A Research Of Imperial Astronomer In The Notrhern Song Dynasty

The acient Chinese Astronomy, which services for the imperical politics is acturally Astrology. Noneof any dynasties would ignore the importance of astroobservation. Every dynasties is all establishing theirown institutes of Astronomy, which recrew professional observiors with specific knowledge. the institute ofAstronomy in the early age of Northen Song Dynasty was called Si TianJian, after the reformation ofYuanFeng, this institute was named TaiShi Bureau. The comparatively complete and reasonableevaluation of recrewment system is the reason why Northen Song Dynasty made considerablecontributuions in the field of Astronomy. Northen Song Dynasty adopted many appointing and selectingofficials’ ways, such as Direct recrewed from the grass roots, Suplementation of emperors granted,Recommendation from other officials and recrewment from examination. The majority number ofastronomic officials were recrewed by examination which guranteed comparatively higher proficiency of SiTianJian. Meanwhile, Northen Song also examined Si TianJian’s officials by using inspection, evaluationof proficiency, whether rewarding, pormotion or punishment was given by the results of these evaluationsystem. The purpose of setting Si TianJian is making stability of empire’s govern. The main functions wereobserving astronomy, developing astronomic instruments, working out calendars and other relevantactivities. Astronomy refers to the moon and stars is running according to certain laws, as for our ancestors,the running stars contains the meaning of order, which were always analogied by the mormal world. duringthe stars running process, it will appears to phenomenas such as solar and lunar eclipses, meteors, theancients think this is an indication or warnning for the people who were living on the ground. Therefore,the Si TianJian predict or warn the government by the variation of the astronomical observation, given that,the governers will make the appropriate response..Astronomical observation requires sophisticatedequipment, these instruments could be categoried into three kinds, namely Gui Biao, Observationinstrument and Chronograph. Northern Song’ Si TianJian made great contributions in Millary sphere, Floatleaking and other relevant instruments in order to promote the poficiency of observation. Calendar is highlyrelevant with politics, the enactment of the calendar is considered to be mysterious that emperor’s destiny isconnected with the god. Northern Song’s Si TianJian conducted reformation of calendar very frequently, itencated nine Calendar, namely, Ying Tian Calendar’,‘Qian Yuan Calendar’,‘Yi Tian Calendar’,‘Tian Ming Calendar’,‘Feng Yuan Calendar’,‘Guan Tian Calendar’,‘Zhan Tian Calendar’,‘Ji Yuan Calendar’.The Calendar reformation was going through under the circumstance of comparing accuracy between newand old Calendar, which motivate the apperance of Northern Song’s high proficiency astronomical data.The Chinese ancients payed more attention on date arrangments by which they may not conflict withfortune, this related with how to arrange the date. Si TianJian in charge of the calendar preparation,arragements of royal ceremony, and the function of choosing the right time.