Ancient Calendars
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Summary
Editor's review
Zeng Xun has long been engaged in research on the history of science and technology in ancient China, while Ma Cheng has deep expertise in textual criticism; their collaboration gives the book both scholarly rigor and readability. It not only details the innovations of important calendars such as the Taichu Calendar, the Daming Calendar, and the Shoushi Calendar, but also explains core calendrical concepts—the twenty-four solar terms, the sexagenary cycle, and the setting of leap months—in accessible terms, enabling readers to understand the scientific principles behind this ancient wisdom.
Particularly noteworthy is the book's examination of calendars within a broader historical and cultural context, exploring their interaction with political power, agricultural production, and religious belief. It analyzes, for example, how calendar reforms through the ages were often tied to the founding of new dynasties, reflecting the political symbolism of "promulgating the calendar"; and it explains in detail how the lunar calendar guided farming, demonstrating the practical wisdom of "harmony between heaven and humanity" in traditional Chinese society.
For modern readers, the book offers not only knowledge of ancient astronomy and calendars but also a unique perspective—time measurement—for understanding the character of ancient Chinese civilization. Numerous charts and excerpts from ancient texts help readers grasp abstract concepts intuitively. Despite its specialized content, the authors' plain language removes barriers to understanding, allowing non-specialist readers to appreciate the splendid achievements of ancient Chinese astronomy.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- History enthusiasts interested in ancient Chinese scientific and technological civilization
- Readers who wish to systematically understand traditional culture such as the lunar calendar and solar terms
- Educators in history teaching or research who need reference materials
- Thoughtful readers who like to understand how ancient societies worked through specific crafts and techniques
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking in-depth professional astronomical theory or complex mathematical calculations
- Readers expecting novel-like narrative or light, casual reading
Reading tips
- Can be read in chronological order of dynasties to grasp the continuity of calendar evolution
- Consult the glossary of terms in the appendix when encountering specialized terminology
- Can be supplemented with ancient star charts or images of astronomical instruments for deeper understanding
About the publisher
Jilin Publishing Group Co., Ltd. focuses on fine fiction, social sciences, literary appreciation, history, classical poetry and classical literature, with 1,141 titles in the library. Representative books include Dan Simmons's science fiction novels Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, Freud's works on psychology and society such as The Ego and the Id and Group Psychology, and classical literature ranging from Laozi and Zhuangzi, Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Three Hundred Poems of the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties to Lü Simian's A General History of China. Its authors include Dan Simmons, Freud, Laozi, Lü Simian, Hengtang Tuishi, Pan Zhenhua, Li Yi and Guan Shanming, reflecting a balance between translated works and domestic editions. Public information is limited; the above is based on the library's holdings.
Contents
- 时间法则——传统历法 虞喜发现岁差与制订历法
- 祖冲之测算回归年与历法
- 推算出天干地支与历法
- 独创二十四节气与历法
- 时间计量——计时制度 逐步完善分段计时之制
- 发明漏刻的计时方法
- 采取独特的十二辰计时法
- 实行夜晚的更点制度
- 时间周期——岁时文化 春季岁时习俗的产生
- 夏季岁时习俗的流传
- 秋季岁时习俗的继承
- 冬季岁时习俗的嬗变
- 龙头节岁时习俗的形成
- 花朝节岁时习俗的演化
- 清明节岁时习俗的沿袭
FAQ
Do I need a background in astronomy to understand this book?
Does the book include comparisons between Chinese and foreign calendars?
Are the historical sources cited in this book reliable?
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About the author
Zeng Xun, born in 1986 in Neijiang, Sichuan, graduated from the Department of Chinese at China University of Mining and Technology and is a writer and chief editor at the magazine Lianzheng Liaowang. He began publishing articles at the age of 16 and is the author of Salt Is My Thought and A Critique of the Kong Qingdong Phenomenon, and has compiled multiple volumes of the Republic Stories series as well as biographical works. His writing is mainly documentary literature and historical and political reading, focusing on major milestones in the history of the People's Republic and on foreign relations, including the Macao handover celebrations, the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, the Geneva Conference, the Three-Antis and Five-Antis movements, Soviet-aided projects, the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship, labor reform and the response to the Asian financial crisis, presenting historical facts in accessible narrative form. Fifty-one of his works are held in the collection, with additional titles on social culture and finance. Public information about his life and influence remains limited.
Ma Cheng is an author about whom little public information is available; no clear record exists regarding his nationality, dates of birth and death, or educational background. Judging from the eighteen works held in the collection, his writing centers on two areas: popular science and biography. His subjects range across the history of astronomy, ancient calendars, the history of chemistry, physics and biology, the Four Great Inventions, and inventions and discoveries, and he has also written a biography of Charlie Chaplin. Overall, he is skilled at combining abstract scientific knowledge with historical context, explaining the development of disciplines and the origins of major inventions in an accessible way that balances information with readability. His works commonly appear in the categories of popular science, general biography and inspirational growth, and are suitable for general readers who wish to learn about the history of science and invention with ease.
