• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.115-127
• /
• 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.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.141-154
• /
• 2010

In the beginning of the Joseon dynasty, the Royal Astronomical Bureau (觀象監, shortly RAB) was established. After the double RAB had settled down by King Sejong (世宗), it continued to function until 1907. Before the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, the Joseon court had the Inner RAB in the Gyeongbok Palace (景福宮) and the Outer RAB in the Northen District Gwangwha-Bang (北部廣化坊) at the western side of the Changdeuk Palace (昌德宮). In the reign of King Sukjong (肅宗) the double system of the RAB was transformed into the Geumho-Gate (金虎門) Outer RAB and the Gaeyang-Gate (開陽門) Outer RAB. During the reconstruction of the Gyeongbok Palace in the early reign of King Gojong (高宗), the Gaeyang-Gate Outer RAB was replaced by the Yeongchu-Gate (迎秋門) Outer RAB in 1865. All RAB had the Royal Astronomical Observatory (觀天臺, RAO hereinafter), so called the Soganui-platform (小簡儀臺) on which the Soganui (小簡儀) has been put. The Soganui (小簡儀) is a small simplified armillary sphere. While the Gwangwha-Bang RAO handed down from the reign of King Sejong still exists, other RAOs, such as Gyeongbok Palace RAO, Gaeyang-Gate and Yeongchu-Gate RAOs, do not remain. According to our study, the Changgyeong Palace (昌慶宮) RAO was not indeed the RAO with the Soganui.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.17-27
• /
• 2014

We report the results of our study for ascertaining whether Ganui-dae built in the Josen Dynasty actually performed an astronomical role or not. The Ganui-dae was the first astronomical structure built as a part of the state astronomical undertakings by King Se-Jong. Our analysis was based on the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. At first we extracted the records regarding Ganui-dae from the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and then classified them under six heads according to their astronomical meaning and historical significance. From this analysis we found that the Ganui-dae performed the actual astronomical role. In addition, the provisional offices and peoples mentioned in the records show the astronomical correlation. Generally, when taking into account the functional side of the records, the Ganui-dae was related with the observation. Therefore, the Ganui-dae was the space for the astronomical activity. In conclusion, the Ganui-dae was built for the purpose of the astronomical activity.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.801-810
• /
• 2015

The royal astronomical observatory compiled the Astronomical Almanac during the Joseon dynasty, though there were some changes of its organization. However, the observatory underwent sudden changes in the late period mainly due to the influence of historical events such as the Gabo (甲午) and The Eulmi (乙未) Reforms in 1894 and 1895, respectively, and the Japanese invasion in 1910. In this paper, we study the changes of the compilation institution of the Korean Astronomical Almanac and of its organization for the period of 1894 to 1912. During this period, the name of the observatory had been changed several times, from Gwansanggam (觀象監) to Gwansangguk (觀象局) in 1894 and to Gwansangso (觀象所) in 1895. In addition, the affair of the Astronomical Almanac compilation was transferred to the Editorial Bureau [編輯局] of the Ministry of Education [學部] and to the Editing Department [編輯課] of the Governor-General of Korea [朝鮮總督府]. In 1907, the Gwansangso was abolished. Moreover, the affair of timekeeping was separated and the official number of personnel was reduced to less than 5% compared to that of Gwansanggam. Consequently, the royal astronomical observatory was significantly reduced in terms of its functions and the organization through the process of those changes. Therefore, we believe that this period is important when seeking to understand the transition between the traditional Astronomical Almanac of the Joseon dynasty and its modern astronomical counterpart of the present day.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.299-305
• /
• 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.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.789-800
• /
• 2015

During the Joseon dynasty, the Gwansanggam (觀象監, The Royal Astronomical Observatory) was the royal administration in charge of Astronomy (天文), Geography (地理), Calendars (曆), Astronomical and meteorological observation (測候), and Timekeeping (刻漏). Of those affairs, the Astronomical Almanac compilation was most important. In this paper, we study the education and selection of astronomical officials in the 19th century during the Joseon dynasty, focusing on Astronomical Almanac officials. According to this study, their main area was calendar calculation, and they were involved in Astronomical Almanac compilation for nearly 40 years, until they resigned. In addition, they served as Samryeok-susulgwan (三曆修述官, Official for calendar calculation by the $Sh{\acute{i}}xi{\grave{a}}n$ calendar), and Ilgwa-gamingwan (日課監印官, Official printing supervisor). To undertake these core duties, an official had to pass several examinations and courses. The Gwansanggam (after Gwansangso) carried out the educational function for the officials. In particular, reserved officials of the astronomy division had to be educated starting with a trainee course.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.55-70
• /
• 2006

There are many astronomical records of comets in Korean history books. We collected those of the comet that appeared in the winter of the year 1664. These records were written in Daily Reports of the Royal Observatory on Astronomical Events (星變測候單子), Final Reports of the Royal Observatory on An Astronomical Events (天變謄錄), the Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat of the Joseon Dynasty (承政院日記), and the Chronicle of the Joseon Dynasty (朝鮮王朝實錄). We used the Olbers' method for determination of preliminary orbit of the comet, and compared the result with the previous researches. In the Oblers' method the orbit is assumed to be parabolic (e=1). We obtained the following orbital elements: perifocal distance q=1.07\pm0.008AU, perifocal passage time $T=2329165.50\pm0.72$ days, argument of the perifocus $\omega=318^{\circ}.2\pm2^{\circ}.29$, longitude of ascending node $\Omega=85^{\circ}.23\pm2^{\circ}53(J1665)$(J1665), inclination $i=160^{\circ}.28\pm1^{|circ}.56$.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2023

Numerous Sundials were fabricated during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty. One among them is Jeongnam-Ilgu (the Fixing-South Sundial), where the time can be measured after setting up the suitable meridian line without a compass. We reconstructed the new Jeongnam-Ilgu model based on the records of 'Description of Making the Royal Observatory Ganui (簡儀臺記)' in the Veritable Record of King Sejong. Jeongnam-Ilgu has a summer solstice half-ring under a horizontal ring which is fixed to two pillars in the north and south, and in which a declination ring rotates around the polar axis. In our model, the polar axis matches the altitude of Hanyang (that is Seoul). There are two merits if the model is designed to install the polar axis in the way that enters both the north and south poles and rotates in them: One is that it is possible to fix the polar axis to the declination ring together with the cross-strut. The other is that a twig for hanging weights can be protruded on the North Pole. The declination ring is supposed to be 178 mm in diameter and is carved on the scale of the celestial-circumference degrees on the ring's surface, where a degree scale can be divided into four equal parts through the diagonal lines. In addition, the time's graduation that is drawn on the summer solstice half-ring makes it possible to measure the daytime throughout the year. An observational property of Jeongnam-Ilgu is that a solar image can be obtained using a pin-hole. The position cast by the solar image between hour circles makes a time measurement. We hope our study will contribute to the restoration of Jeongnam-Ilgu.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2015

During the reign of King Sejong (世宗, 1418-1450) in the Joseon Dynasty, there were lots of astronomical instruments, including miniaturized ones. Those instruments utilized the technical know-how acquired through building contemporary astronomical instruments previously developed in the Song(宋), Jin(金), and Yuan(元) dynasties of China. In those days, many astronomical instruments had circles, rings, and spheres carved with a scale of 365.25, 100, and 24 parts, respectively, on their circumference. These were called the celestial-circumference degree, hundred-interval (Baekgak), and 24 direction, respectively. These scales are marked by the angular distance, not by the angle. Therefore, these circles, rings, and spheres had to be optimized in size to accomodate proper scales. Assuming that the scale system is composed of integer multiples of unit length, we studied the sizes of circles by referring to old articles and investigating existing artifacts. We discovered that the star chart of Cheonsang yeolcha bunyajido was drawn with a royal standard ruler (周尺) based on the unit length of 207 mm. Interestingly, its circumference was marked by the unit scale of 3 puns per 1 du (or degree) like Honsang (a celestial globe). We also found that Hyeonju ilgu (a equatorial sundial) has a Baekgak disk on a scale of 1 pun per 1 gak (that is an interval of time similar to a quarter). This study contributes to the analysis of specifications of numerous circular elements from old Korean astronomical instruments.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2013

We have uncovered 14 Korean royal astronomers and one scientist who worked in the early and mid-18th century. In spite of their high positions in the government office, all of them but one were not recorded anywhere in the major histories, such as WangjoSillok(王朝實錄) and JeungboMunheonBigo(增補文獻備考). Our search of Bon'gwans for each person has been carried successfully for 13 scientists. Their family relations are also uncovered finding five eminent astronomy families.