Article
ID: CBB592146900

The eclipse of 21 June 1629 in Beijing in the context of the reform of the Chinese calendar (2020)

unapi
Science and politics Calendars Eclipses; transits; occultations; conjunctions 17th century Beijing (China) Jesuits (Society of Jesus)

This paper examines the predictions made by Chinese, Muslim and Jesuit astronomers of the eclipse of 21 June 1629 in Beijing, allegedly the event that determined Emperor Chongzhen's resolution to reform the calendar using the Western method. In order to establish the accuracy of these predictions, as reported at the time by the Chinese scholar and convert Xu Guangqi, we have compared them with an accurate reconstruction of the eclipse made at NASA. In contrast with current opinions, we argue that the prediction made by the Jesuits was indeed the most accurate. It was in fact instrumental in dissipating Chongzhen's doubts about the need to entrust Jesuit missionaries serving at the Chinese court with the task of reforming the calendar, leading to the first important scientific collaboration between Europe and China.

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Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB592146900/

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Authors & Contributors
Gislén, Lars
Witzel, Michael
Jo, Sokhyo
Soonthornthum, Boonrucksar
Statman, Alexander
Haohao Zhu
Journals
Ziran Kexueshi Yanjiu (Studies in the History of Natural Sciences)
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
Journal for the History of Astronomy
Annals of Science: The History of Science and Technology
Journal of Jesuit Studies
Revue d'Histoire des Sciences
Publishers
University of Texas Press
L'Erma di Bretschneider
Brepols Publishers
Harvard University
Concepts
Astronomy
Calendars
Eclipses; transits; occultations; conjunctions
Cross-cultural interaction; cultural influence
Astronomical chronology
Missionaries and missions
People
Loureiro, João de
Yang, Guangxian
Mattioli, Pietro Andrea
Xue, Fengzuo
Shibukawa, Shunkai
Liu Hong
Time Periods
17th century
18th century
Qing dynasty (China, 1644-1912)
Ancient
Edo period (Japan, 1603-1868)
Early modern
Places
China
Beijing (China)
Thailand
Japan
Myanmar (Burma)
St. Petersburg (Russia)
Institutions
Jesuits (Society of Jesus)
National Library of China
Académie des Sciences, Paris
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