The Foundations of Celestial Reckoning

The Foundations of Celestial Reckoning gives the reader direct access to the foundational documents of the tradition of calculation created by astronomers of the early Chinese empire between the late second century BCE and the third century CE. The paradigm they established was to shape East Asian thought and practice in the field of mathematical astronomy for centuries to come. It was in many ways radically different from better known traditions of astronomy in other parts of the ancient world.

Christopher Cullen is Emeritus Director of the Needham Research Institute, Emeritus Fellow of Darwin College, and Emeritus Honorary Professor of the University of Cambridge. He is editor of the Needham Research Institute Series (Routledge).

Chapter 1. General IntroductionA. The world of early imperial ChinaB. What was a li ?, and what did it do?C. How did a li work?D. DatesE. How was a li calculated?F. How were the data of a li determined?G. A note on translating computational proceduresH. Arrangement of the textI. Works consulted?Chapter 2. The Triple Concordance astronomical system: San tong li ???I. IntroductionA. An astronomical system and its creatorB. Structure of the systemC. Organisation of the textD. Text usedII. Text, translation and commentsA. Concordance constantsB. Sequence ConstantsC. The Five PacersD. Concordance WorkingsE. Sequence WorkingsF. Year WorkingsG. [The Twelve Stations]H. The 28 LodgesI. [The Nine Roads]J. [Concordances and Rule Heads]K. APPENDIX 1: Intercalations in theory and practice?Chapter 3. The Han Quarter Remainder system: Han si fen li ????I. IntroductionA. The system and its backgroundB. Authorship of the textC. Structure of the systemD. Organisation of the textE. Methods of calculationF. Text usedII. Text, translation and commentsA. Methods for [astronomical] systemsB. Basic solar and lunar constantsC. [Lunar eclipse constants]D. Procedures for sun and moonE. Planetary constantsF. Planetary ProceduresG. Planetary MotionsH. [Months, qi and lodges]I. [The solar table]J. The system originK. Discussion?Chapter 4. The Uranic Manifestation astronomical system: Qian xiang li???I. IntroductionA. Liu Hong and his work