Discussion of the development of Chinese astronomy from earliest days, set in historical context. Instruments and techniques that the Chinese developed and how they were used. Discussion of possible outside influences and the Jesuit period. Tour of the Chabot Dragon Skies exhibit of ancient Chinese artifacts and instruments.

References for the study of Chinese Astronomy:

Books:

1. Joseph Needham, Science and Civilization in China, especially Vol 3 on Astronomy

2. Joseph Needham: The Genius of China, 3000 years of Science, Discovery and Invention

3. Christopher Cullen: Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The Zhou BI Suan Jing (the original was completed by the 1^st Century AD)

4. Ho Peng Yoke (Peng Yoke Ho,)

LI, QI and Shu: An Introduction to Science and Civilization in China

Websites:

Maps of China: http://chinapag.nexcess.net/map/map.html and

http://www.maps-of-china.com/china-country.shtml

History of China: http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/toc.html

Chinese Dynasties timeline: http://www.chinapage.com/dyna1.html and

http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/time_line.html

Classical Imperial Period in China: http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/China/ClassicalChina.html

Later Imperial Period: http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/China/LaterImpChina.html

Historical Notes: http://www.spacetoday.org/China/ChinaAstronomy.html

Joseph Needham: http://www.riseofthewest.net/thinkers/needham01.htm

http://www.geocities.com/alandwpeters/needham.html

Astronomy summary: http://www.authorlink.com/SS310los_x.html

Shang and Han period astronomy summary: http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/chevalier/astr341/china.html

ChineseTimekeeping and the Calendar:

http://lunarcal.tripod.com/History.html

Chinese and Babylonian Seasons: http://www.friesian.com/grndhog.htm

Sky Charts: http://www.chinapage.com/astronomy/chart/celestialchart.html and http://www.chinapage.com/astronomy/skymap.html

The Armillary: http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/starry/armillary.html

Zhang Heng, inventor of the armillary sphere: http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Zhang_Heng.html and http://www.albertson.edu/math/History/jnewbry/Classical/index.htm

Guo Shoujing, timekeeping, gnomons, designed the torquetum: http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/projects/nst-abstract.pdf

Su Song’s Clock: http://www.incois.gov.in/Tutor/clock.html

http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/China/SongClock.html

How it worked: http://www.sinorama.com.tw/8506/506128e1.html

Reconstructing it: http://elib.lib.tsinghua.edu.cn/techlibrary/htm/dissertation/tower11.pdf

Chinese Philosophy: http://www.friesian.com/history.htm#east

Jesuits in China: http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/vatican.exhibit/exhibit/i-rome_to_china/Jesuits_in_China.html

How Rome went to China: http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/vatican.exhibit/exhibit/i-rome_to_china/Rome_to_china.html

Copernicus in China: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~nsivin/cop.html

Verbiest: http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/jmac/sj/scientists/verbiest.htm and http://homepages.primex.co.uk/~sproston/sstar9c.htm

Matteo Ricci: http://matrix.scranton.edu/about/ab_matteo_ricci.shtml

Printing in China, as reported by Matteo Ricci: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/ric-prt.html

Artifacts & Rotation of the Earth: http://spacelink.nasa.gov/t?NASA.News/NASA.News.Releases/Previous.News.Releases/89.News.Releases/89-06.News.Releases/89-06-13

Chinese Navigation theory, based on Starry Night Charts: http://www.space.com/spacewatch/navigation_china_020318.html

Chabot Dragon Skies Exhibit:

http://www.dragonskies.org/

http://seti.sentry.net/archive/bioastro/2004/Jul/0070.html