"domain Transfer" The New Exploration

The regulation of calendar and the observation of celestial phenomena have long been treasured in China's long history.Most of China's official dynastic histories contain sections of Calenar Calculation and Astronomical Observation even since Shih-chi(Records of the Grand Historian).However the practice of calendar regulation and celestial observation were strictly controlled by the court most of the time.The situation changed when the Jesuits missionary introduced into China the methods and sciences of Europe.They were able to secure collaborators in compelling new works and in translating a number of European books,thereby infusing the new methods and knowledge into the traditional studies of calendar and astronomy in China.The support from Emperor K'ang-hsi and his successors,and the academic focus of the later Ch'ien-chia school led to the flourish of the studies of calendar and astronomy.It is in this background as well,Juan Yuan,the well-known scholar as well as a talented statesman started to compile Ch'ou-Jen Chuan(Biographies of Astronomers and Mathematicians).Juan Yuan is not a specialist either in the domain of astronomy or in that of mathematics himself,but he was able to have the assistance of various able scholars of his time.The present dissertation provides a historical survey of the editing process of Ch'ou-jen Chuan and its connections with the development of the studies of calendar regulation and astronomical observation in Ch'ing Dynasty.The first chapter examines the reaction of Juan Yuan's contemporary scholars and the research works of the later researchers,as well as the shift of academic interests in difference times. The second chapter presents the editing process of Ch'ou-jen Chuan and the major reference material used in the book.The last chapter discusses the close connection between Ch'ou-jen Chuan and the progress of the studies of calendar regulation and astronomical observation since the sixteenth century.