Color Illustrated History of Ancient Chinese Astronomical Instruments

Author: Pan Nai
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Ancient Chinese astronomical instruments, with origins dating back very early. Early historical records mentioned in the Rites of Zhou are frequently cited by scholars. Over the past two decades, illustrated books and publications have continuously emerged, gaining popularity and achieving increasingly significant results. In foreign countries, specialized books on the history of astronomy have also been developed. Among the most notable are The Sky Explored—Astronomical Maps (1500-1800), followed by The Brilliant Constellations—History and Myth, and another volume being the Cambridge Illustrated History of Astronomy. Of these three books, not only does the first contain two Chinese astronomical maps, the third includes a large illustration of the armillary sphere, while the rest are primarily Western historical materials. In the 1993 published 849-page masterpiece Cartography in Traditional East and Southeast Asian Societies, more than one-third of the content is dedicated to Chinese cartography, mainly focusing on the cartographic history of traditional Chinese culture, with an emphasis on astronomical and geographical maps. These specialized history of astronomy books, richly illustrated with both color and black-and-white images, have not only significantly broadened readers' perspectives but also increased their interest and enhanced their level of understanding. The achievements and content of ancient Chinese astronomical instruments are extremely rich. By the Qing Dynasty, although they lagged behind the West in the realm of modern astronomy, they had relatively developed in popularization among the general populace. The inclusion of a large number of illustrations clearly aids in understanding the structure, nature, and functions of the instruments, as well as in comprehending their technological techniques and evolutionary processes. At the same time, they also showcase the artistic charm and developmental history of Chinese astronomical instruments. Through the efforts of colleagues and friendly assistance, this book has collected and compiled approximately 500 illustrations and over 150 color images, many of which are rare and valuable.
Ancient Chinese astronomical instruments, with origins dating back very early. Early historical records mentioned in the Rites of Zhou are frequently cited by scholars. Over the past two decades, illustrated books and publications have continuously emerged, gaining popularity and achieving increasingly significant results. In foreign countries, specialized books on the history of astronomy have also been developed. Among the most notable are The Sky Explored—Astronomical Maps (1500-1800), followed by The Brilliant Constellations—History and Myth, and another volume being the Cambridge Illustrated History of Astronomy. Of these three books, not only does the first contain two Chinese astronomical maps, the third includes a large illustration of the armillary sphere, while the rest are primarily Western historical materials. In the 1993 published 849-page masterpiece Cartography in Traditional East and Southeast Asian Societies, more than one-third of the content is dedicated to Chinese cartography, mainly focusing on the cartographic history of traditional Chinese culture, with an emphasis on astronomical and geographical maps. These specialized history of astronomy books, richly illustrated with both color and black-and-white images, have not only significantly broadened readers' perspectives but also increased their interest and enhanced their level of understanding. The achievements and content of ancient Chinese astronomical instruments are extremely rich. By the Qing Dynasty, although they lagged behind the West in the realm of modern astronomy, they had relatively developed in popularization among the general populace. The inclusion of a large number of illustrations clearly aids in understanding the structure, nature, and functions of the instruments, as well as in comprehending their technological techniques and evolutionary processes. At the same time, they also showcase the artistic charm and developmental history of Chinese astronomical instruments. Through the efforts of colleagues and friendly assistance, this book has collected and compiled approximately 500 illustrations and over 150 color images, many of which are rare and valuable.