清前期对“四余”定义及其存废的争执——社会天文学史个案研究(下)

THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE ADOPTION OF THE FOUR IMAGINARY STARS IN THE QING DYNASTY ASTRONOMICAL BUREAU—A CASE STUDY ON THE HISTORY OF SOCIO-ASTRONOMY

三、耶稣会天文家对"四余"的态度及其所引发的争辩明末入华的耶稣会士利玛窦(Matteo Ricci,1552—1610),体认到中国政府对天算的重视,乃极力在教会中鼓吹"知识传教"的策略,致使天算之学因缘际会地成为中西两大文化交会的主要接触点之一。天主教天文家为突显西法的优越。

The so-called 'four imaginary stars' mean Rahu, Ketu, Yue-bei, Zi-qi, the four invisible stars, whose original idea came from India, but their definitions changed in China. In Chinese traditional Astronomy/Astrology, 'four imaginary stars' had obvious figures and deities, and fortune-tellers usually depended on their locations to predict good omen or ill luck. After Adam Schall took over the Qing Astronomical Bureau in 1644, he advocatedthe New Method vigorously. Not only 'did he delete Zi-qi, but also reversed the definitions of Rahu and Ketu. Moreover, he overthrew the traditional methods of calculating the locations of 'four imaginary stars.' In one aspect, his purpose was to reject the superstitious interpretation of 'four imaginary stars.' In the other aspect, he probably tried to be fanciful and adopted methods different from the traditional ones. Ancient Chinese people thought highly of ' four imaginary stars' not simply in view of astronomy, but mostly for their important astrological interpretation. Because of the different thoughts between Chinese conservative intellectuals and Christian astronomers, an intense argument broke out and nearly lasted for a century since the beginning of Qing Dynasty. Except during the period of 'calendar lawsuit' (1664—1668), although the New Method was always in an official and orthodox position, the Astronomical Bureau was finally forced to make a compromise with conservative intellectuals in 1740. In other words, according to the tradition, they put Zi-qi back in calendar, and recovered the original definitions of Rahu and Ketu. Only calculation methods were based on the New Method. This case concretely indicated the close and undivided relationship of the ancient astronomy and society in China.