Screen LibraryAstronomy and calendars : the other Chinese mathematics 104 BC - AD 1644 /
"Presented from the viewpoint of the history of mathematics, this book explores both epistemological aspects of Chinese traditional mathematical astronomy and lunisolar calendrical calculations. The following issues are addressed: (1) connections with non-Chinese cultural areas; (2) the possibi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | |
|---|---|
| Published: |
Springer,
|
| Publisher Address: | Berlin : |
| Publication Dates: | [2016] |
| Literature type: | Book |
| Language: |
English French |
| Subjects: | |
| Summary: |
"Presented from the viewpoint of the history of mathematics, this book explores both epistemological aspects of Chinese traditional mathematical astronomy and lunisolar calendrical calculations. The following issues are addressed: (1) connections with non-Chinese cultural areas; (2) the possibility or impossibility of using mathematics to predict astronomical phenomena, a question that was constantly raised by the Chinese from antiquity through medieval times; (3) the modes of representation of numbers, and in particular the zero, found in the context of Chinese calendrical calculations; and (4) a detailed analysis of lunisolar calendrical calculations. Fully worked-out examples and comparisons between the results of calculations and the content of Chinese historical calendars from various periods are provided... The present English language edition is a fully revised and updated version of the French original. Even though this is a research monograph in sinology, no particular sinological background is required, although a basic understanding of 'concrete mathematics' is needed."--Publisher's description. |
| Item Description: | Originally published: Le calendrier chinois : structure et calculs, 104 av. J.C. - 1644 (Honoré Champion, 2009). |
| Carrier Form: | xxxv, 471 pages : illustrations, forms ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and indexes. |
| ISBN: |
9783662497173 (hardback) : 3662497174 (hardback) 9783662497180 (electronic bk.) 3662497182 (electronic bk.) |
| Index Number: | CE37 |
| CLC: | K892.18-05 |
| Call Number: | K892.18-05/M388 |
| Contents: | Chinese astronomical canons and calendars. Preliminary observations ; Description of the Chinese calendar -- Calculations. Numbers and calculations ; Mean elements ; True elements (618)-1280) ; Later astronomical canons ; Mo and mie days -- Examples of calculations. The quarter-remainder canon ; The luminous inception canon ; The manifest enlightenment canon ; The great unification canon ; Mo and mie days -- Afterthoughts -- Appendices. |