This book adopts a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating knowledge and techniques from disciplines such as astronomy and history. The purpose of astrological divination is to discern the will of the heavens, and its subjects are the ruling class or the entire social body of a nation. The selection of auspicious methods is aimed at seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, with its influence ranging from the imperial family to the common people. By comparing them with ancient Chinese textual records, it seeks to verify their authenticity. Based on this foundation, the book explores the origins of certain important astronomical events and divinatory behavioral patterns in ancient times, as well as the reasoning behind the actions of ancient Chinese people. Overall, this book provides significant inspiration and reference for scholars and researchers in the field of history of social astronomy in China and history of Sino-Western exchanges, in terms of ideas and research methodologies.

This book transcends the traditional domains and methodologies of political history and intellectual history Unconventional historical research perspectives Thematic format, focused questions, and a point-based approach

Autorentext

Yi-Long Huang is a renowned Taiwanese historian known for his expertise in the history of science and technology and the history of social astronomy. He received his Ph.D. in physics from Columbia University (New York, the United States) in 1985 and subsequently conducted research in astronomy at Massachusetts State University before turning to the field of the history of astronomy in 1987.

Kai Xiao is a faculty member of the Department of Translation at College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Chengdu University of Technology. He teaches courses such as Translation Theory and Fundamentals and Interpretation. His primary research interests include the research on the translation and introduction of Chinese classical texts. From 2015 to 2016, he was funded by the China Scholarship Council to study and research English language theory and pedagogy at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is a member of the Sichuan Translators Association and a member of Chinese Classics Bilinguals’ Association of China pre-Qin History Society.

Inhalt

1. Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty and the mystery of Counselor-in-Chief Zhai Fangjin's death.- 2. The most ominous astronomical phenomena in Chinese astrologyYinghuo staying at Constellation Xin.- 3. The most auspicious astronomical phenomenon in Chinese astrology: The convergence of five stars.- 4. The impact of astrology on ancient Chinese warfare.- 5. The attitude of Jesuits towards traditional Chinese astrology and numerology.- 6. The exploration on the tradition of selecting auspicious days in Chinese society through the bamboo and wooden slips of the Yinwan Han Tombs.- 7. A new exploration on Dunhuang annotated calendrers.- 8. Marriage auspiciousness and inauspiciousness in selection techniques.- 9. The dispute over the definition and existence of the Four Residues in the early Qing Dynasty.- 10. The dispute over the order of Constellation Zi and Shen in early Qing Dynasty.- 11. An analysis of Tianli Sect Uprising and the belief of an inauspicious intercalary eighth month.- 12. AlmanacThe integration of traditional Chinese astronomy and society.