History of Ancient Chinese Astronomical Instruments 05

Author: Pan Nai
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Ancient Chinese astronomical instruments have a very early origin. Early historical records mentioned in the Rites of Zhou are frequently cited by scholars. Over the past two decades, numerous illustrated books and publications have continuously emerged, gaining popularity and achieving increasingly significant results. In foreign countries, specialized works on the history of astronomy have also developed. Among the most notable are The Sky Explored—Astronomical Maps (1500–1800), followed by The Brilliant Constellations—History and Myth, and another volume titled The Cambridge Illustrated History of Astronomy. Of these three books, not only the first contains two Chinese astronomical maps, but the second also includes a large illustration of a celestial globe, while the rest are primarily Western historical materials. In the 849-year《Traditional Cartography in East and Southeast Asian Societies》 published in 1993, more than one-third of the content is dedicated to Chinese cartography, mainly focusing on the cartographic history of traditional Chinese culture, with a particular emphasis on astronomical and geographical maps. These specialized works on the history of astronomy, 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 understanding. The achievements and content of ancient China in astronomical instruments are extremely rich. By the Qing Dynasty, although they lagged behind the West in the field of modern astronomy, they had relatively developed popularization among the people. Equipped with a large number of illustrations, it is clearly helpful for understanding the structure, nature, and functions of the instruments, as well as beneficial for 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 equipped approximately 500 illustrations and over 150 color illustrations, many of which are rare and valuable works.