Gods and Stars: The Use of Mythological Roots in the Chinese Space Program. Analysis

This study examines the Chinese space program from a cultural perspective. The program, in previous two decades, has achieved a series of achievements, including the successful deployment of rocket launching systems, manned space missions, satellites, and space probes exploring the Moon, asteroids, and Mars. A key focus of this research is the naming convention and promotional strategies associated with the Chinese space activities. These names and symbols are rooted in a cultural tradition completely different and contrasting with the Greco-Roman heritage commonly adopted by the traditional space powers i.e. USA, USSR/Russia, and Europe. The paper involved cataloguing, classifying, and analysing the source materials— specifically, counting and explaining the mission codes developed by China. Missions were categorised into major thematic origins: (A) Mythology, cosmology, culture, (B) Political/communist-related content, (C) Astronomy, astronomers, space-inspired concepts, discoverers and science, (D) Technological jargon and (E) Other. The findings indicate that despite its history as a communist state with periods of distancing from ancient traditions, China’s space program has become a prominent platform for promoting Chinese symbolism. Cultural symbols, along with Chinese scientific and astronomical concepts, overwhelmingly dominate the other thematic categories.