The Chinese Astronomical Bureau, 1620–1850: Lineages, Bureaucracy and Technical Expertise (Needham Research Institute Series)

This book offers a new insight into one of the most interesting and long-lived institutions known to historians of science, the Chinese imperial Astronomical Bureau, which for two millennia observed, recorded, interpreted and predicted the movements of the celestial bodies. Utilising archival material, such as the résumés written for imperial audiences and personnel administration records, the book traces the rise and fall of more than thirty hereditary families serving at the Astronomical Bureau from the late Ming period to the end of the Qing dynasty. The book also presents an in-depth view into the organisation and function of the Bureau and succinctly charts the impacts of historical developments during the Ming and Qing periods, including the Regency of Prince Dorgon, the influence of the Jesuits, the relationship between the Kangxi and Yongzheng emperors and the He family and the failure of the bureau to predict correctly the solar eclipse of 1730. Presenting a social history of the Qing Astronomical Bureau from the perspective of hereditary astronomer families, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of Chinese Imperial history, the history of science and Asian history. Contents 11 Tables 13 Figures 14 Acknowledgements 15 1. Introduction 17 2. The Organization of the Qiang Astronomical Bureau 32 3. From the Old Method to the New Method 51 4. Kangxi Calendar Dispute 84 5. Emperors and the He Brothers 115 6. The Solar Eclipse of 1730 142 7. Knowledge Reproduction 160 8. Maintaining a Familial Career 177 9. The Decline of Missionary Influence and the Nineteenth-Century Reforms of the Astronomical Bureau 198 10. Conclusion 216 Appendix A: Reconstructed Family Tree of the Baos 220 Appendix B: The Ge Family 221 Appendix C: The He Family 224 Appendix D: The Zhou Family 227 Appendix E: The Huang Family 228 Appendix F: The Si Family 229 Appendix G: Register of Metropolitan Officials According to the Shunzhi Imperial Screen 231 Appendix H: Units Used in the Qing Era 235 Index 237