Astronomy of China and Japan

[Last update: 20 Jan. 2025.]
[Total entries: 93.]

Hia-siao-tching, that is to say: Small calendar of the Hia.
. . .

Work from the 22nd (?) century, preserved in fragments.


Star Catalog. [In Chinese]
OU-HIEN

This catalogue, from the 18th to the 17th century, is lost.


Liu-chi-tch’un-thsieou.
LU-PU-GUEI = LIU-POU-OUEY

Work on astronomy composed in the middle of the 2nd century. It is no longer in its entirety.


Astronomy of the Eastern Hans. [In Chinese.]
. . .
1er siècle.


Sse-fen, or: Quatuor principia.
LO-HIA-HONG & LIEOU-HIN

Astronomical treatise from the 1st century.


Kien-siang, or: Imago coeli.
LIEOU-HONG & TSAY-YONG

Uranography from the beginning of the 3rd century.


Leih fa wan ta, or: Conversations on Astronomy.
. . .
[Beijing, early 18th century.]

Part I, Jih chen, the course of the Sun; part II, Yue le, the course of the moon; part III and IV, Wan chih, the science of eclipses; part V, Hang sing, on ixed stars; part. VI et VII, Woo hwyy, on the five planets.


Lun yn chi tien, or: Codex ubi sumitur sensus rotationis (temporum).


Mathematicians and Astronomers of China and Foreign Countries. [In Chinese.]
10 vols., end of 18th Century.
. . .

A work divided into 46 chapters, in which are reviewed the works of mathematicians and astronomers, both from China and abroad, from the most remote times. Forty-one scholars foreign to China are named there.

1521

Wen hian thong khao, or: In-depth research of ancient monuments. [J]
MA-TOUAN-LIN
100 vol., Chinese, Beijing.

Section XXI deals with astronomy and contains, among other things, a catalogue of ancient eclipses.

1580

Tien ven ta tching, or: Coeli scientiae magnum opus.
HOANG-LO-GAN = HOAM-TIM-YO = HOANG-TIM-YO-ULH
24 books in 12 small volumes collected in 2 cases, Peking, circa 1580.
HOANG-LO-GAN = HOAM-TIM-YO = HOANG-TIM-YO-ULH

Partly astrological work, exclusively Chinese. In vol. I, after the preface, we see a list of five hundred Chinese astronomers or astrologers. Numerous figures serve to illustrate the appearances of the celestial sphere and the aspects of the planets.
[ = MCz, XXVIII, 1813, 309 ]

1587

Ye lun kuam y [Yue ling kouang hi], or: Lunarum ordinationis lata expositio.
8 vol., Pekini.
LU-PU-GUEI = LIU-POU-OUEY

Composed around the year -150. Modern edition, augmented by the commentaries of Chu-ven-kum of the 13th century, those later of Hum-ym-kin, and finally those of Tai-gin of the 16th century, disciple of the preceding.

1590

Treatise on Astronomy. [In Chinese.]
1 vol., Manilla, 1590?
COBO, J.

1600

Coelestis ac terrestris sphaerae explanatio. [In Chinese.]
2 vols. around 1600.
RICCI, M.


Cosmographicae et astrologicae praeceptiones. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1600.
RICCI, M.

1612

Planisphaerium. [In Chinese.]
Plano, Pekini, around 1612.
URSIS, S. DE

1620

De ascensionibus rectis. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1620.
TERRENTIUS, J.


De declinatione eclipticae ab aequatore. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1620.
TERRENTIUS, J.


De mensuris coeli. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1620.
TERRENTIUS, J.


Youan thian tchou choue or : Tractatus de sphaera coelesti.
Peking, around 1620.
YANG-MA-NAO = DIAZ, EMMANUEL

This is elementary astronomy. The author’s name, on the title, is the Chinese name of E. Diaz.

1625

Chun kay thung chian thu schue, or: De sphaerae rectae constructione et eclipsibus.
2 vols. Chinese, Pekini, around 1625.
TERRENTIUS, J.


Tien muen, or: Coeli porta.
2 vols., Peking, around 1625.
YANG-MA-NAO = DIAZ, EMMANUEL

Treatise on astronomy.


Tien muen lio, or: Coeli porta parva.
1 vol., Peking, around 1625.
YANG-MA-NAO = DIAZ, EMMANUEL

Abridged treatise on astronomy.


De astronomia ad imperatorem sinicum ante incursionem tartarorum. [In Chinese.]
8 vols., Pekini, around 1625.
[RHÒ, G & SCHALL, J. A.]


Tabulae motus solaris. [In Chinese.]
8 vols., Pekini.
[RHÒ, G.]

Preceded by the theory of the movements of the Sun.


The sphere of the world, taught by a good method. [In Chinese.]
Peking, around 1625 or 1630.
VAGNONI, A.


De dimensione coeli et Terrae. [In Chinese.]
2 vols., Pekini, between 1625 and 1630.
[RHÒ, G.]


Theorica Lunae cum tabuils lunaribus. [In Chinese.]
8 vols., Pekini, between 1625 and 1630.
[RHÒ, G. & SCHALL, J. A.]


De motu quinque planetarum, cum eorum tabulis. [In Chinese.]
11 vols., Pekini, between 1625 and 1630.
[RHÒ, G.]

1627

Yven kim xue, or: Dissertatio de specillis longe prospicientibus.
1 vol., Pekini.
[SCHALL, J. A.]

1630

Epistolium ex regno Sinarum ad mathematicos Europaeos missum, cum commentatiuncola J. Keppleri; Ejusdem, ex Ephemeride anni 1630, de insigni defectu Solis apotelsmata calculi Rudolphini.
4°, Sagani Silesiae, 1630.
TERRENTIUS, J.

[ = Cas, V, 1821, 148]


Examen eclipsium modernorum et veterum europaeorum in cancoinando kalendario methodus. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1630.
[RHÒ, G. & SCHALL, J. A.]

Work intended to show the Chinese the accuracy and superiority of European astronomical tables.


Theoria eclipsium Solis ac Lunae. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1630.
[RHÒ, G & SCHALL, J. A.]


Uranomica cum omnibus asterismis et tabulis. [In Chinese.]
8 vols., Pekini, around 1630; with eight sheets of celestial maps forming two large hemispheres.
[RHÒ, G. & SCHALL, J. A.]


Tabulae eclipsium Solis et Lunae, et usus earum. [In Chinese.]
9 vols., Pekini, between 1630 and 1635.
[RHÒ, G. & SCHALL, J. A.]

Tables preceded by a theory.


Ad quinque planetarum ordines manuductio. [In Chinese.]
9 vols., Pekini, between 1630 and 1635.
[RHÒ, G. & SCHALL, J. A.]


Omnes tabulae ad absolutum Solis calculum spectantes. [In Chinese.]
2 vols., Pekini, between 1630 and 1635.
[RHÒ, G.]


Tabulae ad absolutum Lunae calculum spectantes. [In Chinese.]
4 vols., Pekini, between 1630 and 1635.
[RHÒ, G.]

1631

Compendium reformationis kalendarii sinici. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, 1631.
[RHÒ, G.]

1635

Compendiosa introductio ad astronomiam. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1635.
[SCHALL, J. A., RHÒ, G. & PAULUS, C.]

Complete Chinese Astronomy. The main author, J. A. Schall, was assisted by several missionaries and Chinese scholars.


Libelli suppplices in favorem astronomiae europaeae. [In Chinese.]
4 vols., Pekini, around 1635.
[SCHALL, J. A.]

Comparison of European astronomy with that of China.


Solis occidentis et orientis, seu noticium et dierum divisio per quadrantes et minuta. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1635.
[RHÒ, G.]


Norma zodiaci. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1635.
[RHÒ, G]

1640

Tabulae ad fixarum calculum spectantes. [In Chinese.]
5 vols., Pekini, about 1640.
[SCHALL, J. A.]


Theoria fixarum. [In Chinese.]
4 vols., Pekini, about 1640.
[SCHALL, J. A.]


Brevis ratio calculandi eclipses. [In Chinese.]
2 vols., Pekini, between 1640 and 1650.
[SCHALL, J. A.]


Compendium utriusque sphaerae. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, between 1640 and 1650.
[SCHALL, J. A.]


Stellarum fixarum ortus et occasus. [In Chinese.]
2 vols., Pekini, between 1640 and 1650.
[SCHALL, J. A.]

1645

Tsong tsching lie schu [Cum chin li xu], or: Imperatoris Tchongking cursus dierum.
1 vol., Pekini, between 1645 and 1650.
[SCHALL, J. A.]

Treatise on the calendar.


Usus sphaerae, circini proportionalis, telescopii, etc. [In Chinese.]
5 vols., Pekini, between 1645 and 1650.
[SCHALL, J. A.]


De astronomia ad imperatorem tartarum. [In Chinese]
4 vols., Pekini, between 1645 and 1650.
[SCHALL, J. A.]

Principia dimensionum et disceptatio astronomica. [In Chinese.]
7 vols., Pekini, between 1645 and 1650.
[SCHALL, J. A.]

1660

Index librorum astronomicorum a Ptolomeo, Copernico, Tychone editorum. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, around 1660.
[SCHALL, J. A.]

1663

Y-siang tu, eulh kiven, or: Regularum et schematum tabula duobus libris.[J]
14 vols. Chinese text and 2 plates, Pekini, 1663.
VERBIEST, F.

Theory and use of astronomical instruments.

1665

Compendium coeli observationibus et mensuris. [In Chinese.]
2 vols., Pekini, around 1665.
VERBIEST, F.

1668

Libri organici astronomiae apud Sinas restitutae sub imperatore Cam-Hi appellato.
4 vols. fol., Pechini, 1668; many figs.
VERBIEST, F.

On Chinese paper, the leaves of which are printed on one side only; 9 leaves of Latin discourse, followed by 125 leaves of figures, with the explanation in Chinese on each of them.


Astronomia et mechanica, sive de theoria et fabrica instrumentorum astronomicorum et mechanicorum.
Fol., Pekini, 1668.
VERBIEST, F.

1669

Typus eclipsis solaris anno 1669 aprilis 29 ad meridianum pekinensem, necnon imago adumbrata diversorum digitorum in singulis sinensis imperii provinciis observatorum. [In Chinese.]
4°, Pekini, 1669.
VERBIEST, F.


Hi-tchao-ting-yen, san-kiven, or: Imperatorum majorum firma sententia, tribus libris.
[Pekini], 1669.
VERBIEST, F.

Judgment of the Beijing court in favor of European astronomy.


Responsa ad dubia proposita circa ephemerides. [In Chinese.]
Pekini, 1669 (?).
[SCHALL, J. A.]

1670

Kia cu hoei ki.
Pekini, around 1670.
. . .

Table of Chinese 60-year cycles, with the correspondence of years for all times.


Calendrier ecclésiastique perpétuel. [In Chinese.]
1 vol., Pekini, 1670 (?).
COUPLET, P.

1671

Typus eclipsis Lunae anno Christi 1671, imperatoris Cum-Hy decimo, die XV lunae 11, id est XXV martii ad meridianum pekinensem, necnon imago adumbrata diversorum digitorum horizonte observatorum in singulis imperii sinensis provinciis, tempore quo Luna in singulis oritur. [In Chinese.]
Pekini.
VERBIEST, F.

1674

Fragmentum historiae sinicae eclipsi quoad… solari cum lectione mandarinorum; accedit de eclipsi passionali.
Fol., 1674.
. . .

1683

Kang-hi yung nien lie fa, san xe eulh kiven, or: Kang-hi imperatoris in perpetuos annos astronomica norma, XXXII libris.
Pekini, 1683.
VERBIEST, F.

Tables of planets and eclipses of the Sun and Moon calculated for 2000 years ahead.

1685

Kien-ping-quey, cung-sing-tu, or: Folium planum directionum, universarumque stellarum tabula.
Plano, Pekini, vers 1685.
. . .

Celestial planisphere.


Che-tao nan-pe-sing-tù, or : Aequatoris, australium ac septentrionalium stellarum tabula.
Plano, Pekini, around 1685.
. . .

Chinese celestial map of the two hemispheres, with the telescopic figures of the planets’ disks.

1687

Astronomia europaea, sub imperatore Tartaro-Sinico Cam-Hy appellato, ex umbrâ in lucem revocata.
4°, Dilingae, 1687; 126 pages.
VERBIEST, F.

The figures are those of the previous work, the text of which is not very different.

1710

Observationes mathematicae et physicae in Indiâ et Chinâ factae ab anno 1684 ad ann. 1708, unâ cum mappâ stellarum australium, quae in altitudine poli borei 50 graduum nunquam suprâ horizontem ascendunt, recentibus observationibus confecta.
4°, Pragae, 1710.
NOEL, F.

The observations are mostly determinations of geographical positions, made from 1684 to 1708. There is also a catalogue of 352 southern stars, and a synonymy of the Chinese stars and constellations compared to our nomenclature. This last work was copied, without indicating the source, by J. de Guignes in Paris, Mpr1, X, 1785, appendix.

1711

Fang sing thou kiaï, or: Explicatio planispherii coelestis.
Plano, [Peking], 1711; 6 sheets.
NIN-MING-‘O = GRIMALDI, P.

The positions of the stars are taken from the 6 plates of the Globi coelestis in tabulas planas redacti descriptio, fol., Parisiis, 1674, by I. G. Pardies, which form the six faces of a cube circumscribed to the sphere. The names of the stars and constellations are those used by the Chinese, written in Chinese characters. The name of the author given on the title is the Chinese name of P. Grimaldi

1718

De eclipsi sinica liber singularis; Sinarum de eclipsi Solis quae Christo in crucem acto facta esse creditur, judicium examinans et momento suo ponderans.
4°, Regiomonti, 1718.
BAYER, T. S.

1729

Observations mathématiques, astronomiques, géographiques, chronologiques et physiques, tirées des anciens livres chinois, ou faites nouvellement aux Indes et à la Chine par les Pères de la Compagnie de Jésus.
3 vols. 4°, Paris, 1729-32.
SOUCIET, E.

In vol. II, 1732, p. 1, we have a Histoire abrégée de l’astronomie chinois, by A. Gaubil.
Vol. III, 1732, is dedicated to the Traité de l’astronomie chinoise by A. Gaubil. This work includes (p. 1) a history of astronomy in China from the first centuries of the Chinese monarchy to the year 206 BCE, a history reproduced separately and with corrections by the author in the 2nd and subsequent editions of Lettres édifiantes et curieux; (p. 150) the description of Chinese astronomical methods; (p. 211) a memoir on the calculation of eclipses for different places in China; (p. 220) the description of the method used by the Chinese to calculate the movement of the five planets; (p. 235) a catalogue of solar eclipses taken from Chinese works; (p. 367) observations of lunar eclipses.

1735

De horis sinicis et cyclo horario commentationes accedit eiusdem auctores parergon sinicum de calendariis sinicis, ubi etiam quaedam in doctrina temporum sinica emendatur.
4°, Petropoli, 1735; 8 pl.
BAYER, T. S.

1764

Lettres au P. Parrenin contenant diverses questions sur la Chine.
8°, Paris, 1764.
MAIRAN, J. J. D. de

(check for a 1759 edition)

Other editions:

8°, Paris, 1770.

8°, Paris, 1782; under the title: Lettres d’un missionaire de Pékin.

It contains a dissertation on the 600-year lunisolar period.

1770

Opuscula ad historiam, antiquitatem, chronologiam, geographiam, et rem numariam spectantia.
8°, Halae, 1770; published by C. A. Klotz[ius].
BAYER, T. S.

This volume contains T. S. Bayer’s pamphlets on Chinese astronomy.
= Cas, V, 1821, 150.

1773

Erklärung eines kaiserlichen Jahrbuchs von Japan.
8°, Gottingen, 1773.
BUTTNER, C. W.

1776

Mémoires concernant l’histoire, les sciences, les arts, les moeurs, les usages etc. des Chinois: Par les Missionaires de Péking.
16 vols. 4°, Paris, 1776-1816.
. . .

Written by the missionaries of the Society of Jesus, notably by C. Batteux, continued by C. L. J. de Guignes and by de Bréquigny. This work contains interesting details on astronomers and astronomy in China.

1780

Histoire de l’astronomie chinoise depuis le commencement de la monarchie chinoise jusqu’à l’an 206 avant Jésus-Christ.
Inserted in the Lettres édifiantes et curieuses écrites des missions étrangères par quelques missionnaires de la Compagnie de Jésus, nouv. édit., 26 vols. 12°, Paris, 1780-1783; in vol. XXVI, p. 65.
GAUBIL, A.

Other editions:

14 vols. 8°, Lyon et Paris, 1819; in vol. XIV.

40 vols. 12°, Paris, 1829-32; in vol. XL.

4 vol. 8°, Paris, 1838, in the collection of Panthéon littéraire; in vol. IV, p. 453.

1819

Chinese names of stars and constellations, collected at the request of Dr. Morrison for his chinese dictionary.
4°, Canton, 1819; with a celestial map.
REEVES, J.

Followed by the Dictionary of the Chinese Language by J. R. Morrison, 3 vols. 4°, Macao, 1815-23. These synonyms have been reproduced in the form of a catalogue in J. Bentley, A historical view of the hindu astronomy, 4°, Calcutta, 1823; reprinted 8°, London, 1825.
= JdS2, 1821, 391.

1820

Youan thian thou choue [Yuen hwan been too shwo], or: Explication du tableau de la sphère céleste.
3 vols. fol, Canton, 1820-24.
LI MING TCHE

1831

Untersuchungen über die Ursprünglichkeit und Alterthümlichkeit der Sternkunde unter den Chinesen und Indiern und über den Einfluß der Griechen auf den Gang ihrer Ausbildung.
8°, Berlin, 1831.
STUHR, P. F.

1862

Lettres à M. Th. Benfey.
8°, Paris, 1862.
BIOT, J. B.

Two letters on the Nakshatras of the Hindus, reproduced in the Studies on Indian Astronomy and on Chinese Astronomy, by the same author. The first had been printed in the journal Orient und Occident, t. I, 4th cah.


Études sur l’astronomie indienne et sur l’astronomie chinoise.
8°, Paris, 1862.
BIOT, J. B.

Reprinted articles from JdS3, 1859, 197…; 1860, 479…; 1861, 284…
= ARr, V, 1867, 186. – C. FLAMMARION, Études et lectures sur l’astronomie, 9 vols. 12°, Paris; in tome III, 1872, p. 238.

1871

Observations of comets, from B. C. 611 to A. D. 1640, extracted from the Chinese annals, translated, with introductory remarks, and an Appendix comprising the tables necessary for reducing Chinese time to european reckoning; and a Chinese celestial atlas.
4°, London, 1871.
WILLIAMS, J.

= EMc, XV, 1872, 4.

1873

Notizie di astrologia Giapponese raccolte da libri originali.
4°, Genova, 1873.
SEVERINI, A.

1875

Sing chin khao youen, Uranographie chinoise, ou prevues directes que l’astronomie primitive est originaire de la Chine, et qu’elle a été empruntée par les anciens peuples occidentaux à la sphère chinoise.
2 vols. 8° and atlas plano, La Haye et Leyde, 1875.
SCHLEGEL, G.

= JdS3, 1875, 557 (by J. Bertrand). – Leipzig, Vjh, XII, 1877, 28 (by S. Günther).

1878

The Mongol astronomical instruments in Peking.
8°, Leide, 1878.
WYLIE, A.

1881

Chinese researches; part. I, Chinese chronology and cycles.
8°, London, 1881.
FERGUSON, T.

Citazioni, spunti, segnalazioni, immagini e articoli per stimolare la curiosità e la voglia di approfondire.