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Beijing Ancient Observatory

December 05, 2023

This article is about the originally pre-telescopic observatory that ceased astronomical operations before World War II. For the post-Communist revolution observatory, see Beijing Astronomical Observatory. For the planetarium, see Beijing Planetarium. For the Chinese national observatory network headquartered in Beijing, see National Astronomical Observatory of China.

The Beijing Ancient Observatory (traditional Chinese: 北京古觀象臺; simplified Chinese: 北京古观象台; pinyin: Běijīng Gǔ Guānxiàngtái) is a pretelescopic observatory located in Beijing, China. The observatory was built in 1442 during the Ming dynasty, and expanded during the Qing. It received major reorganization and many new, more accurate instruments from Europeans (Jesuits) in 1644.

Beijing Ancient Observatory
On the grounds of the Beijing Ancient Observatory with a bronze bust of the astronomer and mathematician Guo Shoujing in the foreground.
LocationJianguomen Subdistrict, Dongcheng, Beijing, PRC
Coordinates39°54′22″N 116°25′41″E / 39.9061°N 116.4281°E / 39.9061; 116.4281
Websitewww.bjp.org.cn/misc/node_4542.htm
Location of Beijing Ancient Observatory
  Related media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

As one of the oldest observatories in the world, the Beijing Ancient Observatory grounds cover an area of 10,000 square meters. The observatory itself is located on a 40 by 40 metres (130 ft × 130 ft) wide platform on the top of a 15 m (49 feet) tall brick tower, an extant portion of the old Ming dynasty era city wall that once encircled Beijing. Several of the bronze astronomical instruments are on the platform, and other armillary spheres, sundials, and other instruments are located nearby at ground level.[1] It is operated as a museum in affiliation with the Beijing Planetarium.

History edit

 
An image of the observatory after reorganization by the Jesuits
 
The layout of the observatory

It was said that in 1227, the Jin dynasty transferred the ancient astronomical instruments from Kaifeng to the first observatory in Beijing. In 1279, the succeeding Mongols under Kublai Khan built a new observatory just north of the current observatory. Kublai Khan made his chief adviser of hydraulics, mathematics and astronomy, Guo Shoujing, director of the observatory in 1283 after the death of Guo's friend and predecessor Zhang Wenqian.[2] After the Mongols, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding Ming Emperor, transferred the instruments from Beijing to Nanjing. When the Yongle Emperor came to power, he had craftsmen make copies of the instruments in Nanjing and sent them to the Beijing observatory.

The current observatory was completed in 1442. It assisted the Ming and Qing astronomers in their observation reports for the Emperor. As he was considered the "Son of Heaven", the movements of the heavenly bodies were an important affair. Another function was to assist sea navigation, with Muslim scholars recruited for their expertise in the area.[citation needed] In the mid-17th century, after winning an astronomy contest, the Jesuit Ferdinand Verbiest was awarded complete charge of the astronomy observatory by the emperor. In 1673, he supervised the rebuilding of some of the instruments. He and other Jesuits helped to further develop the observations of the stars and the planets.

During the later stages of the Qing dynasty, members of the Eight-Nation Alliance looted some of the instruments. However, as World War I drew to a close, the instruments were returned to China by the French and German governments. An early seismograph of Zhang Heng's design used to be housed at the observatory. Some of the instruments from the Ming era are now at Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing.[3][4]

Access and nearby attractions edit

The Beijing Ancient Observatory is located just south of Jianguomen in Dongcheng District and can be accessed by Lines 1 and 2 of the Beijing Subway to Jianguomen station (Exit C) and bus routes 25, 39, 43, 44, 52, 122, 434, 637, 638, 750 and 特2 to Jianguomen South (建国门桥南). The Beijing railway station and the Ming City Wall Relics Park are a short walk to the south.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Observatory, Peking". Cambridge Digital Library. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  2. ^ O'Connor, J. J.; Robertson, E. F. "Guo Shoujing". St Andrews University. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  3. ^ [1] October 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ [2] August 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Beijing Ancient Observatory (category)
  • Official site 2017-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  • Google Maps satellite image
  • Beijing Ancient Observatory travel guide
  • Tour of Beijing Ancient Observatory in virtual reality
  • Photograph archives (1889) from the Paris Observatory

December 05, 2023
beijing, ancient, observatory, this, article, about, originally, telescopic, observatory, that, ceased, astronomical, operations, before, world, post, communist, revolution, observatory, beijing, astronomical, observatory, planetarium, beijing, planetarium, ch. This article is about the originally pre telescopic observatory that ceased astronomical operations before World War II For the post Communist revolution observatory see Beijing Astronomical Observatory For the planetarium see Beijing Planetarium For the Chinese national observatory network headquartered in Beijing see National Astronomical Observatory of China The Beijing Ancient Observatory traditional Chinese 北京古觀象臺 simplified Chinese 北京古观象台 pinyin Beijing Gǔ Guanxiangtai is a pretelescopic observatory located in Beijing China The observatory was built in 1442 during the Ming dynasty and expanded during the Qing It received major reorganization and many new more accurate instruments from Europeans Jesuits in 1644 Beijing Ancient ObservatoryOn the grounds of the Beijing Ancient Observatory with a bronze bust of the astronomer and mathematician Guo Shoujing in the foreground LocationJianguomen Subdistrict Dongcheng Beijing PRCCoordinates39 54 22 N 116 25 41 E 39 9061 N 116 4281 E 39 9061 116 4281Websitewww wbr bjp wbr org wbr cn wbr misc wbr node wbr 4542 wbr htmLocation of Beijing Ancient Observatory Related media on Commons edit on Wikidata As one of the oldest observatories in the world the Beijing Ancient Observatory grounds cover an area of 10 000 square meters The observatory itself is located on a 40 by 40 metres 130 ft 130 ft wide platform on the top of a 15 m 49 feet tall brick tower an extant portion of the old Ming dynasty era city wall that once encircled Beijing Several of the bronze astronomical instruments are on the platform and other armillary spheres sundials and other instruments are located nearby at ground level 1 It is operated as a museum in affiliation with the Beijing Planetarium Contents 1 History 2 Access and nearby attractions 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp An image of the observatory after reorganization by the Jesuits nbsp The layout of the observatoryIt was said that in 1227 the Jin dynasty transferred the ancient astronomical instruments from Kaifeng to the first observatory in Beijing In 1279 the succeeding Mongols under Kublai Khan built a new observatory just north of the current observatory Kublai Khan made his chief adviser of hydraulics mathematics and astronomy Guo Shoujing director of the observatory in 1283 after the death of Guo s friend and predecessor Zhang Wenqian 2 After the Mongols Zhu Yuanzhang the founding Ming Emperor transferred the instruments from Beijing to Nanjing When the Yongle Emperor came to power he had craftsmen make copies of the instruments in Nanjing and sent them to the Beijing observatory The current observatory was completed in 1442 It assisted the Ming and Qing astronomers in their observation reports for the Emperor As he was considered the Son of Heaven the movements of the heavenly bodies were an important affair Another function was to assist sea navigation with Muslim scholars recruited for their expertise in the area citation needed In the mid 17th century after winning an astronomy contest the Jesuit Ferdinand Verbiest was awarded complete charge of the astronomy observatory by the emperor In 1673 he supervised the rebuilding of some of the instruments He and other Jesuits helped to further develop the observations of the stars and the planets During the later stages of the Qing dynasty members of the Eight Nation Alliance looted some of the instruments However as World War I drew to a close the instruments were returned to China by the French and German governments An early seismograph of Zhang Heng s design used to be housed at the observatory Some of the instruments from the Ming era are now at Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing 3 4 Access and nearby attractions editThe Beijing Ancient Observatory is located just south of Jianguomen in Dongcheng District and can be accessed by Lines 1 and 2 of the Beijing Subway to Jianguomen station Exit C and bus routes 25 39 43 44 52 122 434 637 638 750 and 特2 to Jianguomen South 建国门桥南 The Beijing railway station and the Ming City Wall Relics Park are a short walk to the south See also editChinese astronomy History of Beijing Ferdinand Augustin Hallerstein creator of some of the instruments Ignaz Kogler creator of some of the instruments Ferdinand Verbiest creator of some of the instruments List of astronomical observatories List of Jesuit sitesReferences edit The Observatory Peking Cambridge Digital Library Retrieved 3 July 2015 O Connor J J Robertson E F Guo Shoujing St Andrews University Retrieved 3 July 2015 1 Archived October 13 2008 at the Wayback Machine 2 Archived August 19 2008 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beijing Ancient Observatory category Official site Archived 2017 09 24 at the Wayback Machine Google Maps satellite image Beijing Ancient Observatory travel guide Tour of Beijing Ancient Observatory in virtual reality Photograph archives 1889 from the Paris Observatory Portals nbsp China nbsp Astronomy nbsp Stars nbsp Spaceflight nbsp Outer space nbsp Solar System nbsp Education nbsp Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beijing Ancient Observatory amp oldid 1170547368, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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