Wāng Qí is a astronomer.
He co-discovered the periodic comet 142P/Ge-Wang.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Wang Fan
Wang Fan was an astronomer in traditional China. He was an officer of the kingdom of Wu, proficient in mathematics and astronomy. He calculated the distance from the sun to the earth, but his geometric model was not correct. In addition, he give the numerical value of as 142 / 45 = 3.155… , not as accurate as the contemporary mathematician Liu Hui achieved.
Typhoon Lee
Typhoon Lee is an astrophysicist and geochemist at Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Republic of China, where he specializes in isotope geochemistry and nuclear astrophysics .
Lee received his Ph.D in astronomy at the in 1977.
His honors include the Robert J. Trumpler Award in 1978 from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and Outstanding Researcher Awards from the National Science Council in 1985-87 and 1988-90.
A selection of his publications includes:
*''X-wind, Refractory IDPs and Cometary Nuclei'', 1999, in Proc. IAU Colloquim 168, Astro. Soc. Pacific, San Francisco.
*''Proto-stellar Cosmic Rays and Extinct Radioactivities in Meteorites'', 1998, Ap. J. 506, 898-912.
*''Coral Sr/Ca as a High Precision High Time-Resolution Paleo Thermometer for Sea Surface Temperature: Looking for ENSO Effects in Kuroshio near Taiwan'', 1996, Proc. 1995 Nagoya ICBP-PAGES/PEP-II Symposium, 211-216.
*''U-Disequilibrium Dating of Corals in Southern Taiwan by Mass Spectrometry'', 1993, J. Geol. Soc. China. 36, 57-66.
*''Model-Dependent Be-10 Sedimentation Rates for the Taiwan Strait and their Tectonic Significance'', 1993, Geology, 21, 423-426.
*''First Detection of Fallout Cs-135 and Potential Application of 137Cs/135Cs'', 1993, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 57, 3493-3497.
Lee received his Ph.D in astronomy at the in 1977.
His honors include the Robert J. Trumpler Award in 1978 from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and Outstanding Researcher Awards from the National Science Council in 1985-87 and 1988-90.
A selection of his publications includes:
*''X-wind, Refractory IDPs and Cometary Nuclei'', 1999, in Proc. IAU Colloquim 168, Astro. Soc. Pacific, San Francisco.
*''Proto-stellar Cosmic Rays and Extinct Radioactivities in Meteorites'', 1998, Ap. J. 506, 898-912.
*''Coral Sr/Ca as a High Precision High Time-Resolution Paleo Thermometer for Sea Surface Temperature: Looking for ENSO Effects in Kuroshio near Taiwan'', 1996, Proc. 1995 Nagoya ICBP-PAGES/PEP-II Symposium, 211-216.
*''U-Disequilibrium Dating of Corals in Southern Taiwan by Mass Spectrometry'', 1993, J. Geol. Soc. China. 36, 57-66.
*''Model-Dependent Be-10 Sedimentation Rates for the Taiwan Strait and their Tectonic Significance'', 1993, Geology, 21, 423-426.
*''First Detection of Fallout Cs-135 and Potential Application of 137Cs/135Cs'', 1993, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 57, 3493-3497.
Three Pillars of Chinese Catholicism
of Shanghai, and Lǐ Zhīzǎo and Yáng Tíngyún both of Hangzhou, are known as the Three Great Pillars of Chinese Catholicism . It is due to their combined efforts that Hangzhou and Shanghai became the centre of missionary activity in late China. The three men shared an interest in Western science and mathematics, and it is probable that this was what first attracted them to the Jesuits responsible for their conversion.
This name is derived from a passage in Saint Paul’s letter to the :
:“And when they had known the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship…"
The passage in Chinese is somewhat more obvious:
:「那称为教会柱石的雅各、矶法、约翰，就向我和巴拿巴用右手行相交之礼...」
wherein it calls , and the "pillars of the Church". The inevitable connection was then seen between the "pillars" of the early Church and the three men who helped to evangelize Ming China.
Yang Tingyun was born into a devout Buddhist family. At the age of 35 , after taking the Imperial Examinations he assumed the post of Inspector. In 1600 he met Matteo Ricci one of the founding fathers of missionary activity in China, but did not convert or receive Baptism at that time. Later however, in 1611, Yang accompanied a fellow official Li Zhizao back to Hangzhou to arrange for his late father's funeral, and saw that Li had not only thrown out his home's Buddhist statues and imagery, but that he did not send for Buddhist priests to give the man his last rites. Instead, he had brought two Jesuit priests, Lazaro Cattaneo and Nicolas Trigault, to do the job and a Chinese monk Zhōng Míngrén to explain the rite's significance to the gathered friends and relatives. One month later, impressed by Li's newfound piety, he abandoned his concubine, and was himself baptized, receiving the Christian name "Michael" .
When the church had for the most part been completed, Yang became severely ill. Knowing it was his end, Yang Tingyun requested the from the priest, and in January of 1628, at the age of 71, died. Because he had been seen as a great scholar and man of excellent moral fibre, the people of Hangzhou had him honoured in the Xiāngxián Cí , a hall for honouring local heroes and ancestors.
After converting, Li Zhizao took an oath saying, "As long as I live, all that God has given me, I shall for put to good use for Him." While still in Beijing, he presented Matteo Ricci with 100 of gold for the purpose of building a church there. Later Li would also be responsible for introducing Catholicism to his hometown of Hangzhou the following year when, returning home for his father's funeral, he brought with him two other Jesuit missionaries.
Li Zhizao was responsible for translating many works of Western science and mathematics into Chinese.
*''Plea to Translate Books on Western Calendar Methods'', ''Qǐng yì xī yáng lì fǎ děng shū shū'' 《请译西洋历法等书疏》, was submitted to the Ming dynasty Wanli Emperor, beseeching him to hire missionaries and have them make corrections to the Chinese calendar.
Origin of name
This name is derived from a passage in Saint Paul’s letter to the :
:“And when they had known the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship…"
The passage in Chinese is somewhat more obvious:
:「那称为教会柱石的雅各、矶法、约翰，就向我和巴拿巴用右手行相交之礼...」
wherein it calls , and the "pillars of the Church". The inevitable connection was then seen between the "pillars" of the early Church and the three men who helped to evangelize Ming China.
Xu Guangqi
Yang Tingyun
Yang Tingyun was born into a devout Buddhist family. At the age of 35 , after taking the Imperial Examinations he assumed the post of Inspector. In 1600 he met Matteo Ricci one of the founding fathers of missionary activity in China, but did not convert or receive Baptism at that time. Later however, in 1611, Yang accompanied a fellow official Li Zhizao back to Hangzhou to arrange for his late father's funeral, and saw that Li had not only thrown out his home's Buddhist statues and imagery, but that he did not send for Buddhist priests to give the man his last rites. Instead, he had brought two Jesuit priests, Lazaro Cattaneo and Nicolas Trigault, to do the job and a Chinese monk Zhōng Míngrén to explain the rite's significance to the gathered friends and relatives. One month later, impressed by Li's newfound piety, he abandoned his concubine, and was himself baptized, receiving the Christian name "Michael" .
When the church had for the most part been completed, Yang became severely ill. Knowing it was his end, Yang Tingyun requested the from the priest, and in January of 1628, at the age of 71, died. Because he had been seen as a great scholar and man of excellent moral fibre, the people of Hangzhou had him honoured in the Xiāngxián Cí , a hall for honouring local heroes and ancestors.
After converting, Li Zhizao took an oath saying, "As long as I live, all that God has given me, I shall for put to good use for Him." While still in Beijing, he presented Matteo Ricci with 100 of gold for the purpose of building a church there. Later Li would also be responsible for introducing Catholicism to his hometown of Hangzhou the following year when, returning home for his father's funeral, he brought with him two other Jesuit missionaries.
Writings
Li Zhizao was responsible for translating many works of Western science and mathematics into Chinese.
*''Plea to Translate Books on Western Calendar Methods'', ''Qǐng yì xī yáng lì fǎ děng shū shū'' 《请译西洋历法等书疏》, was submitted to the Ming dynasty Wanli Emperor, beseeching him to hire missionaries and have them make corrections to the Chinese calendar.
Sun Kwok
Sun Kwok（Chinese:郭新) is a Hong Kong astronomer specialized in the study of planetary nebula. In 1978, he proposed that the exposure of the core and the subsequent initiation of another fast wind, lead to a "snow-plow" effect that creates a planetary nebula. This interacting-winds theory has become the standard model of planetary nebulae formation, and has led to a new understanding of the dynamical evolution of planetary nebulae as well as the origin of their different morphologies. He is currently a Dean of Science of University of Hong Kong.
Born in Hong Kong, Sun Kwok was graduated from , the mother school of Daniel Chee Tsui, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics and Shing-Tung Yau, Fields Medal Winner.
* Chair Professor of Physics and Dean of Science, University of Hong Kong
* Faculty Professor, University of Calgary
* Distinguished Research Fellow and Director, Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
* Professor, University of Calgary
* Chairman, IAU Working Group on Planetary Nebulae
* Principal Investigator , Canadian participation in the Odin mission
Kwok's research is mainly on the interstellar chemistry and stellar evolution. He is widely recognized for his theory on the origin of planetary nebulae, which has transformed our understanding of the death of Sun-like stars. His more recent accomplishments include the discovery of proto-planetary nebulae, the missing link in our understanding of the late stages of stellar evolution, and the discovery of the unidentified emission feature at 21 micrometres which is believed to be an unusual carbonaceous compound . Using space-based infrared telescopes, he has found that organic compounds with aromatic and aliphatic structures can be synthesized rapidly in the late stages of stellar evolution. These star-manufactured compounds are now known to have spread widely throughout the Galaxy, and are believed to have played a role in the chemical enrichment of the early solar system.
He has two recent books The Origin and Evolution of Planetary Nebulae and Cosmic Butterflies both published by Cambridge University Press. His book Physics and Chemistry of the Interstellar Medium will be published by University Science Books in 2006.
Background
Born in Hong Kong, Sun Kwok was graduated from , the mother school of Daniel Chee Tsui, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics and Shing-Tung Yau, Fields Medal Winner.
* Chair Professor of Physics and Dean of Science, University of Hong Kong
* Faculty Professor, University of Calgary
* Distinguished Research Fellow and Director, Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
* Professor, University of Calgary
* Chairman, IAU Working Group on Planetary Nebulae
* Principal Investigator , Canadian participation in the Odin mission
Research
Kwok's research is mainly on the interstellar chemistry and stellar evolution. He is widely recognized for his theory on the origin of planetary nebulae, which has transformed our understanding of the death of Sun-like stars. His more recent accomplishments include the discovery of proto-planetary nebulae, the missing link in our understanding of the late stages of stellar evolution, and the discovery of the unidentified emission feature at 21 micrometres which is believed to be an unusual carbonaceous compound . Using space-based infrared telescopes, he has found that organic compounds with aromatic and aliphatic structures can be synthesized rapidly in the late stages of stellar evolution. These star-manufactured compounds are now known to have spread widely throughout the Galaxy, and are believed to have played a role in the chemical enrichment of the early solar system.
He has two recent books The Origin and Evolution of Planetary Nebulae and Cosmic Butterflies both published by Cambridge University Press. His book Physics and Chemistry of the Interstellar Medium will be published by University Science Books in 2006.
Ma Yize
Ma Yize was an important Arab- Islamic astronomer and astrologist who worked as the chief official of the astronomical observatory for the Song dynasty.
In the early 10th Century, the Chinese emperor of the Song dynasty encouraged the advancement of the study of astronomy and its related disciplines. In 961, the Emperor Taizu appointed Ma Yize as the chief official to take charge of the government observatory.
Ma Yize's ancestor were Arabs coming from an area somewhere between Yemen and Oman in the Arabic Peninsula. Ma is a Sinicised form of the name ''Muhammad'' .
When Ma Yize was in China, he assisted Wang Chuna in compiling several important astrological works, including the Yingtianli . His job was to provide observation, and computation of the regularities in celestial phenomena, using the Islamic methods. His findings were used by Wang Chuna in the compilation of Yingtianli, which was completed in 963. The calculation, based on a 7-day week system similar to that in the Islamic calendar, was first adopted in this document, which was the most important occurrence in the Chinese history of calendrical methods.
Ma Yize might have consulted many works of Islamic mathematical astronomy into Chinese, including:
* Kitab al-Zij , 880, by Abu'Abdallah al-Battani , 858-929
* al-Zij al-sabi
* Kitab Matali' al-Buruj
* Kitab Aqdar al- Ittisalat
It is possible that Ma was influenced by Al-Battani and Al-Hamdani. Owing to Ma's contribution to the compilation of 'Yingtianli', Ma was made a hereditary noble and his sons later succeeded his position with the Imperial Observatory.
In the early 10th Century, the Chinese emperor of the Song dynasty encouraged the advancement of the study of astronomy and its related disciplines. In 961, the Emperor Taizu appointed Ma Yize as the chief official to take charge of the government observatory.
Ma Yize's ancestor were Arabs coming from an area somewhere between Yemen and Oman in the Arabic Peninsula. Ma is a Sinicised form of the name ''Muhammad'' .
When Ma Yize was in China, he assisted Wang Chuna in compiling several important astrological works, including the Yingtianli . His job was to provide observation, and computation of the regularities in celestial phenomena, using the Islamic methods. His findings were used by Wang Chuna in the compilation of Yingtianli, which was completed in 963. The calculation, based on a 7-day week system similar to that in the Islamic calendar, was first adopted in this document, which was the most important occurrence in the Chinese history of calendrical methods.
Ma Yize might have consulted many works of Islamic mathematical astronomy into Chinese, including:
* Kitab al-Zij , 880, by Abu'Abdallah al-Battani , 858-929
* al-Zij al-sabi
* Kitab Matali' al-Buruj
* Kitab Aqdar al- Ittisalat
It is possible that Ma was influenced by Al-Battani and Al-Hamdani. Owing to Ma's contribution to the compilation of 'Yingtianli', Ma was made a hereditary noble and his sons later succeeded his position with the Imperial Observatory.
Liang Lingzan
Liang Lingzan was a Tang Dynasty military engineer and government official of the Kaiyuan era who invented the first mechanical clock with the Tantric monk and mathematician Yi Xing . It was actually an astronomical instrument that served as a clock, made of bronze in the capital of Chang'an in the 720s. It was described by a contemporary text this way:
was made in the image of the round heavens and on it were shown the lunar mansions in their order, the equator and the degrees of the heavenly circumference. Water, flowing into scoops, turned a wheel automatically, rotating it one complete revolution in one day and night. Besides this, there were two rings fitted around the celestial sphere outside, having the sun and moon threaded on them, and these were made to move in circling orbit ... And they made a wooden casing the surface of which represented the horizon, since the instrument was half sunk in it. It permitted the exact determinations of the time of dawns and dusks, full and new moons, tarrying and hurrying. Moreover, there were two wooden jacks standing on the horizon surface, having one a bell and the other a drum in front of it, the bell being struck automatically to indicate the hours, and the drum being beaten automatically to indicate the quarters. All these motions were brought about by machinery within the casing, each depending on wheels and shafts, hooks, pins and interlocking rods, stopping devices and locks checking mutually.
In addition to being an engineer and official, he was also a scholar and artist. He wrote ''The Five-Planet and Twenty-eight Constellation Deities'' , of which a Song Dynasty copy resides in the collection of the Osaka City Art Museum.
was made in the image of the round heavens and on it were shown the lunar mansions in their order, the equator and the degrees of the heavenly circumference. Water, flowing into scoops, turned a wheel automatically, rotating it one complete revolution in one day and night. Besides this, there were two rings fitted around the celestial sphere outside, having the sun and moon threaded on them, and these were made to move in circling orbit ... And they made a wooden casing the surface of which represented the horizon, since the instrument was half sunk in it. It permitted the exact determinations of the time of dawns and dusks, full and new moons, tarrying and hurrying. Moreover, there were two wooden jacks standing on the horizon surface, having one a bell and the other a drum in front of it, the bell being struck automatically to indicate the hours, and the drum being beaten automatically to indicate the quarters. All these motions were brought about by machinery within the casing, each depending on wheels and shafts, hooks, pins and interlocking rods, stopping devices and locks checking mutually.
In addition to being an engineer and official, he was also a scholar and artist. He wrote ''The Five-Planet and Twenty-eight Constellation Deities'' , of which a Song Dynasty copy resides in the collection of the Osaka City Art Museum.
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