Please wait a minute...
Studies in the History of Natural Sciences  2019, Vol. 38 Issue (4): 454-460    DOI:
ARTICLES     
On Precession and the Superior Epoch in the Mingtian Li
WANG Jinrui1,2, QU Anjing1
1. Institute for Advanced Study in History of Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China;
2. School of Mathematics and Statics, Shaanxi Xueqian Normal University, Xi'an 710100, China
Download:   PDF(1239KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      

Abstract  Precession (Suicha岁差)is one of the most important constants in the ancient Chinese calendar. It was normally determined by the method High Epoch Accumulated Years (Shang yuan ji nian上元积年), but in the Northern Song dynasty Zhou Cong designed a new method to calculate it. This paper analyses the related content in the Mingtian Li Yi, uncovering Zhou Cong's new way to determine Precession by the speed of the moon, and confirms that Precession is independent of the High Epoch Accumulated Years. We also reconsider the procedure to determine the High Epoch Accumulated Years in Mingtian Li, the results indicating that though the Precession was involved in the process of calculating the High Epoch Accumulated Years, this was completely different to the previous way that High Epoch Accumulated Years had been used to calculate the Precession. Thus, this article improves our understanding of the features of the astronomical constant system of ancient Chinese calendars.

Key words： Mingtian Li      Precession      Superior Epoch      Sidereal Year      Zhou Cong     
Received: 06 September 2018      Published: 18 June 2022
ZTFLH:  N092  
Service
E-mail this article
Add to my bookshelf
Add to citation manager
E-mail Alert
RSS
Articles by authors
WANG Jinrui
QU Anjing
Cite this article:

WANG Jinrui, QU Anjing. On Precession and the Superior Epoch in the Mingtian Li. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2019, 38(4): 454-460.

URL:

http://www.shns.ac.cn/     OR     http://www.shns.ac.cn/Y2019/V38/I4/454

1 陈美东. 中国科学技术史·天文学卷[M]. 北京: 科学出版社, 2003. 466.
2 脱脱, 贴睦尔达世, 贺惟一, 等. 宋史律历志[G]. 卷74//历代天文律历等志汇编. 第8册. 北京: 中华书局, 1976. 2633～2646.
3 曲安京. 中国历法与数学[M]. 北京: 科学出版社, 2006. 24～166.
4 吴守贤, 全和钧. 中国古代天体测量学及天文仪器(中国天文学史大系)[M]. 北京: 中国科学技术出版社, 2013. 273～283.
5 陈美东. 古历新探[M]. 沈阳: 辽宁教育出版社, 1995. 261～264.
6 李鉴澄. 岁差在我国的发现、测定和历代冬至日所在的考证[C]//《中国天文学史文集》编辑组. 中国天文学史文集. 第3集. 北京: 科学出版社, 1984. 124～137.
7 何妙福. 岁差在中国的发现及其分析[C]//中国天文学史整理研究小组. 科技史文集. 第1辑(天文学史专辑). 上海: 上海科学技术出版社, 1978. 5～21.
8 白尚恕, 李迪. 中国历史上对岁差的研究[J]. 内蒙古师院学报(自然科学版), 1982,(1): 84～88.
9 曲安京. 中国数理天文学[M]. 北京: 科学出版社, 2008. 55.
10 曲安京. 中国古代历法中的上元积年计算[C]//李迪. 数学史研究文集. 第1辑. 呼和浩特: 内蒙古大学出版社, 1990. 24～36.
11 曲安京. 东汉到刘宋时期历法上元积年计算[J]. 天文学报, 1991, 32(4): 436～438.
12 曲安京. 唐宋历法演纪上元实例及算法分析[J]. 自然科学史研究, 1991, 10(4): 315～326.


[1] ZHOU Wenli, LUO Shengqiang, MO Lingheng, CHEN Jianli. Smelting Copper with Lead Slag: The Smelting Technology of Lead-Copper Ores from the Chengui Mine in the Qing Dynasty[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(2): 135-148.
[2] XIONG Dibing, HUI Fuping. On Changes of Manure in Pre-modern China[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(2): 149-160.
[3] QIAO Shangxiao, QIAN Wei. A New Discussion on the Co-fusion Process[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(2): 161-174.
[4] ZHOU Sheng. An Interpretation of Eleven Colloquial Bird and Mammal Names in the Guihai Yuheng Zhi by Fan Chengda[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(2): 175-183.
[5] QU Zhaohua. Preliminary Research on Zhou Shuxue's Knowledge of Cewang[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(2): 194-217.
[6] . [J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(2): 262-264.
[7] CHEN Jiujin, WANG Rongbin. A Newly Discovered Set of Twelve Constellations of the China Zodiac[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 19-36.
[8] LI Zhiliang. The Transmission and Preliminary Development of the Chemical Concept Catalysis in Modern China[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 37-48.
[9] ZHAO Yunbo, DENG Jing. Analysis of the Knowledge of the History of Western Science in Gezhi Shuyuan Keyi[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 49-61.
[10] FENG Xiang. A Review and Discussion of Plague in Northern China from 1917-1918[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 62-76.
[11] ZHANG Jingfei. “Leaving Some Wiggle Room” and “Pursuing Cooperation”: China-US Scientific and Technological Exchanges in Earthquake from 1971 to 1979[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 77-90.
[12] HUA Jueming. The Definition and Classification of Traditional Handicrafts[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 120-129.
[13] . [J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2021, 40(1): 130-144.
[14] ZOU Dahai. New Research on the Junshu,a Branch of Mathematics in the Early Period of Ancient China[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2020, 39(4): 395-424.
[15] LIU Siliang. Dog Sacrifice and the Battle against Epidemics: Recalling Fighting Epidemics Prior to the Qin Dynasty[J]. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2020, 39(4): 425-438.