Abstract

Archaeoastronomy has grown from curious interest in alignments of ancient sites to disciplined attempts to research the social and cultural bases of astronomical activity. Scholarship has focused not only on ancient sites but also on the historical milieus in which purposes and methods of observation developed. While Zhentao Xu, David Pankenier, and Yaotiao Jiang highlight the term “archaeoastronomy” in the title of their book, they have provided researchers in the history of astronomy with a valuable resource of observational data in ancient China, Japan, and Korea.A number of catalogues have been published that contain observational records of comets, meteors, and other astronomical phenomena in ancient East Asia. Not limited to one type of phenomenon, this volume provides scholars with a comprehensive set of records and a general base for understanding why astronomical phenomena were observed. In addition to a catalogue of well‐annotated observations, the authors have tried to provide background on and understanding of the methodologies used by ancient Asian observers in order to place their work in historical and developmental context. While the book perhaps lacks the strong emphasis on cultural adaptation and exchange necessary for understanding the significance of observation, the authors have provided a valuable database for scholars who may not be proficient in Asian languages but wish to probe the depths of astronomical development in these complex cultures.The major part of the book contains sections devoted to observations of specific types of astronomical phenomena. Each section includes a brief description of the historical basis of observation, extensive references for those who wish more detailed discussion of principles, and a chronologically ordered set of English translations of observational records. For these alone, Western scholars interested in Asian astronomy will find this volume a very useful addition to their libraries.Organizationally, a general introduction to observation in ancient East Asia is followed by a review of the more culturally specific use and meaning of oracle bone inscriptions in China. Subsequent sections are then devoted to observational records of eclipses, comets, novas, sunspots, auroras, and planetary movement. Introductions to each section include some attention to the methodological use and purpose of the observations. Records from well before the Christian era to the seventeenth century are included. Each translated record includes both text and specific reference to the manuscript or manuscripts from which the record was taken. Controversy with regard to authenticity or origin is duly noted.The last third of the book contains an extensive “appendix” of the same observational records written in the original language. This will be particularly valuable for scholars who have knowledge of Chinese characters and wish to check the accuracy of translations or seek more cultural subtlety in descriptions of observations. Scholars from East Asian countries will also find the comprehensive set of observations recorded in the original language invaluable as a data resource.While many ancient observations from Japan and Korea are included, the volume shows the strong influence of Chinese astronomical development on these two cultures. The need for more exhaustive research into the historical and cultural development of observation and the subtle ways in which Chinese principles were adapted and changed for varying uses in Korea and Japan is not readily apparent in this volume. However, such interpretive work is far beyond the scope of the authors' purpose at this point.The general discussions of historical and methodological bases are somewhat minimal, but the reader with more than a general knowledge of Asian astronomy will find enough in them to contextualize the records of observation that follow. For example, while the authors discuss the Chinese lunar calendar, readers with a strong interest in the development, adaptation, and mathematical base of this system will want to consult other sources. However, this volume will provide records of numerous observations related to calendar development, such records having been collected in a rigorous and disciplined fashion. This book is not an introduction to Asian archaeoastronomy. Readers who purchase it will no doubt want to consult the works cited in the numerous references for more exhaustive discussion of the subjects of each section.Our knowledge of the complexity of the development of astronomy in Asian cultures seems to grow each year as more texts are translated and researchers cross linguistic and social barriers to share their work. This volume will provide an invaluable resource for scholars working primarily in English who wish to open the door to such understanding further