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A History of Japanese Astronomy: Chinese Background and Western Impact
This first comprehensive history in a Western language of the development of Japanese astronomy has interest beyond its immediate subject area, for astronomy has often been the focus of the transmission of a wide range of scientific ideas from one culture to another, and, concomitantly, the focus of conflict between opposing modes of thought.
In its earlier phases, Japanese astronomy was completely dominated by Chinese concepts. The author begins his study with a description of the three major aspects of Chinese astronomy--astrology, calendar-making, cosmology--and its influence in Japan from the sixth to the early sixteenth centuries. Up to now little has been known outside the East of the slow evolution of Chinese astronomy during this era.
Mr. Nakayama goes on in Part II to examine the period between the late sixteenth and early eighteenth centuries in which Western ideas challenged the Chinese tradition in Japan. In Part III, which covers the years between the mid-eighteenth and the late nineteenth centuries, the author traces the growing recognition in Japan of the supremacy of Western astronomy.
Mr. Nakayama explains the historical background, with particular emphasis on the accessibility of foreign ideas at different times. Pointing out that, although technical astronomical data are essentially the same regardless of origin, their interpretation is largely determined by cultural factors, the author thoroughly examines the superimposition of Western cosmology on the radically different Chinese modes of thought prevalent in Japan. His study provides evidence on which aspects of Western astronomy were truly universal and which solely Western.
In its earlier phases, Japanese astronomy was completely dominated by Chinese concepts. The author begins his study with a description of the three major aspects of Chinese astronomy--astrology, calendar-making, cosmology--and its influence in Japan from the sixth to the early sixteenth centuries. Up to now little has been known outside the East of the slow evolution of Chinese astronomy during this era.
Mr. Nakayama goes on in Part II to examine the period between the late sixteenth and early eighteenth centuries in which Western ideas challenged the Chinese tradition in Japan. In Part III, which covers the years between the mid-eighteenth and the late nineteenth centuries, the author traces the growing recognition in Japan of the supremacy of Western astronomy.
Mr. Nakayama explains the historical background, with particular emphasis on the accessibility of foreign ideas at different times. Pointing out that, although technical astronomical data are essentially the same regardless of origin, their interpretation is largely determined by cultural factors, the author thoroughly examines the superimposition of Western cosmology on the radically different Chinese modes of thought prevalent in Japan. His study provides evidence on which aspects of Western astronomy were truly universal and which solely Western.
- GenresHistory Of Science
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 18, 2022
An excellent book with some very fascinating details. I was intrigued particularly by:
1. The existence of almost - flat earth - cosmologies in oriental antiquity.
2. How late the sphericity of the Earth was adopted in various parts of the orient.
3. How Japanese Astronomy failed to develop due to a variety of reasons and was further stunted by the ban of Christianity in the 1630s.
The appendices contain some mathematical analysis for anyone wanting to go into more depth, while the main text remains accessible to the layman. The one
1. The existence of almost - flat earth - cosmologies in oriental antiquity.
2. How late the sphericity of the Earth was adopted in various parts of the orient.
3. How Japanese Astronomy failed to develop due to a variety of reasons and was further stunted by the ban of Christianity in the 1630s.
The appendices contain some mathematical analysis for anyone wanting to go into more depth, while the main text remains accessible to the layman. The one
Displaying 1 of 1 review