Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009pobeo..86..355k&link_type=abstract
Publications of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, vol. 86, pp. 355-360
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
In this article we try to answer the question how and why did Chinese ancient astronomy came into being and how did one lonesome and original calendar system on the very end of the world develop. At the beginning, Chinese people distinguished time of the year by the annual cycles of plants and animals, but soon began to determine seasons by observing celestial bodies. Early successful measuring of tropical year and synodic month made possible for Chinese people to issue first calendars very early.
Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu) period (770 - 476 BC) brought forward first official calendars. Further improvement of calendars is due to the development of new astronomical instruments.
Chinese calendars also originate from the metaphysical concepts of Qi, Yin-Yang and 5 elements. 5 elements were connected with Chinese 5 seasons of the year and this was the first form of solar calendar. Later, it developed into solar calendar with 10 months.
In the next phase, Chinese calendar turned into lunisolar calendar which also has its evolution. Chinese people invented Calendar "with division by four" (the name of this calendar). They also added 24 solar terms to make calendar harmonize with natural cycles. Li Chunfeng rearranged intercalations and used month without main solar term and divided months into short and long months.
Sexagesimal system of time measuring refers to the system of Chinese 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches. Its purpose is to measure time and define years, months, days and hours.
Kostic N.
Segan S.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Chinese Calendars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Chinese Calendars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Chinese Calendars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1074783