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Supporting System of Service Technology

In: Service Science in China

Author

Listed:
  • Jiazhen Huo

    (Tongji University)

  • Zhisheng Hong

    (Tongji University)

Abstract

After the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan reunified China and decided to compile a new exact and unified calendar to guide agricultural production. The task was assigned to the Astrological Commission, and the work of calendar revision was in the charge of Guo Shoujing and his classmate Wang Xun. Once the work of calendar revision started, Guo Shoujing put forward that priority should be given to observation to study calendar, while the observation must depend on meters. The large-scale armillary sphere transported from Kaifeng for astronomical observation had been obsolete, and they could no longer obtain reliable data. Besides, its structure was complex and not easy for use. Guo Shoujing designed a set of simply-constructed instruments with precise scale mark easy to operate. The new instruments created solid foundation for realizing on-the-spot observation. In 1279 A.D., the study of Wang Xun and Guo Shoujing was accepted and recognized by Kublai Khan. The expert group built a new observatory in the courtyard of Astrological Commission and set 27 large-scale observation points around the country. The northernmost observation point is in Tiele (today’s Yenisei river valley in Siberia) and the southernmost point is in South China Sea (on today’s Xisha Islands). There were 14 monitoring officers selected and assigned to different places to observe, and Guo Shoujing also led some people in person to observe in important observation points. All of the data collected from different observation points were aggregated in the Astrological Commission. Delicate instruments and precise measurement finally rewarded Guo Shoujing and his people with large amount of reliable data, based on which the Shoushi Calendar was compiled. The calendar was much more precise than the previous one in that it calculated that there are 365.2425 days in a year, which deviated from the time for the earth to make one full orbit around the sun for only 26 s. The cycle calculated in the calendar is the same with that of the Gregorian calendar (the one is today’s use) which was compiled 302 years after.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiazhen Huo & Zhisheng Hong, 2013. "Supporting System of Service Technology," Springer Books, in: Service Science in China, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 285-317, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-642-34497-8_8
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-34497-8_8
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