This is an abridged translation of this excellent summary of historical cases from antiquity to the 1800s. Please note I haven’t cross referenced this with the original sources, it’s all from the article linked above. This also isn’t word for word precisely but I have tried to keep the original meaning as much as possible.
Please note dates, especially months, may be given in the lunar calendar for historical dates.
Giant glowing object
Date: 139 BC, April
Location: Chang’an
Sources: Zizhi Tongjian [1084 AD]; Book of Han [111 AD]; Ming Dynasty work.
The first source is an official history commissioned in the Song Dynasty, which was compiled in 1084 AD and covered the years 403 BC to 959 AD. It is seen as a very credible reference for historical happenings in Chinese history.
The work contains excellent records of natural occurrences such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, etc. as well as cosmic object like comets and meteors.
The incident recorded happened in April of 139 BC, where an object “bright as the sun” appeared at night.
The incident is also referred to in the Book of Han (111 AD) and a Ming Dynasty history by Yang Shen.
Three unknown objects
Location: unknown
Date: 314 AD, January
Source: Zizhi Tongjian, Complete Classics Collection of Ancient China [1725 AD] (“CCCAC”)
In both sources, the incident is described as “three suns appearing after sunset”. The three objects flew from west to east.
“Yan Zun’s fairy vehicle”
Date: 665-886 AD
Location: Chang’an
Source: ??
Yan Zun was a Western Han dynasty [202 BC] Taoist philosopher and divination specialist, known to study the works of Laozi and Zhuangzi (Taoist texts). He was a reclusive figure, who lived on a mountain. He accurately predicted several important events in Han dynasty history, including the journey of a man on a flying vehicle in the Han dynasty. Thus such small flying boats were known afterwards as “Yan Zun’s fairy vehicles”.
Such an object did in fact appear in the Tang Dynasty capital of Chang’an some 800 years later. As officials deemed it a holy object, it was moved to a the Linde palace. It was about 15 meters in length. When struck, it produced a metallic chime. The material was very hard and did not rust. A court official called Li Deyu removed a piece described as a “thin branch” about 20-25cm long from the object. Allegedly he had this piece crafted into a statue of a Taoist priest, and this sculpture would fly around by itself.
The “vehicle” flew off by itself after a span of some years.
One unknown object
Date: 809 AD, March
Location: Chang’an
Source: CCCAC
The record states that a “an object looking like the sun appeared next to the sun”. Sighting in daytime.
An orb
Date: Sometime between 1056 – 1063 AD (end of Northern Song)
*Location: Yangzhou, Jiangsu *
Source: Dream Pool Essays by Shen Kuo 1088 AD
It is said that a great “orb” or “pearl” appeared in Yangzhou during this period repeatedly. It could be seen at night. At first it appeared in Pize, Tianchang; then it moved to Zhenshe Lake, and then Xinkai Lake. It was often seen by residents.
Shen Kuo’s friend’s study was built on the lake. One night, this friend saw the orb close by. It was dark with no moon. It appeared as a giant clam shell, approaching from over the water. The clam opened up, and it was the size of “half a bamboo mat”. As it opened, gold light came from its perimeter. Inside, there was a fist-sized orb emitting silvery white light, bright as the rising sun and casting shadows on trees far away. The light was so dazzling the friend could not look directly at it. Suddenly, the orb flew away like a dazzling sun floating on the lake.
“A red flame“
Date: 1070 AD, 3rd November
Location: Jinshan Temple, Jiangsu
Source: poetry of Su Shi
A famous writer, politician, artist, and medical researcher of the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Shi wrote the following verse while staying overnight at the temple:
“…At the second chime after moonset, in the pitch black night, It seems like a huge fire burns in the middle of the river. The flames frightened the birds in their nests, And continued to disturb me after going to bed. Neither ghost nor human-wrought, this unknown object…”
The next day, he was convinced that the flame was produced by some “river gods”.
“Dim sun” at night
Date: between 1170 and 1200 AD
Location: Nanjing
Source: Yijian Zhi [1198 AD]
A witness noticed that it was as bright as day in the courtyard at night, and thought it was a particularly strong moon. After going outside, she realised there was no moonlight. The light had disappeared.
Another orb
Date: between 1170 and 1200 AD
Location: Nanjing
Source: Yijian Zhi (same as above)
The author of the work witnessed an orb-shaped object himself. At the start it was a large orb half the size of the moon, but then scattered into many smaller orbs. The small orbs re-formed into one large object afterwards.
Abduction of farmer
Date: 8th May, 1880
Location: Songzi, Hubei
Source: Songzi County Chronicle (a local historical record)
A farmer named Qin (surname) lived in Xiyanzui, Songzi County, Hubei. He went for a walk in the hilly woods, and suddenly saw a strange object in the forest. It was shining brightly with all sorts of colours. He immediately tried to catch it, but felt himself be lifted off the ground and flying into the clouds. He could hear the wind whistling in his ears. He was paralysed and felt his mind was scrambled. After a while, he suddenly landed safely from the sky on a mountain. For Farmer Qin, it was like waking up from a nightmare, and he was horribly afraid. He met a lumberjack, who thought it was curious to meet a stranger on the mountain. The lumberjack asked him where he was from, and when Qin answered, the lumberjack was astonished. They were in Guizhou province, about 500-600km from Songzi. It took him 18 days to return home as a beggar.
Flying red flame
Date: 1892
Location: Nanjing
Source: artistic depiction
This incident happened in Nanjing at the Fuzi Temple. The palace artist Wu Youru happened to witness the incident and depicted the scene in this picture called “A Red Flame Soars”. According to the accompanying text, the incident happened at 8pm. A “ball of fire” appeared above Nanjing, and flew from the west towards the east at a leisurely pace, disappearing slowly. It was flying against the wind so was not a Chinese lantern (LOL). About a hundred people witnessed this event, and the Suzaku bridge was crowded full of people trying to get a look. People were discussing what it could be. Some people noticed the object made a gentle sound when it first appeared and came from outside the south gate. It seemed more like a man-made object than a natural phenomenon.