The Mandate of Heaven : Astronomy in Ancient China

This book explores the rich and ancient tradition of Chinese astronomy, which developed as early as the third millennium BCE and was first documented on oracle bones over 4,000 years ago.

This book explores the rich and ancient tradition of Chinese astronomy, which developed as early as the third millennium BCE and was first documented on oracle bones over 4,000 years ago. Through a historical and cultural synthesis, the author investigates the evolution of Chinese cosmological views up until the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in the late 16th century—an event that marked the beginning of the encounter between Chinese and Western science. The book analyzes how Chinese cosmology and astronomy are deeply intertwined with the country's culture, society, and philosophy. It explores the fundamental role of astronomy in calendar planning, religious and civil rituals, and how the Chinese emphasis on predicting solar and lunar movements differed from the Western approach, which sought to understand the causes of celestial motions. Through detailed chapters, the book examines the foundations of ancient mathematics, observational and astronomical calculation methods, and the instruments invented by Chinese astronomers, such as armillary spheres and gnomons. Finally, it compares Chinese and Western astronomy, highlighting similarities and differences in methods, theories, and principles. The Mandate of Heaven: Astronomy in Ancient China offers a fascinating journey through millennia of Chinese astronomical history, enriching our understanding of this ancient tradition and its influence on world civilization.