• 천문학논총
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.115-127
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• 2011

Since the thirteenth century, large scale facilities and various instruments for astronomical observation were built and installed in East Asia. During the Yuan Dynasty, S. ti.ntai (Beijing astronomical observatory in the Yuan Dynasty, 司天臺) was built in Beijing in 1279. Various astronomical instruments, including Ganui (Jianyi, simplified armillary sphere, 簡儀), Yang-yi (upward hemisphere, 仰儀) and Gyupyo (gnomon, 圭表) were installed in this observatory. These astronomical instruments were modified and improved by researchers of the Joseon Dynasty. Ganuidae (Joseon astronomical observatory, 簡儀臺) was built in Gyeongbokgung (or Gyeongbok palace, 景福宮), Seoul. Its scale was 31 Cheok (Korean feet in the Joseon Dynasty, 尺) in height, 47 Cheok in length and 32 Cheok in width. Lee, Cheon (李蕆, 1376~1451), a responsible leader of Ganuidae project, set up various astronomical instruments with his colleagues. Ganui and Jeongbangan (direction-determining board, 正方案) were installed at the top of this observatory. Gyupyo was installed at the west side of this observatory and Honui (armillary sphere, 渾儀) and Honsang (celestial globe, 渾象) were installed in a small pavilion which was located next to Gyupyo. A decade after installation, this observatory was moved to the north-west side of the palace but almost destroyed during Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 except Ganuidae. We have analyzed documents about Ganuidae and investigated Chinese remains of astronomical observatories and artifacts of astronomical instruments. In this paper, we suggest the appearance, structure, arrangement and scale of Ganuidae, which are expected to be used for the restoration of Ganuidae at some day in the near future.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.289-302
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• 2006

조선초기 세종대에 제작하여 사용한 규표를 복원하기위해 '세종실록'을 비롯한 조선시대의 문헌자료를 수집하여 원리와 구조를 분석하였다. 그리고 이를 근거로 1/10로 축소 모형을 제작하고 설계도를 완성하였다. 규표의 구조는 규(圭), 용표(龍表), 횡량(橫梁), 또는 들보), 받침대로 구성되어 있다. 수직으로 세운 막대인 용표의 그림자가 수평으로 놓인 규면에 맺힐 때 눈금을 읽으면 된다. 이때 그림자 중심에 태양의 상을 맺히게 하는 영부를 사용하여 정밀하게 측정한다. 영부는 가운데 바늘구멍을 뚫은 작은 동판을 사용하여 바늘구멍 사진기와 샤임프러그 원리를 이용하여 태양의 영상을 맺히도록 한다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.395-401
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• 2015

We investigated the six remaining Yang-cheon-cheoks (量天尺), which were first described in the Veritable Record of King Sukjong (肅宗實錄). These woodblock sundials from Korea are structurally very similar to a Gyupyo (圭表, gnomon) or an altitude sundial and are light, compact, and portable. The front side of a Yang-cheon-cheok has two holes for styluses and several hour-lines. We compared the intervals of the hour-lines from the originating point of the stylus placement on all Yang-cheon-cheoks and found that two of the relics had the same hour-lines using the standard of the unit of 1 chon (寸). These two were actually the same sundial although the physical size was different. In spite of the lack of time accuracy, we hypothesize that various-sized Yang-cheon-cheoks were made and widely distributed throughout the public in the late Joseon Dynasty.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.299-305
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• 2013

Ganui-Dae, built in the reign of King Sejong, Joseon Dynasty, is a comprehensive observatory. It has various instruments for observation and time signal such as Ganui, Gyupyo(Gnomon), water-hammering type Honui and Honsang, and so on. Studying on Ganui-Dae has been focused on its location, history, criterion, etc, so far. However, studying on its external form and construction method has been conducted insufficiently. This study suggests the model for restoration of Ganui-Dae. The model is based on the analysis about external form of Ganui-Dae in various antique maps, and its construction method in those days.

• 천문학논총
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.55-63
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• 2013

동아시아에서 규표는 가장 전통적인 천문의기 중 하나였다. 그럼에도 불구하고 고전적 규표는 표의 수직 설치와 유지가 어렵고, 눈금의 시작점이 모호하였으며, 무엇보다도 태양의 표 그림자가 퍼져 관측의 정밀성이 떨어졌다. 이러한 고전적 규표의 단점을 해결하고자 하는 노력의 결과물로 13세기에 횡량형 규표가 개발되었다(민병희 등, 2011). 횡량형 규표는 영부를 사용하여 선명한 횡량 그림자를 얻었다. 영부를 통해 얻은 횡량 그림자는 예리하여 관측의 모호성이 없으며, 동시에 태양의 중심 위치를 관측하는 최적의 천문의기이었다. 대규표는 횡량을 설치하였는데, 이 횡량의 크기는 길이 6자(124.2 cm), 직경 3치(6.21 cm)이었다. 표 기둥 위에 횡량을 올린 것을 얼이라고 하고, 이 얼을 수직으로 설치하는 것이 횡량형 규표의 핵심이었다. 삼점현추법을 사용하여 얼을 규에 수직으로 세울 수 있었다. 삼점현추법을 사용하기 위해 횡량은 길이 5치(10.35 cm), 직경 2푼(4.14 mm)의 철사 3개를 이용하고 있다. 삼점현추법은 단지 횡량을 정렬하는데 만 필요한 것이 아니고, 횡량을 점검하고 진단하는데도 활용되었다. 횡량의 개발은 태양 중심의 그림자길이를 측정하는 천문학적 이점과 더불어 규표의 대형화를 가능하게 하였다. 규표의 적절한 건설 공정과 삼점현추법을 적용하면 이상적으로는 높이에 무관하게 얼을 수직하게 설치할 수 있었기 때문이다. 얼의 크기가 높아질수록 결과적으로 눈금의 분해능을 증가시킬 수 있기 때문에(이용삼 등, 2006) 관측의기의 성능을 향상시킬 수 있었다.

• 천문학논총
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.29-37
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• 2012

In this paper, we study the structure of the Daegyupyo (大圭表, Large Gnomon) of the early Joseon dynasty. A Gyupyo (圭表, Gnomon that is Guibiao as pronounced in Chinese) is composed of a Pyo (表, Biao as pronounced in Chinese) making a shadow and a Gyu (圭, Gui as pronounced in Chinese) measuring its length. It is known that the Daegyupyo with the 40-feet height was constructed between the sixteenth to seventeenth year of the King Sejong reign (1444 - 1445) on the basis of the record of Yuanshi (元史, the History of the Yuan Dynasty). By analyzing historical documents such as Joseonwangjosillok (朝鮮王朝實錄, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), Yuanshi, and Jegaryeoksangjip (諸家曆象集, a work written by Sunji Lee), we found a possibility that the Ji (池, a pond) on the Gyu was located in the north side of the Pyo. This structure is different from that in previous studies, but is in a good agreement with that of the 40-feet Guibiao remaining in Dengfeng (登封) of China. Regarding to the Hoengyang (橫梁, cross-bar), we suggest that it was set up by double 5-feet supporting arms apart from the north tip of the Pyo in the radial direction. The 3:4:5 ratio in a rectangular triangle was used to place the Heongyang on the top of the Pyo at a distance of 4-feet (3-feet) in the vertical (horizontal) direction. We also discuss the structural problem when the Hoengyang is positioned apart from the top of the Pyo by supporting arms. In conclusion, we think that this study should be useful in restoring the Daegyupyo of the Joseon dynasty.

• 천문학논총
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.9-19
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• 2018

We investigate the life of Lee Cheon (1376-1451) who was closely connected with astronomy during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon dynasty. Lee Cheon is widely regarded as one of the outstanding scientists of King Sejong's period. However, his contributions to the development of the astronomy during the period have not been enlightened. Based on the historical records on the life and achievements of Lee Cheon, mainly referring to the Joseonwangjosillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), we address three important points. First, Lee Cheon was a distinguished administrator who filled various government posts. Second, he was a supervising engineer in public works and metal smelting during his position in military. Third, he was a scientific technician and manufactured precision equipment such as the metal movable type sets. By virtue of these aspects, Lee Cheon was taken into confidence by King Sejong on the Ganui-dae project (i.e., manufacture various astronomical instruments and construct their platform in order to make a calendar suitable for Joseon). During the period of this project, Lee Cheon not only supervised the construction of the Ganui (simplified armillary sphere) and Ganui-dae (platform for astronomical instruments) but also participated in the production of the astronomical instruments such as Gyupyo (Gnomon) and Honcheonui (Armillary Sphere). In conclusion, we regard Lee Cheon as one of the astronomers who led a great advance in astronomy during King Sejong's era.