Chapter 21 Section 6 Astronomy Officer from India

In the Tang Dynasty, more astronomical and calendar knowledge was introduced from India to China, and had an important impact on the development of Chinese astronomical and calendar calculations. "Old Tang Book" Volume 198 records Tianzhu State said: "There are characters, good at astronomy and calendar." Record Nibhara Guoyun: "It is quite understandable to speculate on surplus and emptiness, and it is also a calendar technique." "Tong Dian" Volume 193, "New Book of Tang" Volume 221 is roughly the same.It shows that Chinese people at that time knew that India, Nepal and other countries were well developed in astronomy and calendar calculation.

Volume 198 of "Old Tang Book" is recorded again, in the seventh year of Kaiyuan (719 AD), 罽 [jiji] Bin Guo sent an envoy to present a folder of astronomical scriptures. Volume 971 of "Cefu Yuangui" records that this event was in the eighth year of Kaiyuan, and it is also recorded that in April of the twenty-fifth year of Kaiyuan (737 AD), the Sanskrit version of "Astrology" was presented by the Great Buddha Dharma in Eastern India.This is another record of the introduction of Indian books on astronomy to China. At that time, there were many books on astronomy and calculus in the Sanskrit books carried by the Chinese monks and Indian monks who came to China, which can be seen from the scriptures they translated.For example, "Jushe Lun" translated by Xuanzang, "Buddha Said the Great Peacock Cursed King Sutra" translated by Yijing, "Buddha Mother Great Peacock Ming King Sutra" translated by Bukong, "Suyao [Yao Medicine] Sutra", Jin Gangzhi translated "The Rituals of Reciting the Big Dipper", Facheng's translation of "The Dharani Sutra of the Mother of the Stars", etc.Among them, "Su Yao Jing" has the most astronomical value.This sutra is divided into two volumes, a total of eight parts.It introduces in detail the ancient Indian knowledge about the twenty-seven mansions, the seven celestial bodies, the twelve palaces, astrology, etc. It is an important material for the study of ancient Chinese and Indian astronomy and calendar.

In addition, Xuanzang, Yijing and others also recorded Indian astronomy and calendar calculations.Xuanzang recorded the length units of ancient India and the age of India in the second volume of "Da Tang Western Regions" "India Overview", which are very detailed.The third volume of Yijing's "Nanhai Jigui Neifa Zhuan" "Xianyou Guanshi" records the details of the time-leaking method in Nalanda Temple, Mahabodhi Temple and Kushina Temple in India.There are also records in the book such as heliometry and season division, all of which have certain reference value for scientific history research.

It is not difficult to see from the above records that people in the Tang Dynasty of our country already knew a lot about India's astronomy and calendar.However, what can best reflect the exchanges between China and India in this regard is the story of a group of monks in the Tang Dynasty making the "Dayan Calendar" and Indians serving as astronomical officials in the court of the Tang Dynasty. "Old Tang Book" Volume 32 "Li Yi" records: "During the time of Emperor Gaozong, the Taishi played the old calendar and added time and time, and it should be revised. Li Chunfeng was ordered to make the "Linde Calendar"... In the time of Tianhou, Qu Tanluo made "Guangzhai" "Calendar"...In the middle of Kaiyuan, a monk and his party refined the calendars of various families, saying that "Linde Calendar" has been in use for a long time, and the sundial and latitude are gradually getting worse. Prime Minister Zhang said that Xuanzong summoned him to make a new calendar...The modern precision number, They are all based on the pure wind and the method of one line, and there is no difference through the ages. Later generations have changed it, and they have to be different, and there is no more precision." Qu Tanluo's "Guangzhai Calendar" and the new calendar created by Yiyi ("Da Da "Yanli") are all influenced by the ancient Indian astronomical calendar.

Yixing was a famous scientist in the Tang Dynasty, but he was also an eminent monk at the same time.According to "Biography of Song Gaoseng", Volume 5, "One Line Biography", he worshiped Zen Master Puji as his teacher in his early years and became a monk.Later, he worshiped Bukong King Kong to learn secret methods, and translated secret scriptures with Shan Wuwei. "Ruizong and Xuanzong also invited Ru Neijixianyuan to find an edict to live in Xingtang Temple. The scriptures they turned over were seven volumes of "Shu", sixty volumes of "Shetiao Fuzang", and one volume of "Shishi Xilu". Volumes, "Kaiyuan Dayan Calendar" fifty-two volumes. Its calendar was compiled into "Tang Shu Lv Li Zhi", which was considered a non-published code. It also made a tour instrument, and the Huang Chi Erdao used iron as a rule and made it in the courtyard." One volume of "Suyao Ritual Tracks", one volume of "Seven Obsidian Stars' Different Practices", and one volume of "Big Dipper Seven Star Huma Method" have been included in the secret collection.According to volume 21 of "Taizheng Xinxiu Tripitaka" and volume 1 of "Brahma Fire Nine Obsidies", they are also written by Yixing.These works included in the secret collection mainly introduce the Indian esoteric mantras and astrology, but also have a certain amount of astronomical knowledge, which shows that Yiyi was deeply influenced by Indian astronomy.The "Da Yan Calendar" written by him was the most accurate at that time, which is also related to his reference to the Indian calendar.

Yang Jingfeng from the Tang Dynasty wrote at the end of the third chapter of "Suyao Jing": "Today, there are three Indian calendars of Kasyapa, Qutan, and Kumara, and they are in the Taishi Pavilion. However, for today's use, Qutan's calendar is mostly used. , and Dayan to enshrine the ears." The Kasyapa family mentioned here, that is, Kasyapa Xiaowei, Kumara, also known as Kumara, are all astronomers from India; The Gautama that arrived belongs to this family. In May 1977, the tomb and epitaph of Qu Tanzhuan [zhuanzhuan] were discovered in Chang'an County, Shaanxi Province.The epitaph records: "Origin Qizuo, originally from Zhongtian, descended to Lianhua, wrote in Shangguo, and passed away as Jingzhao people." That is to say, this family moved from Zhongtianzhu to China around the early Tang Dynasty.The genealogy of the five generations of his family is: Qutanyi, Yiziluo, Luozi Xida, the fourth son of Sidda Zhuan, and the fifth son Yan of Zhuan.Except for Qu Tanyi who was "not an official in the high way", the other four generations served as astronomical officials in the court of the Tang Dynasty, and successively served as Taishiling, Taishijian, Sitianjian and other positions.

Qu Tan, Sanskrit is Gautama, according to Volume 21 of "All Sutras, Sounds and Meanings": "Qu Tan's family has the cloud Qutama. Those who talk about Qu, this is the cloud and the ground; Tama, the most superior. It means that apart from the sky, in the earth Human beings, this family is the most superior, so the cloud land is also the most superior." Qu Tan also translated as Gautama, which is a famous surname in ancient India, and Buddha Sakyamuni was surnamed Gautama.In the Tang Dynasty, members of the Gautan family were proficient in Sanskrit and Indian astronomy and calendar calculations. Their service in the court made Indian astronomy and calendar calculations have a more direct and powerful influence in the Tang Dynasty.

Among the five generations of the Qutan family, Qutanluo was the first to serve in the Tang court.As early as the second year of Gaozong Linde (AD 665), he had been the Taishi Ling of Sitiantai, and when he developed "Guangzhai Calendar" in the second year of Wuhou Shengong (AD 698), he had served Sitiantai for at least 34 years.According to the epitaph written by Qu Tan, he was "a doctor in the imperial court, a supervisor of Sijin, and a servant of the prince as a gift". Qutan Xida was born around the time of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty and died during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Kaiyuan.He is the most prestigious member of the Qu Tan family, and also the one who received the most favorable treatment from the court. According to the epitaph written by Qu Tan, his official title is quite prominent. Five hundred households in Shiyi, donated to the governor of Fenzhou."

Qu Tan Zhuan, the fourth son of Qu Tan Xida, also worked in Sitiantai, and was once Sitian Shaojian and Sitianjian.According to Volume 27 of "New Tang Book", in the ninth year of Kaiyuan (721 A.D.), the edict and his party made the new calendar. In the fifteenth year (727 A.D.), the party passed away. The new year's calendar was issued by Yousi. In the 21st year (733 A.D.), Qu Tan wrote a memorial to criticize the "Dayan Calendar" because he was not allowed to participate in the revision of the new calendar.It can be seen that, no later than 727, Qu Tanzhuan had been working in Sitiantai.According to the fourth and fourth volumes of "Tang Huiyao", he was still working in Sitiantai at least in the first year of Baoying (762 AD).

Qu Tanqian, "Jingji Xia" in Volume 47 of "Old Book of Tang" and Volume 59 "Yiwen San" of "New Book of Tang" all describe the "Volume "Jiazi Yuanchen Calendar of the Tang Dynasty" written by Qu Tanqian. It can be seen that Qu Tanqian is also a An astronomer, but it is not known whether he served in Sitiantai.He may have been one of Gautan's brothers. Qu Tanyan, the fifth son of Qu Tanyan.According to "General Annals·Clan Brief·Zhufang Resurnames": "Qutanzi Qutanyan was the official official of Dongdong." It can be seen that he was also an official of Sitiantai.

Here, we should also focus on the "Kaiyuan Zhanjing" compiled by Gautan Siddhartha and the "Jiuzhili" translated by him. "New Book of Tang" Volume 59 "Yiwen San" describes: ""Da Tang Kaiyuan Zhan Jing" 110 volumes, Gautan Siddharth Collection".Since the laws of the Tang Dynasty did not allow such books to be circulated among the people, this book was not easy to obtain at that time, and then it was lost for hundreds of years. When Mingshan reshaped the golden body of a Buddha statue, he found it in the belly of the Buddha statue.The current biography is 120 volumes.From Juan 1 "Tian Zhan" to Juan 110 "Star Atlas", it is astronomy; Juan 111 "Ba Gu Zhan" to Juan 120 "Dragon Fish Snake Zhan" is a divination of things.From the table of contents, we can know that there are many superstitions in the content of this book.But it still has scientific value, and its greatest contribution is the collection and preservation of a large number of ancient astrological documents.According to the "Siku Quanshu Jianmu", "Sui Shu·Jing Ji Zhi" recorded 81 weft books, and "Kaiyuan Zhan Jing" preserved seven or eight of them.What is especially valuable is that in Volume 104 of this book, the full text is included in the "Jiu Zhi Li" translated by Gautan Siddha in the sixth year of Kaiyuan.Today's Mr. Chen Jiujin made a proofreading note and research on "Jiu Zhi Li", he said: ""Jiu Zhi Li" is an important historical document for the study of Indian astronomy, and it has also had a certain impact on Chinese astronomy." He believes that "" Jiu Zhi Li was compiled according to the Indian calendar, and some content of Chinese astronomy has been added. Therefore, there is no hope of finding its original version in India. The main purpose of the translation of "Jiu Zhi Li" by the government of the Tang Dynasty was to use the Indian algorithm , and predict the solar and lunar eclipse with reference to the Han calendar. According to the research of Zhu Wenxin and Wang Yingwei, the method of "Jiufu eclipse difference" created by "Da Yan Li" was indeed inspired by "Jiu Zhi Li". There are some concepts and texts similar to "Jiu Zhi Li" in "Eclipse Discussion". The method of calculating the eclipse in "Jiu Zhi Li" is more scientific and has merits. "New Book of Tang·Li Zhi" criticizes it 'The technique is complicated', 'the number of names is strange', and 'it cannot be used as a law' is not fair." He also said that Gu Guanguang, a Qing Dynasty man, wrote "Jiu Zhi Li Jie" in 1836, which was a reference to "Jiu Zhi Li Li Jie". 》 Made a systematic and in-depth research.In his research, he was inspired by the Shixian Calendar and the Muslim Calendar, and these three calendars belong to the same system.In recent years, the famous Japanese scientist Yabuuchi Kiyoshi has also done in-depth research on "Nine Zhili", which made up for the deficiencies of Gu Guanguang.Yabuuchi Kiyoshi believes that the "Jiuzhi Calendar" is closely related to the Indian "Calendar Manna", and many data are almost identical.Therefore, the "Jiu Zhi Li" is an important work that represents the transitional period between the Indian "Solar Calendar" and "Calendar Manna". "New Tang Book" Volume 28 "Li Si" said: "The "Jiu Zhi Li" comes from the Western Regions...the calculations are all written in calligraphy, and there is no need to plan." That is to say, at that time, Chinese arithmetic was Use planning instead of writing calculations.Ancient Indians used pen calculations, and with the translation of the "Jiu Zhi Li" into Chinese, Indian pen calculations were also understood by the Chinese. "Nine Zhili" introduced the Indian "calculus method" at the beginning, that is, the way of writing numbers. Unfortunately, these numbers have not been preserved in the existing books.After listing the ten numeral symbols from ○ to nine, the book says: "You Tianzhu's algorithm uses the multiplication and division of the above nine characters, and the characters are all formed in one fell swoop. Every number up to ten enters the first place. Every vacancy There is a place for Hengan. There is no reason to make mistakes. It is easy to calculate, and the description must be done first." We usually call it "Arabic Numerals", namely 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6, 7, 8, and 9 were actually first invented by the ancient Indians, and as they spread around the world, they gradually became what they are today.In the Tang Dynasty, although Indian digital and pen algorithms had been introduced to China and attracted the attention of Chinese people, they were not well utilized and popularized. In "Nine Zhili", there is a section "Tuiyue Measuring Fate·Duan Method". According to the opinion of Japanese scholar Yabuuchi Kiyoshi, this is the earliest record of the trigonometric function table seen in ancient Chinese books.This tells us that India's trigonometric function tables have been introduced to my country in the Tang Dynasty.