In regards to the magnificent old Chinese astronomical instruments, I picked
up a book in Hong Kong called Heavenly Creations, Gems of Ancient Chinese
Invention, produced by the Hong Kong Museum of History, 1998. This book has
photographs and descriptions of some of the instruments that may have been
featured on the History Channel program.
This abreviated list of the instruments from the book may help you research
for pictures or visits.
1. Stone Sundial, Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D 220, Excavated at Tuoketuo,
Inner Mongolia in 1897, National Museum of Chinese History.
2. Armillary Sphere (reconstruction) Northern Song (960-1127). This is one
of the brass, dragon supported instruments that may have been featured. It
is a reconstruction of one part of a three story water clock which used a
povotal cogwheel and an escape wheel.
3. Celestial globe (reconstruction) Northern Song (960-1127). This is a
second component of the water clock and had a brass sphere of the heavens in
which an observer could sit and rotate a sphere showing the night sky above
him.
4. Equatorial torquetum (model) Ming dynasty, built 1437-1442. This model
may have been featured on the program because the picture shows a beautiful
brass, dragon supported instrument. The description from the book: "This is
a model of the "simplified instrument" (jian yi) sometimes translated as
"abridged armilla", which was made for the observatory in Beijing. It was
moved to the Zijinshan Observatory in Nanjing in 1935. The Ming instrument
was based on that designed by the Yuan astronomer Guo Shoujing, who built a
total of 13 instruments around the year 1276. In the abridged armilla Guo
made a breaktgrough by separating the three rings of the armillary sphere
and mounting them separately, and in this way they became far easier to
install and more useful. At the time it ranked as the most advanced
astronomical instrument in the world."
5. The Old Beijing Observatory, Ming dynasty, consruction began in 1442.
(the photograph shows several large brass instruments in close proximity in
an outdoor setting with platforms for viewers to walk around the
instruments). The description: "Originally erected at hte southeastern
corner of the Beijing city wall, this was the national astronomical
observatroy in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Ming astronomical
instruments were either destroyed or, like the abridged armilla and the
armillary sphere, were moved elsewhere. All of the instruments now
preserved in the observatory-the equatorial armillary sphere, the celestial
globe, the quadrant, the ecliptic armillary sphere, the horizon circle, the
quadrant altazimuth, the sextant, the elaborate qouatorial armillary
sphere--were built in the early Qing period."
I hope these descriptions help you find the pictures, documentation or item
locations you are looking for.
----Original Message Follows----
From: tony moss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Mike at al,
>
>Can you recall the name of the programme?
>Unlikely, I know, in your semi-conscious state.
Mmmmh!
>Discovery Channel often have repeats, we may have a chance to see it
again.
>
>Mike Shaw
>
Ooops! When I came to look it up in the TV mag' it was on the 'UK
History Channel' (digital freeview). I *said* I wasn't paying full
attention.
It was called "Millennium: A Thousand Years of History" (Five editions
in omnibus.) Another half-aware glimpse was of the astronomical
contributions of the Jesuits in China and their BEAUTIFUL astronomical
instruments made for them by Chinese craftsmen. Enormous bronze
astronomical quadrants sprouting dragons etc. I *think* these were real
and not electronic creations so I wonder if and where they still exist?
Tony M.
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