he was named Zheng and given the surname Zhao.” This indicates he was born in the first month of the lunar year. But which month does this actually correspond to?

Understanding the Calendar Systems

The calendar used during the Qin Dynasty was the Zhuanxu Calendar, which significantly differed from today’s Gregorian system. In the Zhuanxu Calendar, the year began in October (which was considered the first month, or Zhengyue), and ended in September of the following year. Importantly, October retained its name and was not renamed as the first month. Historical records from the Shiji are often inconsistent due to the use of various dating systems from different states. It’s likely that events were recorded based on the local calendar systems in use at the time.

Calculating Qin Shi Huang’s Possible Zodiac Sign

Based on this, we can deduce that Qin Shi Huang was born in October according to the Zhuanxu Calendar. The first day of the first month in 259 BCE corresponds roughly to early October in 260 BCE by today’s reckoning. Since the lunar and Gregorian calendars align every 19 years, 260 BCE closely matches the lunar calendar of 2002 CE. Checking the calendar for 2002, October 1st in the lunar calendar falls on November 5th in the Gregorian system.

Given that the Shiji does not specify his exact birth date, we can estimate a 30-day window around this date: from November 5th to December 5th. This places his potential birth within the periods for two zodiac signs:

• Scorpio (October 24 – November 22)
• Sagittarius (November 23 – December 21)

Alternatively, if we consider sources like Baidu Baike, which cites January 27th as his birthdate (though this lacks verification from primary historical documents), he would fall under Aquarius (January 21 – February 19).

Conclusion: The Capricorn Question

So, was Qin Shi Huang a Capricorn? Based on historical and calendrical analysis, it is highly unlikely. Capricorn spans December 22 to January 20, and none of the plausible date ranges align with this sign. Whether he was a Scorpio, Sagittarius, or Aquarius, the evidence points away from Capricorn. This serves as a reminder of the importance of critical thinking, even when discussing topics as engaging as astrology and history. For all the Capricorns out there, take pride in your sign’s many strengths—but perhaps don’t count the First Emperor among your zodiac alumni!