Li Chunfeng
Li Chunfeng (
Background and career
The Sui dynasty was integral for uniting China, so it was a good time for learning. But when Li was sixteen the Sui fell, and the Tang rose. Nevertheless, the Tang did not harm the conditions for education. Indeed, it rather strengthened it. The Imperial Academy's math teaching was formalized. He was appointed into the Imperial Astronomy Bureau as an advanced court astronomer and historian, in 627. Once several years had passed, he then was promoted to deputy director of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau in 641, and even director in 648. He was given these titles because the Chinese calendar of the era, despite that it had only been used for several years, was already having accuracy problems in predicting eclipses. In fact, Li was appointed partially because of his critique of the Wuyin calendar. Wang Xiaotong had been chosen to study the problem earlier. This was a very important job because of the Chinese belief in the Mandate of Heaven. So if one altered the calendar, that person would have some control over the connection between the heavens and the emperor.
Astronomy and calendar
In 665, Li introduced a reform
Li wrote a document complaining about the use of outdated equipment in the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, so he was commanded to construct a new armillary sphere. He completed it in 633. His construction had an additional third ring as opposed to the more common design of only two rings.
Mathematics
Li added corrections to certain mathematical works. Examples of this are in
Literary works
Li contributed to the
See also
References
- ^ Ho, Peng Yoke, LI, QI and SHU. Hong Kong University Press, 1985. University of Washington Press edition 1987. ISBN 0-295- 96362-X
Bibliography
- Ho, Peng Yoke, LI, QI and SHU. 1985 Hong Kong University Press. 1987 University of Washington Press edition. ISBN 0-295- 96362-X
- Zhuang, Tianshan, "Li Chunfeng". Encyclopedia of China (Astronomy Edition), 1st ed.
- Encyclopædia Britannica
External links
- Li Chunfeng biography — The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive. Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- Liu Hui and Zu Gengzhi on the volume of a sphere