200 Shinzo Shinjo 



that of scientific investigation of the existing materials, snbject to 

 text-criticism in the strict sense. 



As far as may be inferred from our thorougli study, the develop- 

 ment of the astronomical science in China, from the remotest ages 

 down to the epoch of the foundation of the calendar system in the 

 T-'ai ch'u jl^^ period (i.e. 104 B.C.), seems to have followed on the 

 whole a quite natural order of evolution, showing no trace whatever 

 of an abrupt discontinuity caused I)y foreign influences. We may, 

 however, notice certain epochs during which iui|:ortant improvements 

 seem to have been introduced : 



(a) Introduction of the solar calendar at the time of tiie Emperor 

 Yav) ^, presumably about the 24th century B.C. 



(b) Introduction of the 28th htiu system Zl-p/\^;f^, about the 

 beginning of the Chou dynasty ^, in the 12th century B.C. 



(c) Introduction of the gnomon i:^? ^ little before the middle of 

 the Ch'un ch'iu period ^fX (722-481 B.C.), for observiug the 

 exact epoch of the solstices. 



This seems to have aroused the idea of considering the winter 

 solstice the ideal beginning of the year. 



(d) Injportant progTess was made about the middle of the Chan 

 kuo age U^gflPi^ ("Struggle age," 480-250 B.C.) : 

 Foundation of a definite calendar system, the Chuan yil 



calendar iJ|jf^M i^^ ^^^^^ '^'^^^ ; 

 Observation of the five planets ; 



Foundation of the ivu hang theory 3l^t^|^ ("Theory of the five 

 essentials") ; 



Systematic observation, naming and cataloguing the constella- 

 tions, etc. 



(e) Adoption of the first oflBcial calendar system, the T-ai clvu U 

 ±|/3M ill 104 B.C. 



2. The Lunar Calendar. 



It can not be doubted that from time immemorial the pure lunar 

 calendar had been long in use, as is usual among almost all primitive 

 nations. In fact, the lunar calendar, i e., the mode of reckoning days 

 according to the lunar phase, is nothing but a convenient contrivance 

 for utilizing the liuiar illumination at night for the purpose of 

 human life. 



