The heyday of Chinese astronomy
In China,Astronomical qualifications are highly valued. As early as the Warring States Period, ancient Chinese astronomy had already sprouted. By the Han Dynasty,Astronomical works such as the Ganshi Xingjing appeared. China's astronomical calendar provides seasonal guidance for China's agricultural production.
After the rise of the Mongol Empire,Chinese astronomy entered its heyday. The Mongol Battle of the Western Regions,It opened the door to communication between East and West. The advanced astronomical knowledge of the Islamic world began to be introduced to China.
Yuan Shizu period,The Mataka Calendar from Central Asia improved our calendar. In the period of Yuan Shizu, the "Huihui Si Tiantai" headed by Arab scholars was establishedSystematic study of Islamic astronomy. With their assistance, Guo Shoujing and other scientists created the world's most accurate "Time Calendar" at that time.
The Eastward Spread of Islamic Astronomy
Mid-13th century,The Mongols completed their conquest of the Western Regions and the Islamic world. So,The Silk Road was rebuilt, and exchanges between the East and the West were unprecedentedly active.
In the Western Regions,Qiu Chuji communicates with Arab astronomers; In Western Asia,Hülegü founded the Malagay Observatory. The Arab envoys who came to China brought with them the most advanced astronomical instruments and knowledge at that time.
Yuan Shizu set up a Huisi Tiantai to study the Arabic astronomical calendar. The Han'er Division Tiantai carries forward the astronomical tradition of the Central Plains. The two countries continued to communicate, and Chinese astronomy entered a prosperous period.
It was based on the foundation of Arabic astronomy that Guo Shoujing and other scientists compiled the most accurate "Time Calendar" in the world at that time. This made the astronomy of the Yuan Dynasty brilliant.
The imprisonment of the Ming Dynasty
However, the good times were short-lived. After the Ming Dynasty replaced the Yuan Dynasty, it imposed a harsh confinement on astronomy.
Ming Taizu ordered all astronomers to be sent to the frontier, and those who made the calendar were executed. Successive emperors also largely maintained the ban, leaving Chinese astronomy in ruins.
Although the Ming Dynasty followed the Yuan Dynasty's "Great Unification Calendar,But the calendar gradually became inaccurate. The Ming court is thirsty for talentsBut no one dared to respond, which shows that the talent is withering.
At the same time, the Renaissance in Europe brought about the progress and development of astronomy. But in the closed Ming Dynasty, Chinese astronomy could only stand still.
Western astronomy is moving eastward
In the 17th century, with the arrival of missionaries, Western astronomical knowledge also spread to China.
In response to the Ming court's inability to seek talent, the missionaries seized the opportunity. Matteo Ricci and others reformed the old calendar of the Ming Dynasty and compiled the "Chongzhen Almanac" with European astronomical colors.
The Chongzhen Almanac introduced many new astronomical concepts, marking the establishment of the Western astronomical system in China. Unfortunately, at the time of the death of the Ming Dynasty, this calendar was not officially promulgated.
In the Qing Dynasty, the missionary John Tang compiled the "New Western Law Almanac" based on this. Since then, Chinese astronomy has relied entirely on the Western system.
The regression of science
As you can see,Since the Yuan Dynasty,Chinese astronomy began to decline. Although exposed to the scholarship of the Islamic world, there was no real absorption of fusion.
The Ming Dynasty did not hesitate to imprison scienceAs a result, China's science and technology have been detached from the world trend for a long timeStand still. In post-Renaissance Europe, science and technology developed rapidly.
By the time Western science was introduced to China, local science had dried up. We have to rely entirely on the Western scientific system, and technology can only be passively accepted.
It can be said thatHistory from the Yuan to the Ming DynastyIt is a sign that Chinese science has gone from prosperity to decline. In particular, the scientific imprisonment of the Ming Dynasty led to China's inability to set off a modern scientific revolution.
In the history of Chinese science, the Yuan and Ming dynasties were a huge turning point. We need to reflect on the social context in which science develops and learn the lessons of history.