A Study Of The Astronomical Bureau (Qintian Jian) In The Ming Dynasty

Astronomy is the governmental foundation of China's ancient imperial politics,and one of the sources of ancient Chinese philosophy and religion.When the ancient people gradually explored the mysterious sky above them,the “astronomy” with Chinese character had formed.They thought that operation of all the asters like sun?moon and stars on the sky showed the will and emotion of the “sky” Which can do anything and control anything.Based on the knowledge and observation of the astronomical phenomena,every dynastic governor would set up a special organization to observe the sky,so that they could know the god's will,then correct their mistakes and stay out of trouble immediately.After Qin and Han Dynasty,the officials who worked on astronomy gradually separated from official historians,and formed another official system with a color of profession and technology.Inheriting the tradition from Qin and Han Dynasty,the imperial Board of Astronomy in Ming Dynasty taken the important responsibility of transport and explain the god's will.There were officials including Jian Zheng and Jian Fu who were in charge of astronomy calendar?divination.There were also subordinate officials including Wu Guanzheng,Wu Guanlingtailang,Wu Guanqiehuzheng,Lou Keboshi and so on.They were responsible for observing the astronomical phenomena,calculating the calendar,deciding the four seasons and predicting the auspiciousness and inauspiciousness.All these officials did their own work and cooperated with each other,these guaranteed the normality and order of the national politics.Because of its mystery and technology,the imperial Board of Astronomy was different from other departments in official election?examination?promotion and treatment.The primary functions of the imperial Board of Astronomy were observation of the astronomical phenomena,calculation of the calendar,records of the time,chosen of an auspicious day for royal ceremony and so on,which covered many aspects of the national life.As the communicator and explainer of the god's will,the officials predicted how things would be.They would take advantage of the auspicious sign to sing the praises of the governor,or warn the governor that they should strive for virtues through “the disaster from god”.The imperial Board of Astronomy had an important influence on the operation of Ming Dynasty's politics by controlling the explanation of the astronomical phenomena.And calendar had very close connection with the imperial authority since antiquity.Formulated and issued the calendar was regarded as the symbol of rule,followed one dynastic calendar meant submitted to its rule.Calendars in Ming Dynasty included the Datong Calendar which was dominant and Huis Calendar which supplemented the former,they both made the calendar system completed.In late Ming Dynasty,the astronomy stopped developing and the calendar was also inaccurate,so many officials of noble aspirations wanted to reform the calendar,but all been rejected.Then came the western missionaries who led by Johann Adam Schall von Bell with advanced western calendar.This led to the first conflict between China and the West in a large scale and started the reform of calendar.But the new calendar actually never is used inMing Dynasty.Ancient people always wanted to do everything properly,especially the arrangement of the royal ceremony.All these needed the officials to chose the right place,the auspicious day and hour to following the God's will.According to the above,the imperial Board of Astronomy was not just an astronomical organization.Its primary purpose was to maintain the steady and development of the dynasty.Astronomy was only regarded as an “emergent technology” which served the governor by prediction and calendar.Since astronomy was not treated as a serious science by the government,it had no outstanding achievements in entire Ming dynasty.