Early Chinese AstronomyEarly Chinese Astronomy
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Early Chinese Astronomy

Chinese astronomy has a rich and interesting past with many amazing observations and inventions made during that era. The astronomers of the then China were among the most keen and persistent observers of all times. Astronomical activities started in China as early as in the fourth century B.C., at the time of the Warring States, and much details have been uncovered from the Han period of China.
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In ancient times, Chinese astronomers concentrated on observing circumpolar stars, their main objective being timekeeping. The calendar followed at that time was luni-solar calendar that is based on movements of both the sun and the moon. Intercalation was done to merge the differences between the cycles of the two elements. Astronomical divination also developed during that era. Careful observations of “guest stars” which seemed to appear suddenly among the constant ones were done. The Crab Nebula was observed by this careful gazing in the year 1054, which is why today it is called the SN 1054.

The Ancient Beijing Observatory was built by a Ming Dynasty ruler of China named Zhengtong during 1436-1449, in the southeastern side of the Great Wall of China. It housed eight of the bronze astronomical instruments of the Qing Dynasty. The “oracle” bones served as an important source of the astronomical history of China. These bones were made out of shells of tortoise and bones of other animals and the astronomical findings were inscribed upon them.

The observations in ancient China were done by appointing five observers at a time to keep an eye on all four directions and on top, each from the Chinese observatory and then reporting back to the Astronomical Bureau which lasted from 206 B.C. to 1912 A.D., the longest lived bureau of any kind in the world.

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Early Chinese Astronomy

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