Research On He Cheng-Tian's Studies Of The Heavens

He Cheng-tian (Ho Ch'eng-t'ien, 370-447) is an eminent scholar and astronomer of South Dynasties. Concerning on the his connection with Buddhist, reform of calendar, theories of cosmology, and choice of precession rate, this thesis is mainly intended to explore the evolution of theories of heaven and techniques of calendar-making in medieval China, especially what and how foreign knowledge and idea were integrated into the indigenous system. Some reflections about the methodology of Sino-Foreign communication history are also presented.Hui Jiao (497-554)'s famous Biographies of Eminent Monks and many other Chinese Buddhist writings record a tale that He Cheng-tian had consulted some monk about Indian Calendar and submitted to the monk's allegation that India is the center of earth because on Summer Solstice no shadow is cast there. It is reasonable to believe Hui jiao is mistaken about the monk's identity, which is not Hui yan (慧严) but Zhi...