Studies in the History of Natural Sciences 　NO.3 2000

WORSHIP OF MOUNT TAIBAI AND DROUGHT IN THE CENTRAL SHAANXI PLAIN……ZHANG Xiaohong ZHANG Weiran

【Abstract】 This paper attempts to analyze the evolution and distribution of worship for Mount Taibai in the Central Shaanxi Plain from behavioural geography.As the tallest mount of the Qin Mountains,Mount Taibai had been worshipped by people since the Han dynasty.From the Tang dynasty to the Qing dynasty,the worship of Mount Taibai spread to everywhere in the Central Shaanxi Plain.After studying the evolution and distribution of worship for Mount Taibai,it is found that the people's cognition of the formation of rain caused by drought through offering sacrifices to the God of Mount Taibai became prevalent so that more and more temples for Mount Taibai came to be built by the native people.

CONCERNING THE DISEASE JIAO QI IN ANCIENT CHINA AND ITS HISTORICAL RESEARCH……LIAO Yuqun

【Abstract】 Proceeding from the author's personal experience and the fact that the modern Chinese people almost do not know what the disease Jiao Qi or beriberi means, this paper is the first to raise the question:“What is the actual prevalence of beriberi in China which is explained by modern medicine as due to the lack of vitamin B1?” Through investigation, the paper reveals that beriberi was prevalent usually under special conditions, not only caused by eating rice. Therefore, this disease was not an epidemic in China as many works said. In this case, the author must give an explanation to what disease the Jiao Qi recorded in a lot of traditional medical books, which showed almost the same symptoms as beriberi,is. Multiple neuritis is the essence of beriberi according to modern pathology, but multiple neuritis is not caused only by beriberi. Just because for this reason, such symptoms as beriberi could appear in some other illnesses including metal poisoning and syphilis. Hence, a complete new explanation might be given to the disease named Jiao Qi in traditional Chinese medicine because it seems more or less to have some relationship with Jin Dan, as well as other reasons told in this paper.

【Abstract】 There are many different explanations for the“ ci ”artic1e in Mo Jing (Mohist Canons). This paper sorts these explanations into four kinds to analyze and examine, then gives its own explanation, and points out that the article is a direct evidence for the idea of the Mohist School about the summability of indivisibles. Further more, it discusses the impact of this idea on ancient Chinese mathematical methods and its historical significance.

RESEARCH ON THE ADOPTION YEARS OF XIA XIAO ZHENG……HU Tiezhu

【Abstract】 Xia Xiao Zheng ,the earliest extant Chinese calendar, determines the months by observing star positions and by phenology. Scholars have different opinions on the time of its use .The purpose of this paper is to calculate the adopting years of Xia Xiao Zheng according to the astronomical phenomena recorded in it. The 17 star positions which appeared in twilight of the months are divided into 3 parts: the first part concerns stars passing through the meridian, the second part deals with stars appearing in the morning or disappearing in the evening, and the third part is about the directions of constellations. After calculating the average time from the first part on the principle of precession, the second and the third parts are analyzed, and since these two latter parts are match to the average time mentioned above, it may be concluded that all the astronomical phenomena in the Xia Xiao Zheng could be seen in the same time, and the calendar could be used from Xia (about 2000 BC) to Zhou(about 1000 BC) .But more evidences are needed if we want to conform that Xia Xiao Zheng originated from the Xia Dynasty.

THE CONCEPT OF THE CENTER OF THE EARTH IN CHINESE ASTRONOMICAL HISTORY

……GUAN Zengjian

【Abstract】 The concept of the center of the earth is an important integral part of the theories concerning cosmic structure in ancient China Ancient people thought that the earth was flat and that its size was limited, so the concept of the earth′s center emerged naturally There were lots of accounts about the exact location of the center of the earth as a result of applying different theories The theory of “canopy heavens”and the theory of “sphere heavens”were the two most important ones, and exerted great influence upon the development of astronomy The school of canopy heavens claimed that the earth′s center was right underneath the heavenly north pole, while the school of sphere heavens asserted that the earth′s center was in no other place than Luoyang or Yangcheng The concept of the center of earth played a certain role in helping the theory of sphere heavens to prevail over the theory of canopy heavens The close attention paid by people to the concept of the earth′s center stimulated some important events in the history of Chinese astronomy The concept of the earth′s center continued until the Ming Dynasty Its abandonment was brought about by the general acceptance of the new theory introduced into China by Western missionaries that the earth is a ball

ON THE ORIGIN OF “MORI” AND “MIERI”……OHASHI Yukio

【Abstract】 The special days called “mori” and “mieri” first appeared in the Later Han Sifen Calendar They may be a kind of remnant of the introduction of ancient Indian intercalation, but at that time Indian influence was only fragmentary, and the meaning of these days became obscure The method of the intercalation in ancient India can be seen in the Artha ′sāstra (II 20 65 66)etc During the Tang dynasty, Yi Xing changed the meaning of “mieri” in his Dayan Calendar ,and it came to be similar to the “omitted tithi” in Indian calendar This change may also be a result of Indian influence

EIGHT DIAGRAMS AND THE BINARY SYSTEM——AND IN CONSULTATION WITH MR.WEI ANMING……KE Zineng

【Abstract】 This paper states that the explantion of the eight diagrams as a kind of no zero binary counting systen by Mr.Wei Anming was a new invention, having no original basis. Now the academic circles have reached consensus that the eight diagrams themselves are a binary system, and the key to the argument about the eight diagrams and the binary system is if the ancient Chinese had been aware of it. it says that the ancient Chinese had been aware of it no later than the Northern Song Dynasty, in the works about Change by Shao Yong.

ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA OF WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY AND ABSOLUTE CHRONOLOGY

……Eun Hee LEE

【Abstract】 According to the astronomical records of the later yin and the Western Zhou dynasties, we have estimated the year of King Wu’s conquest and the chronology of western Zhou. By using the records on the conjunction of the five planets and the year of Jupiter passing in the Chunhuo constellation and Gan Zhi for the Moon’s phase, we have obtained that the first year of King Wen was 1058 BC and the year of King Wu’s conquest was 1046 BC. When we considered that the “double dawn”phenomenon was the solar eclipse of Zheng province at dawn, the first year of King Yi was calculated to be 903 BC or probably 925 BC.

A NEW ACHIEVEMENT IN THE STUDY OF JIUZHANG SUANSHU: A BRIEF REVIEW OF NINE CHAPTERS ON THE MATHEMATICAL ART, COMPANION AND COMMENTARY BY SHEN KANGSHEN ET AL.……LI Di , GUO Shirong

【Abstract】 This paper gives a review of Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, Companion and Commentary by Shen Kangshen in collaboration with J.N.Crossley and Anthony W.-C. Lun. In the beginning the paper overviews briefly the Russian, Japanese, English, German and French translations of Jiuzhang Suanshu during the past 50 years. Then it introduces the whole process in the preparation of the book. The paper focuses on the content and quality of the translation, and gives some examples to show how the authors carefully select words and special terms appropriately corresponding to (Chinese and the equivalent English. There are also in it some passages to )indicate that the translation work is indeed trustworthy, faithful and elegant. Finally,the paper sums up the merits of the Book in gathering togethering all that is good in Jiuzhang Suanshu itself, Liu Hui′s & Li Chunfeng ′s Commentaries and the Sea Island Manual, as well as in providing a lot of supplementary materials and new notes.