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The Emergence of Astrophysics in Asia pp 213–244Cite as

The Development of Astronomy and Emergence of Astrophysics in China

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Part of the book series: Historical & Cultural Astronomy ((HCA))

Abstract

China had a long tradition of astronomy. But, like in other cultures, astronomy in ancient China was essentially positional. The study of the physical nature of celestial bodies has only been a recent development. Knowledge about astrophysics began to be transmitted to China in the middle of the nineteenth century by Western Christian missionaries. With the downfall of the Imperial Qing Dynasty and the founding of the Republic of China in 1912 astronomy began to be seen not as paraphernalia of Imperial rule but as a science with its focus on astrophysics.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Sophia University for kindly supplying Fig. 8.16.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan qu, Beijing, 100049, China

    Xiaoyu Ning & Xiaochun Sun

  2. National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, 260 Moo 4, T Donkaew, A Maerim, Chiang Mai, 50180, Thailand

    Wayne Orchiston

  3. Institute for Oriental Studies, Daito-bunka University, Tokumaru 2-19-10, Itabashi, Tokyo, 175-0083, Japan

    Tsuko Nakamura

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  1. Institute for Oriental Studies, Daito-Bunka University, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan

    Tsuko Nakamura

  2. National Astronomical Research, Institute of Thailand, Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Wayne Orchiston

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Ning, X., Sun, X., Orchiston, W., Nakamura, T. (2017). The Development of Astronomy and Emergence of Astrophysics in China. In: Nakamura, T., Orchiston, W. (eds) The Emergence of Astrophysics in Asia. Historical & Cultural Astronomy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62082-4_8

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