The framework foundation was laid for the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, and the famous astronomer and historian Zhang Peiyu passed away
The surging news reporter learned from relevant departments that Zhang Peiyu, a famous astronomic historian and retired employee of the Zijinshan Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, died in Nanjing on the morning of August 27, 2023 at the age of 88.
According to public information, Zhang Peiyu was born in June 1935 in Yantai, Shandong. He graduated from the Department of Astronomy at Nanjing University in 1957. After graduation, he has been engaged in scientific research at the Zijinshan Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Served as a research intern, engineer, associate researcher, researcher, and doctoral supervisor. Member of the Chinese Astronomical Society, the Chinese Society of Pre Qin History, and the International Astronomical Union, as well as a member of the Xia Shang Zhou Chronology Engineering Expert Group.
Zhang Peiyu has long been engaged in scientific research in the fields of celestial force measurement and ancient astronomy, systematically organizing and studying the calendars of the Han Dynasty and subsequent dynasties in China, and collaborating to complete the monograph "Chinese Ancient Calendar"; Using solar eclipse data from pre Qin to Tang Dynasty to analyze and study early changes in Earth's rotational speed, good results have been achieved.
Based on the astronomical calendar data from historical records and unearthed documents, Zhang Peiyu conducted a restoration study on the calendar of the pre Qin, Qin, and early Han dynasties, which was missing from historical records. He systematically organized and studied the calendar methods and accuracy of various dynasties after the Han Dynasty, such as San Tong, Si Fen, Lin De, Da Yan, Xuan Ming, Shi Shi, Shi Xian, etc. From 1992 to 1995, led the writing and completion of the monograph "Ancient Chinese Calendar".
In the 1990s, Zhang Peiyu used astronomical methods to investigate the writing dates of ancient books such as "Guoyu", "Zuo Zhuan", and "Zhushu Chronicle" based on the celestial phenomena and calendar days in ancient literature. He concluded that the astronomical records and chronological framework related to the Zhongkang solar eclipse in the current "Zhushu Chronicle" were derived from the "Dayan Calendar" of the early Tang Dynasty.
In 1996, Zhang Peiyu participated in the research work of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasty Chronology Project and collaborated with paleographologists. Based on the paleographologist's interpretation of the vessel characters and the new classification and staging results of the Yin ruins inscriptions, as well as the order of arrangement, he calculated that the five lunar eclipses recorded in the Bin group's inscriptions were the only result of the lunar eclipses that occurred between 1201 and 1181 BC. This further determined the chronological range of the reigns of King Wu Ding and Zu Geng of Yin, laying the foundation for the establishment of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasty chronology framework.