Conclusion Arrived at by an Early Chinese Astronomer:
Dr. H. Chatley on Chinese Theory of Creation That the epoch of creation occurred date corresponding to 143,231 BE. was the conclusion arrived at one of the eatly Chinese astronomers, who believed that all things would come to an end and then start again 23,090,040 years after that date, said Dr. H. Chatley in the course of an interesting lecture on the subject of "Ancient Chinese History," which he delivered on Tuesday, Mar, 17, it the Foreign' YMCA. on Bubbling Well Road to an en JGreat reforms were made in. the [Mongol dynasty by Kuo Shou Ching Jwho made new Insteuments, some Jot which still existed, and utilized the work of the Arabian astronomers Jot Bagdad.
Finally at the beginning of the Manchu dynasty, concluded Dr. IChatiey, the Jesuils introduced HEuropen methods and instruments Jand Chinese astronomy was brought eradunlly Into Hine with that of the rest of the world.
Astronomy was popularly conside: ed an Interesting rother then a, tscful study, he said, and in fact warded lis devotees with little but mental satisfaction. Nevertheless ite results were of prodigious cal nellie, Without It systematic ugrieultuire could not have been. The measurement of time rested astronomy and hange Its value to Kovernment and history was great. A knowledge of the des and means finding one's position on the Earth were fundamental to navigation. The study of the heavenly motions ted to mathematics and Tater to the sciences of optics and mechanics. In modern times the study of sunlight and slar~ ight hod played a large part tu solving the problems of atomic chemistry. In religion and_ philusophy astronomy was a busle element.
In China astronomy had played 9 large part, According to a doubtful tradition the early ruler Yao laid down enlendrieal rules based, on solar elevations and the positions of four stars at the quarter days of the solar year. SULL less reliable traditions spoke of calendeleal work 'TI and Chuan Ys. Much cone troversy hnd raged about the genuine hess and significance of the Yao tradition, of which the actual record only dated from the time of Confucius over 1,500 years later, Inthe Shang dynasty, ending in the 31th conlury, the oracle bones showed rackentigs by moons and the 60-day dar Reforms At the beginning of the Chow dynasty In the lith century B.C. calendar reform was made and the practice established of observing the Sun's shadow by a pole. From the 'Oth century. B.C. onward there was a fairly complete record of eclipses. In about the 4th century (the Warring Kingdoms period) much greater acetiracy in the astronomical dat appeared, Including fairly—corzect insertion' of intercalary moons to Keep the lunar calendar in step with the solar seasons. Star tists were also made and simple observation of theS pjanots were recorded. About the same time a mystical theory of numbers developed from the Book of Changes was combined with astronomy by Tsou Yen. This theory was attributed back to Chou Kung. In the third century oe~ curred the famous burning of the books by the "First Emperor" to which luter historians had attributed the loss of the old selonee, There ala not appear to be any reason to suppose that the old science twas really as advanced as was suggested.
the Han dynasty great advances were made by Szusma Chien, Lo Hsia Tung, Liu Msin and Li Fon and In actual fact all the older roomy of China effectively start-this time. It was much in arrear of the contemporaneous Greek knowledge derived from the Baby-Tontans. How far information soepfed In from the West at. this. time Theory of Creation Interesting facts about the concep-tons held by early Chinese astronomers with regard to the creation of the universe were disclosed by Dr. Herbert Chatley In a lecture entitled "The Chinese Astrological Theory of (Creation, given. before members of the Royal Asiatic Society. on Thurs aay.
'Br, Chatley Arst_considered_carty asireingical theories held in Europe trid. the Near East, and said. thal About $00. BE. it was thought thal the hoovenly bodies would return the "same. place after' a certain umber of years. He. meniloned.an Chinese. astronomer bythe ime of Liv long. who lived dur= Han. Dynasty, and had engaged Inthe rexoration of the elas-Sis which. were. destroyed by" the Bhperor, He expecially concentrated onthe Book of Changes. and be was Particularly interested in the mystic Theors of numbers He conceived. the theory that, in tne' beginning, the sinlverse spit into {we parts, represented by the sun fand moony and these In turn spit. into the ive planets, from which angina the. slats. "The. most. Interesting part of his theory was that he claimed {obo able to "calculate when this trent ook place, and when the Gale ferae would come to" an cid Tle sve the length of me vs 21000000
The knowledge of the Chinese during the lion aynasiy was considerably! inferior to that of the Greeks. thie contemporaries. The Chinese thought the working. of tne universe. ery much. simpler than it_really Waa, this. view being held gby long himed Liv liang eateutated the length of & Junar month to within a trsetion of a day. and calculated the number of months In 19 years within two hours. He was only 8 fraction out in eelculating the nus Bor of days in 8 year.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.