Database Construction and Textual Analysis of Korean Astronomical Almanacs

Lee, Ki-Won; Ahn, Young Sook; Mihn, Byeong-Hee; Shin, Jae-Sik

doi:10.5303/pkas.2011.26.1.001

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Recently, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (hereafter, KASI) has constructed an online database for the Korean astronomical almanac † (see Lee et al 2011). In the database, the annual astronomical almanacs cover approximately 140 years for around 500 years of the Joseon dynasty, and the oldest one is the almanac for the year 1607.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Verification of the Calendar Days of the Joseon Dynasty

Lee¹,

Ahn²,

Mihn³

2012

Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society

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Astronomical data making such as forming a calendar, period of day, determining the time of rising/setting of the sun and the onset of twilight are essential in our daily lives. Knowing the calendar day of the past is particularly crucial for studying the history of a clan or a nation. To verify previous studies in the calendar day of the Joseon dynasty (1392 -1910), we investigate the sexagenary cycle of the new moon day (i.e., the first day in a lunar month) by using sources such as results of the calculations using the Datong calendar (a Chinese Calendar of the Ming Dynasty) and the data of Baekjungryeok (a Perpetual Calendar; literally, a one hundred-year almanac). Compared with the study of Ahn et al., we find that as many as 17 sexagenary cycles show discrepancies. In the cases of nine discrepancies, we find that the sexagenary cycles of this study are identical to those of the almanacs at that time. In addition, we study five sexagenary cycles by using the historical accounts of Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Daily Reports of Royal Secretariat), Chungung Ilgi (Logs of Crown Prince), and so forth. For the remaining discrepancies, we present historical literature supporting the results of this study. This study will greatly contribute to the identification of the lunisolar calendar days during the Joseon dynasty as the dates of the modern (i.e., Gregorian) calendar.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Verification of the Calendar Days of the Joseon Dynasty

Lee¹,

Ahn²,

Mihn³

2012

Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society

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“…In addition, 24 solar terms were sustained in the Shixian calendar, determined by equally dividing a year length or the ecliptic longitude into 24 intervals. 27 The latter method was first used in the Shixian calendar. 28 That is, 24 solar terms in the Shixian calendar were defined as the moments when the Sun passes multiple of 15° along the ecliptic longitude starting from the vernal equinox.…”

Section: Astronomical Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study referred to the Korean astronomical almanacs from 1654 to 1912, some of which are made available online by Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. 41 The annual almanac of 1654 is the first Korean Shixian almanac. Because the Joseon dynasty reused the Datong calendar from 1667 to 1669, as in China, 42 this period was excluded in this study.…”

Section: Korean Shixian Almanacsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating calendrical methods of calculating sunrise and sunset times in the Shixian calendar

Choi,

Mihn,

Lee

2023

Journal for the History of Astronomy

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The Shixian calendar is the general name for Chinese calendars implemented in China’s Qing dynasty (1636–1912) and Korea’s Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). This calendar made under the influence of Western sciences was revised several times. Referring to the Yuzhi lixiang kaocheng, compiled by Mei Juecheng et al. in 1724, we analyze calendrical methods employed in the Shixian calendar for calculating sunrise and sunset times in terms of astronomy and mathematics. In astronomy, the Polaris was used to measure the latitude, and the Sun’s diurnal parallax was considered to increase accuracy. In mathematics, Western mathematics, such as trigonometric functions and properties of similar spherical triangles, were used to calculate sunrise and sunset times. In addition, ready reckoner tables were used to obtain the trigonometric values. The reproduced sunrise and sunset times are compared the results recorded in Shixian annual almanacs published in China and Korea to obtain the rules regarding dates on which these recording were made in the almanacs. We find that sunrise and sunset times were changed before and after around 1726 and in 1728 in the Shixian almanacs of China and Korea, respectively. Furthermore, we verify the values of the latitude and obliquity of the ecliptic used for calculating the sunrise and sunset times in the almanacs in each dynasty. This study will help understand the Shixian calendar and its annual almanacs in China and Korea.

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“…6 『고종실록』권23, 고종23년(병술, 1886년) 8월 1일(신유). 7 조선시대 역서는 월력장(月曆張), 연신방위도(年神方位圖), 매월의 일과장(日課張) 등으로 구성되어 있다 (Lee et al, 2011). 역서의 일과장에는 각 월의 일자, 일진, 오행, 12직(直)을 적고 그 아래 역주(曆註), 그 위에는 두주(頭註)를 적는다.…”

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