Liu Xin (scholar): Difference between revisions
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{{about|the Western Han Dynasty emperor named Liu Xin|the emperor|Emperor Guangwu of Han}} |
{{about|the Western Han Dynasty emperor named Liu Xin|the emperor|Emperor Guangwu of Han}} |
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'''Liu Xin''' ({{zh|t=劉歆|w='''Liu Hsin'''}}) (ca. 50 BC – AD 23),<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=U9E88abLP10C&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=%22triple+concordance%22+%22liu+xin%22&source=bl&ots=W5iE1xyFIp&sig=pt6tQotFE1htHYTeE39nnMjAh5U&hl=en&ei=N4IPTa6DAobGlQfT3IDiDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22triple%20concordance%22%20%22liu%20xin%22&f=false Cullen, Christopher (2007) Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing' Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press]</ref> later changed name to '''Liu Xiu''' ({{zh|t=劉秀|p=Liú Xiù}}), [[courtesy name]] '''Zijun''' ({{zh|t=子駿|p=Zǐjùn}}), was a Chinese astronomer, historian, and editor during the [[Xin Dynasty]] (AD 9–23). He was the son of Confucian scholar [[Liu Xiang (scholar)|Liu Xiang]] (77–6 BC) and an associate of other prominent thinkers such as the philosopher [[Huan Tan]] (d. 28 AD).<ref>Crespigny, 338.</ref> Liu founded the [[Old Text]] School of [[Confucianism]]. |
'''Liu Xin''' ({{zh|t=劉歆|w='''Liu Hsin'''}}) (ca. 50 BC – AD 23),<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=U9E88abLP10C&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=%22triple+concordance%22+%22liu+xin%22&source=bl&ots=W5iE1xyFIp&sig=pt6tQotFE1htHYTeE39nnMjAh5U&hl=en&ei=N4IPTa6DAobGlQfT3IDiDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22triple%20concordance%22%20%22liu%20xin%22&f=false Cullen, Christopher (2007) Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing' Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press]</ref> later changed name to '''Liu Xiu''' ({{zh|t=劉秀|p=Liú Xiù}}), [[courtesy name]] '''Zijun''' ({{zh|t=子駿|p=Zǐjùn}}), was a Chinese astronomer, historian, and editor during the [[Xin Dynasty]] (AD 9–23). He was the son of Confucian scholar [[Liu Xiang (scholar)|Liu Xiang]] (77–6 BC) and an associate of other prominent thinkers such as the philosopher [[Huan Tan]] (d. 28 AD).<ref>Crespigny, 338.</ref> Liu founded the [[Old Text]] School of [[Confucianism]]. |
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==Librarian== |
==Librarian== |
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As a curator of the imperial library he was the first to establish a [[library classification]] system and the first book notation system. At this time the [[library catalog]] was written on scrolls of fine silk and stored in silk bags.<ref>Hur-Li Lee, "Epistemic foundation of bibliographic classification in early China: A Ru classicist perspective," ''Journal of Documentation'' (2012) 68#3 pp 378-401. [http://ejournals.ebsco.com/Direct.asp?AccessToken=95M5JIJ8XKU9KJR144K54MJMJQIE8I595M&Show=Object pool will shiftonline] </ref> |
As a curator of the imperial library he was the first to establish a [[library classification]] system and the first book notation system. At this time the [[library catalog]] was written on scrolls of fine silk and stored in silk bags.<ref>Hur-Li Lee, "Epistemic foundation of bibliographic classification in early China: A Ru classicist perspective," ''Journal of Documentation'' (2012) 68#3 pp 378-401. [http://ejournals.ebsco.com/Direct.asp?AccessToken=95M5JIJ8XKU9KJR144K54MJMJQIE8I595M&Show=Object pool will shiftonline] </ref> |
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==Astronomy== |
==Astronomy== |
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Liu created a new astronomical system, called "Triple Concordance" 三統. He published this system in the year 8 as section of his textbook.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} In it he provided the following periods: |
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*The Moon phase period ([[synodic month]]): 29 43/81 days.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} |
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*A total of 235 synodic months add up to 19 years.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} |
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Therefore his number of days in one year was 365.25016, which is 11 minutes longer than the current value.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} |
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Liu created a catalog of 1080 stars, where he used the scale of 6 [[Apparent magnitude|magnitude]]s. He also calculated periods for planets.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} |
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For centuries before the reign of [[Wang Mang]] (r. 9–23) the Chinese had used the value of 3 for their calculation of [[pi]].<ref name="needham volume 3 99">Needham, Volume 3, 99.</ref> Between the years 1 and 5, while working for the ''de facto'' head of state Wang Mang, Liu Xin was the first to give a more accurate calculation of pi at 3.1457,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=_1AsFyM0d84C 中西數學史的比較 (1991), 44-47]</ref> although the exact method he used to reach this figure is unknown.<ref name="needham volume 3 100">Needham, Volume 3, 100.</ref> However, the ancient record of Liu Xin's 'Jia Liang Hu' standard is still preserved in Beijing, which [[Joseph Needham]] quotes below with modern references for archaic units ([[Wade-Giles]] spelling):<ref name="needham volume 3 100"/> |
For centuries before the reign of [[Wang Mang]] (r. 9–23) the Chinese had used the value of 3 for their calculation of [[pi]].<ref name="needham volume 3 99">Needham, Volume 3, 99.</ref> Between the years 1 and 5, while working for the ''de facto'' head of state Wang Mang, Liu Xin was the first to give a more accurate calculation of pi at 3.1457,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=_1AsFyM0d84C 中西數學史的比較 (1991), 44-47]</ref> although the exact method he used to reach this figure is unknown.<ref name="needham volume 3 100">Needham, Volume 3, 100.</ref> However, the ancient record of Liu Xin's 'Jia Liang Hu' standard is still preserved in Beijing, which [[Joseph Needham]] quotes below with modern references for archaic units ([[Wade-Giles]] spelling):<ref name="needham volume 3 100"/> |
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Revision as of 11:56, 2 July 2013
Liu Xin (Chinese: 劉歆; Wade–Giles: Liu Hsin) (ca. 50 BC – AD 23),[1] later changed name to Liu Xiu (Chinese: 劉秀; pinyin: Liú Xiù), courtesy name Zijun (Chinese: 子駿; pinyin: Zǐjùn), was a Chinese astronomer, historian, and editor during the Western Han (206 BC-AD 9) and Xin Dynasty (AD 9–23). He was the son of Confucian scholar Liu Xiang (77–6 BC) and an associate of other prominent thinkers such as the philosopher Huan Tan (d. 28 AD).[2] Liu founded the Old Text School of Confucianism.
Librarian
As a curator of the imperial library he was the first to establish a library classification system and the first book notation system. At this time the library catalog was written on scrolls of fine silk and stored in silk bags.[3]
Astronomy
For centuries before the reign of Wang Mang (r. 9–23) the Chinese had used the value of 3 for their calculation of pi.[4] Between the years 1 and 5, while working for the de facto head of state Wang Mang, Liu Xin was the first to give a more accurate calculation of pi at 3.1457,[5] although the exact method he used to reach this figure is unknown.[6] However, the ancient record of Liu Xin's 'Jia Liang Hu' standard is still preserved in Beijing, which Joseph Needham quotes below with modern references for archaic units (Wade-Giles spelling):[6]
The standardised chia liang hu (has) a square with each side 1 chhih (foot) long, and outside it a circle. The distance from each corner of the square to the circle (thiao phang) is 9 li 5 hao. The area of the circle (mu) is 162 (square) tshun (inches), the depth 1 chhih (foot), and the volume (of the whole) 1620 (cubic) tshun (inches).[6]
Later mathematicians such as Zhang Heng (78–139) and Liu Hui (fl. 3rd century) would improve Liu's calculation for pi approximate to the standard of pi used in modern times.[7]
Although Liu Xin was originally a loyal partisan of Wang Mang, after Wang's troops suffered defeat on July 7, 23 at the Battle of Kunyang, Liu Xin plotted with others to overthrow Wang Mang. The plot was discovered, and all the conspirators committed suicide or were executed.[8]
A crater on Mars was named in his honor.
See also
Notes
- ^ Cullen, Christopher (2007) Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing' Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press
- ^ Crespigny, 338.
- ^ Hur-Li Lee, "Epistemic foundation of bibliographic classification in early China: A Ru classicist perspective," Journal of Documentation (2012) 68#3 pp 378-401. pool will shiftonline
- ^ Needham, Volume 3, 99.
- ^ 中西數學史的比較 (1991), 44-47
- ^ a b c Needham, Volume 3, 100.
- ^ Needham, Volume 3, 100–101.
- ^ Bielenstein, 247–248
References
- Bielenstein, Hans. (1986). "Wang Mang, the Restoration of the Han Dynasty, and Later Han", in The Cambridge History of China: Volume I: the Ch'in and Han Empires, 221 B.C. – A.D. 220. Edited by Denis Twitchett and Michael Loewe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-24327-0.
- Bin, Hansheng, "Liu Xin". Encyclopedia of China (Philosophy Edition), 1st ed.
- Crespigny, Rafe de. (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD). Leiden: Koninklijke Brill. ISBN 90-04-15605-4.
- Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 3, Mathematics and the Sciences of the Heavens and the Earth. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd.