清代方测雨器、方蒸发器由来考

TEXTUAL RESEARCH OF THE ORIGIN OF RECTANGULAR-OPENING RAIN AND EVAPORATION GAUGES IN THE QING DYNASTY

本文前半部介绍我国清乾隆年间戴源所记方测雨器、方蒸发器的构造和作用,并对比介绍欧美方测雨器及方蒸发器的沿革。后半部主要探讨这些仪器外形方圆变化的原因。并对戴源仪器本身及《测圆图解》进行分析,进而证明这种仪器并非我国自创,却系耶稣会传教士由巴黎传入中国。但在我国气象仪器史中有着重要意义。

In the first part of this paper, the structure and function ofrain and evaporation gauges with a rectangular opening are described,which appeared in Ceyuan Tujie (A Diagrammatic Study of MeasuringCircles) written by Dai Yuan (1761) during the reign of Emperor HongLi (Qian Long).Then the two gauges are compared with those used inEurope and America before and after the year of 1761. In the secondpart the evolution of the gauges with their openings changing from therectangular to circular form is examined and the nature of the bookCeyuan Tujie is analyzed.It is concluded that the gauges recorded inCeyuan Tujie were introduced from Paris to China by the Jesuits-Pretre Francais and used for rainfall and evaporation measurements inBeijing, the capital of China in the Qing dynasty just before the yearof 1761. Though the gauges were not invented by the Chinese, the record is still of significance in the history of meteorological instruments in China.