East Asian archaeoastronomy : historical records of astronomical observations of China, Japan and Korea / Zhentao Xu, David W. Pankenier, Yaotiao Jiang.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Xu, Zhentao.

Contributor:

Pankenier, David W. (David William)

Jiang, Yaotiao.

Earth Space Institute.

Series:

Earth Space Institute book series on public and private sector interest in space ; v. 5.

Earth Space Institute book series on public and private sector interest in space

Language:

Chinese

English

Korean

Subjects (All):

Astronomy, Ancient--China.

Astronomy, Ancient.

Astronomy, Ancient--Japan.

Astronomy, Ancient--Korea.

Korea.

Japan.

China.

Physical Description:

ix, 304 pages, 8 pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm.

Other Title:

Historical records of astronomical observations of China, Japan and Korea

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands : Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, [2000]

Language Note:

In English, with English translations and original texts of ancient Chinese, Japanese and Korean astronomical records.

Summary:

Historical astronomical records can play an important role in modern research, especially in the case of ancient Chinese observational data: sunspot & aurora records are important for the study of solar variability; solar & lunar eclipse records for the study of the Earth's rotation; records of Comet Hally for the study of orbital evolution; "guest star" records for the study of supernova remnants; planetary conjunction records for research in astronomical chronology. In the past, Western scientists have not been able to exploit these valuable data fully because the original records were difficult to gather & interpret & complete English translations have not been available.

Contents:

1.1 Astronomical observations in ancient China 1

1.2 Sources of astronomical records 4

1.3 The Chinese calendar and time reckoning systems 7

1.4 Chinese asterisms 10

1.5 The original texts of East Asian astronomical records 12

Chapter 2 Astronomical observations in oracle-bone inscriptions 13

2.1 Discovery and early studies of oracle-bone inscriptions 13

2.2 General format of the divinations (buci) 14

2.3 Publications of oracle-bone inscriptions 16

2.4 On the astronomical records in the oracle-bone inscriptions 16

2.5 Astronomical records in oracle-bone inscriptions 18

Chapter 3 Solar eclipses 25

3.1 Historical observations of solar eclipses 25

3.2 The modern scientific importance of ancient solar eclipses 29

3.3 East Asian solar eclipse records 30

Chapter 4 Lunar eclipses 61

4.1 Collecting and collating lunar eclipse records 61

4.2 East Asian lunar eclipse records 63

Chapter 5 Comet Halley 107

5.1 Comet observations in ancient China 107

5.2 Historical records of Comet Halley and their present uses 109

5.3 East Asian records of Comet Halley 110

Chapter 6 Guest stars 125

6.1 "Guest star" observations in ancient China 125

6.2 Collecting and collating guest star records 126

6.3 On the identification of historical supernovae 128

6.4 East Asian records of guest stars 129

Chapter 7 Sunspots 147

7.1 Sunspot observations in ancient China 147

7.2 Ancient East Asian sunspot records 148

7.3 Collecting and collating sunspot records 148

7.4 On the variability of solar activity 150

7.5 East Asian sunspot records 152

Chapter 8 Aurora borealis 183

8.1 Auroral and solar activity 183

8.2 Auroral observation in ancient China 183

8.3 Collecting and collating auroral records 185

8.4 Reconstruction of the auroral catalogue of East Asia 186

8.5 East Asian auroral records 188

Chapter 9 Clusters of multiple planets 237

9.1 Early observation of planetary movements 237

9.2 East Asian records of planetary gatherings 240

Original texts from Chinese, Japanese and Korean sources 271

1. Chronological table of Chinese dynasties and reigns 405

2. Geographical coordinates of historical capitals of China, Japan and Korea 419

3. Finding list of stars and asterisms 421.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

905699302X

OCLC:

44914763