This perceived hybrid nature of astrology often offends contemporarysensi-bilities, although, from ahistorical perspective,iti is the anachronistic projection of a modern divideon to anancient knowledge system that is to blame. Astrology, classified as a 'pseudoscience' has long been regarded as a liability by orthodox scholars of both science and religion and as a result, academics of either field who choose to devote their me and energies to the study of astrology frequently find themselves in the position of having to defend that choice. As a professional historian of religion, It
feel the need to state briefly why, publishing on this rather technical subject in a series dedicated to the scientific(ratherthanthereligious) classics of Asia,I still consider myself as remaining within my proper sphere of study.