ISLAMIC ASTRONOMY AND CALENRDICAL SCIENCE IN CHINA

Abstract

Islamic astronomy, Huihui tianwen in Chinese, once had a splendid time in the history of Chinese sciences. It was in practical usage parallel with Chinese traditional astronomy for almost four centuries. It spread to China since the beginning of Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), and officially abolished by Manchu Qing authority in 1669. During this approximately seven hundred years, Islamic astronomy played the roles of either adding astronomical values into that of Chinese astronomy or of running as independent establishment alongside Chinese astronomical bureau. In this short article we intend to briefly delineate the rise and fall of Islamic astronomy in China.