明钦天监夏官正刘信事迹考述

An Exploration of the Biographical Information of Liu Xin,Summer Astronomer of the Imperial Board of Astronomy in Ming Dynasty

刘信是明代前期较有作为的钦天监官员,其学术领域兼涉伊斯兰天文、历法之学且有重要建树。文章在以前有关研究的基础上,结合新发现的资料对刘信的生平事迹及学术贡献做进一步探讨,认为明代徐有贞《武功集》中所载之"刘中孚"即刘信;《武功集》所述刘氏撰写《西域历书》即传世《西域历法通径》的稿本。刘信有较高学术造诣,惜英年殉国,其事迹和撰述遂被埋没。

Liu Xin is an accomplished official of the Imperial Board of Astronomy in early Ming Dynasty. Covering Islamic astronomy and calendrical studies, his academic research made considerable progress. On the basis of previous study, this paper further investigates Liu＇s life and his academic contributions by combining the newly discovered sources, arguing that ＂Liu Zhongfu＂ narrated in Wugongji by Xu Youzhen in Ming Dynasty is none other than Liu Xin. It is mentioned in Wugongji that Liu wrote the manuscript of Calendar of the Western Regions. Liu Xin was distinguished in academic research. It is a pity that he young, with his deeds and works being neglected.