Article ID: CBB395595446

Astronomical or political: Interpretation of comets in times of crisis in Qing China (2022)

unapi

By the late Qing dynasty, Western scientific learning had been disseminated among the Chinese literati. However, astronomical knowledge was still interpreted in the traditional Chinese astrological manner and served as an instrument in political affairs, especially in times of crisis. This paper examines controversies over astronomical observations between the proponents of traditional astrology and Western learning by presenting two cases of comet sightings. The first case is of a comet sighting between 1880 and 1882, and the second is of comets sighted before the Chinese Revolution of 1911. The reasons for the recurrence of ancient cometary prognostication in the early 20th century, when modern knowledge of comets was widespread in China, were explored as well.

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Authors & Contributors
Wang, Guangchao
Şen, Ahmet Tunç
Kay Young
Bruno-Chomin, Giuseppe
Robert, Jean-Noël
Marilina Gorelli
Concepts
Astronomy
Cross-cultural interaction; cultural influence
Astrology
Science and culture
Science and politics
East Asia, civilization and culture
Time Periods
Qing dynasty (China, 1644-1912)
17th century
Ming dynasty (China, 1368-1644)
Edo period (Japan, 1603-1868)
Early modern
Renaissance
Places
China
Europe
Japan
Greece
Eurasia
Syria
Institutions
Jesuits (Society of Jesus)
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