energy of impact is sufficient for the melting of the lunar crust, resulting in the
formation of craters and maria. One of the unfavorable points for the impact
hypothesis is, according to Miyamoto, the fact that the arrangement of numerous
craters is far from a random distribution (Miyamoto 1960b). Thus, Miyamoto
supported Spurr’s volcanic origin.
4.5 History of Oriental Astronomy
Shinjo’s work on the history of oriental astronomy was taken up by Noda Churyo,
Yabuuchi Kiyoshi, and Watanabe Toshio.
4.5.1 Noda Churyo and Ancient Cosmology
Noda Churyo (能田忠亮, 1899–1987) was born in Nakajima (中島町), Ehime
Prefecture, and entered Kyoto Imperial University in 1923. He studied astronomy
under Shinjo in the Department of Astronomy (Saigusa et al. 1990).
In 1929, after graduation, he started his work on the history of oriental astronomy
at the School of Oriental Culture, Kyoto Institute (東方文化学院 京都研究所)
(presently Research Institute for Humanistic Studies 人文科学研究所 of Kyoto
University). In 1950 he moved to Osaka Gakugei University (大阪学芸大) as a
professor of astronomy, where he worked there until his retirement.
Noda worked mainly on ancient astronomy and cosmological thought in China.
Noda’s works are collected in his book History of Oriental Astronomy (Noda 1943)
(Fig. 4.24).
Among Noda’s works, two major topics are discussed in what follows.
1. Study of Zhou Bi Suan Jing (周髀算経, Arithmetic Classics of the Zhou Gnomon)
(Noda 1933)
Zhou Bi Suan Jing is known as one of the oldest texts on mathematics and
astronomy. It is a collection of ancient Chinese technical thought. Noda analyzed
the astronomical arguments presented in the book in detail, and he concluded that
this book was mostly written based on the knowledge of the Han Dynasty, but some
parts date back to far more distant ages. Noda also noticed that the book was finally
edited by Zhao Shuhang (趙君卿) in the late Han Dynasty. Zhou Bi (周髀) is a
gnomon of the sundial used to measure shadow length, which varies with time as
well as with distance along a longitude of the Earth. At night, the gnomon could be
used to measure the angular height of the North Pole. Using these measurements,
ancient people estimated the height of the sky, distance to the Sun and North Pole,
and the extension of the Earth. Based on these measurements, they constructed
models of the cosmos. According to Noda, cosmological thought was mostly
developed in the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 220 AD), while its origins could be
traced back even to the period of the Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BC).
4.5 History of Oriental Astronomy
109
formation of craters and maria. One of the unfavorable points for the impact
hypothesis is, according to Miyamoto, the fact that the arrangement of numerous
craters is far from a random distribution (Miyamoto 1960b). Thus, Miyamoto
supported Spurr’s volcanic origin.
4.5 History of Oriental Astronomy
Shinjo’s work on the history of oriental astronomy was taken up by Noda Churyo,
Yabuuchi Kiyoshi, and Watanabe Toshio.
4.5.1 Noda Churyo and Ancient Cosmology
Noda Churyo (能田忠亮, 1899–1987) was born in Nakajima (中島町), Ehime
Prefecture, and entered Kyoto Imperial University in 1923. He studied astronomy
under Shinjo in the Department of Astronomy (Saigusa et al. 1990).
In 1929, after graduation, he started his work on the history of oriental astronomy
at the School of Oriental Culture, Kyoto Institute (東方文化学院 京都研究所)
(presently Research Institute for Humanistic Studies 人文科学研究所 of Kyoto
University). In 1950 he moved to Osaka Gakugei University (大阪学芸大) as a
professor of astronomy, where he worked there until his retirement.
Noda worked mainly on ancient astronomy and cosmological thought in China.
Noda’s works are collected in his book History of Oriental Astronomy (Noda 1943)
(Fig. 4.24).
Among Noda’s works, two major topics are discussed in what follows.
1. Study of Zhou Bi Suan Jing (周髀算経, Arithmetic Classics of the Zhou Gnomon)
(Noda 1933)
Zhou Bi Suan Jing is known as one of the oldest texts on mathematics and
astronomy. It is a collection of ancient Chinese technical thought. Noda analyzed
the astronomical arguments presented in the book in detail, and he concluded that
this book was mostly written based on the knowledge of the Han Dynasty, but some
parts date back to far more distant ages. Noda also noticed that the book was finally
edited by Zhao Shuhang (趙君卿) in the late Han Dynasty. Zhou Bi (周髀) is a
gnomon of the sundial used to measure shadow length, which varies with time as
well as with distance along a longitude of the Earth. At night, the gnomon could be
used to measure the angular height of the North Pole. Using these measurements,
ancient people estimated the height of the sky, distance to the Sun and North Pole,
and the extension of the Earth. Based on these measurements, they constructed
models of the cosmos. According to Noda, cosmological thought was mostly
developed in the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 220 AD), while its origins could be
traced back even to the period of the Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BC).
4.5 History of Oriental Astronomy
109