Photograph might therefore possibly not be a
representation of one of the ancient instruments displaced by him.[3]
The question having been raised it was very desirable to settle it, and I
applied to Mr. Wylie for information, as I had received the photographs
from him, and knew that he had been Mr. Thomson's companion and helper in
the matter.
"Let me assure you," he writes (21st August, 1874), "the Jesuits had
nothing to do with the manufacture of the so-called Mongol instruments;
and whoever made them, they were certainly on the Peking Observatory
before Loyola was born. They are not made for the astronomical system
introduced by the Jesuits, but are altogether conformable to the system
introduced by Kublai's astronomer Ko Show-king.... I will mention one
thing which is quite decisive as to the Jesuits. The circle is divided
into 365-1/4 degrees, each degree into 100 minutes, and each minute into
100 seconds. The Jesuits always used the sexagesimal division. Lecomte
speaks of the imperfection of the division on the Jesuit-made instruments;
but those on the Mongol instruments are immeasurably coarser.
"I understand it is not the ornamentation your friend objects to?[4] If it
is, I would observe that there is no evidence of progress in the
decorative and ornamental arts during the Ming Dynasty; and even in the
Jesuit instruments that part of the work is purely Chinese, excepting in
one instrument, which I am persuaded must have been made in Europe.
"I have a Chinese work called Luh-King-t'oo-Kaou, 'Illustrations and
Investigations of the Six Classics.' This was written in A.D. 1131-1162,
and revised and printed in 1165-1174. It contains a representation of an
armillary sphere, which appears to me to be much the same as the sphere in
question. There is a solid horizon fixed to a graduated outer circle.
Inside the latter is a meridian circle, at right angles to which is a
graduated colure; then the equator, apparently a double ring, and the
ecliptic; also two diametric bars. The cut is rudely executed, but it
certainly shows that some one imagined something more perfect. The
instrument stands on a cross frame, with 4 dragon supporters and a prop
in the centre.[5]
"It should be remembered that under the Mongol Dynasty the Chinese had
much intercourse with Central Asia; and among others Yelewchootsae, as
confidential minister and astronomer, followed Chinghiz in his Western
campaign, held intercourse with the astronomers of Samarkand, and on his
return laid some astronomical inventions before the Emperor.
"I append a notice of the Observatory taken from a popular description of
Peking, by which it will be seen that the construction of these
instruments is attributed to Ko Show-king, one of the most renowned
astronomers of China. He was the chief astronomer under Kublai Kaan" [to
whom he was presented in 1262; he was born in 1231. - H. C.]
"It must be remembered that there was a special vitality among the Chinese
under the Yuen with regard to the arts and sciences, and the Emperor had
the choice of artizans and men of science from all countries. From the age
of the Yuen till the arrival of the Jesuits, we hear nothing of any new
instruments having been made; and it is well known that astronomy was
never in a lower condition than under the Ming."[6]
Mr. Wylie then draws attention to the account given by Trigault of the
instruments that Matteo Ricci saw at Nanking, when he went (in the year
1599) to pay a visit to some of the literati of that city. He
transcribes the account from the French Hist. de l'Expedition Chrestienne
en la Chine, 1618. But as I have the Latin, which is the original and is
more lucid, by me, I will translate from that.[7]
"Not only at Peking, but in this capital also (Nanking) there is a College
of Chinese Mathematicians, and this one certainly is more distinguished by
the vastness of its buildings than by the skill of its professors. They
have little talent and less learning, and do nothing beyond the
preparation of the almanacs on the rules of calculation made by the
ancients; and when it chances that events do not agree with their
calculation they assert that what they had calculated was the regular
course of things, but that the aberrant conduct of the stars was a
prognostic from heaven of something going to happen on the earth. This
something they make out according to their fancy, and so spread a veil
over their own blunders. These gentlemen did not much trust Father Matteo,
fearing, no doubt, lest he should put them to shame; but when at last they
were freed from this apprehension they came and amicably visited the
Father in hope of learning something from him. And when he went to return
their visit he saw something that really was new and beyond his
expectation.
"There is a high hill at one side of the city, but still within the walls.
On the top of the hill there is an ample terrace, capitally adapted for
astronomical observation, and surrounded by magnificent buildings which
form the residence of the Professors.... On this terrace are to be seen
astronomical instruments of cast-metal, well worthy of inspection whether
for size or for beauty; and we certainly have never seen or read of
anything in Europe like them. For nearly 250 years they have stood thus
exposed to the rain, the snow, and all other atmospheric inclemencies, and
yet they have lost absolutely nothing of their original lustre. And lest
I should be accused of raising expectations which I do not justify, I will
do my best in a digression, probably not unwelcome, to bring them before
the eyes of my readers.
