How has Chinese scientific knowledge influenced Western scientists – particularly in areas that are still important today?
Some people think that China only has a tradition in technology, but not in science. However, in areas like astronomy, China actually has a very long tradition of astronomical observation dating back over 2,000 years. China has the longest and most complete records of astronomical observations, including solar and lunar eclipses, as well as records of stars, meteors and supernovas. Europeans do not have the same level of observations in astronomy, so Chinese records have had an influence on the West.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many people began to study the universe. For a long time, Western and Chinese astronomers were unsure about the change in the ecliptic obliquity rule. In 1722, a French Jesuit missionary named Antoine Gaubil arrived in Beijing and verified many Chinese historical documents. After compiling the records, he sent them to France. At the beginning of the 19th century, a famous French astronomer and mathematician named Pierre-Simon Laplace read the compiled manuscript, performed some calculations, and conducted research based on it. This is how Chinese astronomical observations have had a very direct impact on science until today.
These ancient Chinese scientific observations therefore influenced European and American astronomers. Even today, some people still use these recordings to detect early star explosions using large telescopes. This is the influence of Chinese astronomical records on current and past astronomy.
Have Chinese historical archives also enabled the development of climate modeling and the study of climate change?