中国古代历法推算中的误差思想空缺  

The Lack of Error Ideas in the Calculation of the Traditional Chinese Calendar

作　　者：王玉民[1] 

机构地区：[1]北京天文馆古观象台,北京100005

出　　处：《自然科学史研究》2012年第4期396-409,共14页Studies in The History of Natural Sciences

摘　　要：以现代误差和近似计算理论为指导,对中国古代历法的误差思想空缺做初步的梳理和探讨。从对分数的使用、神秘数的使用以及上元的设立等特点,论证中历是一种追求把握完美天行的探索活动的结果。论证了中历一直缺少对观测精度、模型精度、计算精度的统一认识。对历代主要天文仪器的误差分析中,发现与早期测量夏至影长相比,历史上以冬至圭表影长为基准的测量回归年长度方法是一种倒退的技术。以《授时历》为主要案例,通过对历法的一些计算过程分析了古人对计算精度问题的认识偏差。In the light of the theory of modem error and approximate calculation, this article or- ganizes and analyzes the lack of error ideas about the traditional Chinese calendar. On the basis of the marked features of the calendar using fractional, mysterious number and the grand origin, the ar- ticle firstly disserts that the Chinese traditional calendar is an exploration activity of grasping the ＂perfect＂ celestial body motion. And secondly, it concludes that the Chinese traditional calendar al- ways lacked a unified understanding of observational accuracy, model precision and calculating accu- racy. Thirdly, according to the error analysis of the main astronomical instruments of past dynasties, it is found that the method of measuring the length of winter solstice shadow to define tropical year is a backward technology, comparing with measuring the summer solstice in early stage. Lastly, the ar- ticle analyzes the deviation of calculating accuracy of a number of calendars through some ancient cal- culating cases, especially the Shoushi Calendar.

关 键 词：误差 近似 精度 中历 授时历 

分 类 号：P194[天文地球—天文学]