Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 208 The Calendar is a Trap
Guan Qiu could read and do basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication. As a carpenter's apprentice, he had to calculate various sizes. If he couldn't even do this, he would undoubtedly not be able to continue his job. However, apart from the Thousand Character Classic and a few Tang poems, he had not read many books. As for the Ten Mathematical Classics, most of these books were learned from family traditions, or could only be studied by people with money and free time. He understood even less about them.
Therefore, when he persistently asked Zhang Shou about the period of the simple pendulum and finally heard the extremely unfriendly formula T = 2π√L/G for a semi-illiterate person, he was stunned and then a little lost. This was the first time that he got the answer immediately after asking someone, but he didn't understand it at all.
Zhang Shou saw his embarrassment, thought for a moment and said, "How about this, your senior brother and Luo Xiaoxiao may not let you interfere. I'll lend you a set of math textbooks from the Jiuzhang Hall in the Imperial College. You can try to study on your own and understand as much as you can. When Lu Sanlang comes over, you can ask him for help. Once you've learned vertical division, you can learn to calculate square roots using vertical form."
Nowadays, there are too many things to do, so Zhang Shou did not patiently explain mathematics and geometry to Guan Qiu from scratch as he did to Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai in the countryside. After agreeing to lend the book, he only pointed out to Guan Qiu the structure of the pendulum clock based on the principle of simple pendulum.
Of course, in his previous life, he had only looked up some information on the Internet out of curiosity, and the things he drew on a few random pictures were just as fragmented as the drawings he had shown the three people before.
Before leaving, Zhang Shou saw the young man staring at the blueprint intently, and he couldn't help but feel very complicated. Although Taizu should have thought about reform, the Four Books and Five Classics still occupy an overwhelming position over the years, and the former Ten Books of Mathematics have all been sidelined, not to mention other things. Therefore, the so-called most talented talents are all concentrated in the official career.
The most important thing is that the dignitaries and wealthy businessmen of this era are unlikely to sponsor any science and culture - it is possible to ask them to sponsor the poor scholars who are committed to governing the country and pacifying the world, and to invest in shipping to make a fortune.
However, in fact, Chinese people have always been very smart. After the popularization of basic mathematics and physics, how many geniuses have emerged in China since the Republic of China? How many top scholars have been created? He is not at that level, but his mathematical foundation is still solid. In this case, why not introduce Ge's physics in addition to Ge's Mathematical Classics?
That evening, when Zhang Shou finished his second class at Jiuzhang Hall and went to visit Ge's house, he had just carefully asked Ge Yong in the study whether he was interested in publishing another set of basic natural science books when he was given a big cold look.
"Are you done yet?" Ge Yong glared at Zhang Shou, his face full of grief. "You can discuss your ideas with me, but you attribute all your inspirations and achievements to me, your teacher. Aren't you too unmotivated? You were a nobody before, and you were worried that your words and books would have nowhere to be promoted and no one would read them, so you let me take the blame."
He paused, and his voice suddenly rose an octave: "But now you are well-known in Beijing. It would be great if you could write a solid book and let those who doubt you read it. Besides, I occasionally attended your natural science classes for those people in Banshan Hall. That has nothing to do with mathematics. Who can slander me for helping you become famous?"
Zhang Shou, who was almost sprayed with saliva, finally came to his senses after the initial shock. The mathematics textbooks he first used were completely different from the previous mathematics classics. In addition, he was pretending to be an old gentleman to teach students in Cuiyunjian at the beginning. Thanks to Ge Yong for covering up his lie, he later promoted the textbooks under Ge Yong's name, but physics was different.
Before Newton was even born, the knowledge points that later generations exhausted students were truly unprecedented...
He was silent for a moment, then laughed dryly and said, "In that case, after I write it, please take a look at it first."
"That's more reasonable!" Ge Yong was slightly satisfied. "Although you are the same age as those young men, you are now a sixth-rank Imperial Academy student and Zuo Zanshan of the Zhanshi Palace, and a doctor of the Imperial College. It is natural for you to write books. By the way, I heard that the emperor will take you to choose a consort and a groom?"
Zhang Shou was so confused that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was the one who asked people to keep it a secret. Teacher Ge, you are too well-informed! The next moment, Ge Yong proudly revealed the answer himself.
"This idea was proposed by me, an old man, to the emperor! You know, according to the old rules, the Imperial College doctors had to attend the court. But because the emperor personally visited the Imperial College last time and said that he wanted to rectify the academic atmosphere, the Imperial College doctors have to personally manage the six halls. Except for the three major courts of New Year's Day, Longevity Day and Winter Solstice, the court meetings on other days are cancelled. There are many people in the court and outside who don't know you, you have to let them see you!"
By old child, do you mean people like you, teacher?
Zhang Shou simply didn't know what to say, and in the end he could only smile helplessly and said, "Teacher, you also said that I would go to such grand court meetings as the New Year's Day and the Winter Solstice. Besides, didn't the emperor summon me to court during the dispute between the eldest and second princes last time? When the emperor chooses a son-in-law, he looks at his future son-in-law or niece's son-in-law, but you want him to look at me. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"
"That's what the emperor meant. Why do you care so much?" Ge Yong said thoughtfully with a look on his face that said, "Don't be so stingy." Then he said thoughtfully, "By the way, after you finish writing your book, do you plan to promote it in the Imperial College?"
"No, I hope to promote it to children." Zhang Shou took a deep breath and then whispered, "The ancients watched the sunset and the stars, watched the flowers bloom and fall, and watched the river flow eastward. They calculated the trajectory of the stars, the time for sowing, and even the flooding of rivers and the timing of tides. These principles of the operation of all things are much easier to learn from a young age than to learn them when you grow up."
"Teacher, you should have seen the globe in the Armament Bureau. If that is true, the Ming Dynasty today is actually very small. And if the earth we live on is a globe, how many planets are there in the vast starry sky? If the top talents are all dedicated to governing the country and pacifying the world, then isn't this vision too narrow?"
Seeing Ge Yong nodded in agreement, he paused, then said in a deep voice: "After I write the first book, I plan to give two copies to the third and fourth princes. They are making rapid progress in mathematics, so it is just right for them to learn these things."
"From top to bottom!" Ge Yong pointed at Zhang Shou with understanding, and then said unhappily, "What do you mean by sending those two little guys first? You have to send them to me, Lao Qi, and Old Man Chu first! If the three of us think it's good, then maybe we can help you train a few more kids in the future!"
Although Ge Yong said this as if it was just a joke, Zhang Shou knew that this teacher was absolutely serious. Moreover, he knew very well that he was able to obtain the authority and freedom like today, thanks to Ge Yong's appearance in Rongshui Village and accepting him as his last disciple. Otherwise, the once precarious Zhaoguo Mansion would not have brought him the glory he has now.
Therefore, he would certainly welcome the support from Mr. Ge, the master of mathematics, who could play the greatest role at any time!
He immediately bowed and thanked him: "Thank you, teacher!"
"No need to thank me." Ge Yong pulled his beard with a smile, and then said in a very nonchalant tone, "The Imperial Observatory said that the old Ming calendar has been used for many years, and it is time to revise it. So, Lao Qi and Lao Chu came to me and asked for help. We both agreed to help calculate it. Since you are here, come and help tonight."
Hearing this, Zhang Shou couldn't hold back his smile. In the past, he calculated various mathematical problems from ancient times to the present, calculated the flow and diversion diagrams of large rivers, and helped teachers gradually understand plane geometry and solid geometry... Now this is more advanced, calculating the calendar... He didn't want to have anything to do with the Imperial Astronomical Observatory. This time he calculated the calendar, so next time he would calculate solar and lunar eclipses?
How many college students who have studied advanced mathematics in modern society can calculate this? He can't do it at all!
Although Zhang Shou struggled desperately, Ge Yong was too strong to be taken lightly, so he was eventually retained. He had no choice but to listen more, watch more, and talk less, until Ge Yong expressed his deep feelings about Guo Shoujing's "Shushi Calendar", and he came to his senses.
"In the early years of Emperor Taizu, he was very impressed by Guo Shoujing's "Shushi Calendar", so the Imperial Astronomical Observatory at that time changed the "Shushi Calendar" and revised it into "Da Ming Calendar" to please the emperor. However, although Guo Shoujing was a master of mathematics and had outstanding attainments in astronomy, geography and other miscellaneous subjects, when his calendar was presented to him, it was changed to remove the increase and decrease of the year."
"As a result, every year they say they will add it, but every year they delay it! It's all the work of those useless people during the reign of Emperor Gaozong! Moreover, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, it was strictly forbidden for the people to study calendars and compile calendars, and it was even more forbidden to observe celestial phenomena without authorization. If the ban had not been gradually lifted over the years, I would be talking to you about the calendar here, and it would be against the law!"
Zhang Shou couldn't help but digging his ears, but he didn't care about Ge Yong's complaints. Instead, he suddenly thought of a piece of history.
Although he was not very familiar with the calendar, he at least remembered that Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still praised by countless people as the most righteous ruler of the country until later generations, had strong political skills but also set strict restrictions in the fields of calendar and astronomy.
Zhu Yuanzhang, like all previous dynasties, prohibited the public from learning the calendar and even astronomy. Instead, he concentrated all the people in charge of astronomy and calendar in the Imperial Observatory. At the same time, it was stipulated that the staff of the Imperial Observatory were not allowed to hold other official positions for life. Even the descendants of the officials of the Imperial Observatory were not allowed to hold other professions to ensure hereditary succession. If anyone dared to violate the rules, he would be sent to the frontier to guard the border. However, who would be willing to stay in the Imperial Observatory for a lifetime if they had some ambitions?
You know, ancient astronomers were generally mathematicians, and astronomy was the first driving force of mathematics. When astronomy was banned, how many people in the whole society would still learn the real mathematical classics? Even the "Suanxue Tongzong" is more of a practical mathematics manual.
Many mathematical theories of the Song and Yuan dynasties were not known to mathematicians of the Ming dynasty. Some famous mathematicians could not find square roots or use the Tianyuan method to write equations. The theoretical mathematics community was bleak and there were no new breakthroughs.
Moreover, it is easy to imagine that even if the people at the beginning of the Imperial Observatory were excellent astronomers and mathematicians, their sons would definitely be astronomers and mathematicians? This proposition is just like the son of a top student will always be a top student, which makes no sense. Therefore, throughout the Ming Dynasty, the calendar of the Imperial Observatory was often inconsistent with the astronomical phenomena. This phenomenon of many useless people in the Imperial Observatory even continued into the Qing Dynasty.
It was not until the end of the Ming Dynasty that missionaries arrived and, under the auspices of Xu Guangqi, the Chongzhen Calendar was finally published. This calendar also survived the change of dynasties and was revamped in the Qing Dynasty, appearing in front of everyone as the "Western New Calendar."
"Zhang Shou, tell me, should we recalculate the Shangyuan years?"
Zhang Shou, who was distracted thinking about the evolution of the Ming and Qing calendars, didn't hear this question until Ge Yong patted him on the shoulder. He awkwardly asked Ge Yong to repeat the question, and then his brows wrinkled into a big pimple.
Shangyuan Ji Nian… God, he had heard of this term when his history elective teacher was talking about the advancement of the “Shushi Calendar”. Simply put, just like the West uses the birth of Jesus as the beginning of the Gregorian calendar, Shangyuan Ji Nian usually chooses the midnight of the winter solstice as the calendar year, and this new moon day must also be the Jiazi day. Then, through this calendar year, we push forward and find a time when the sun and the moon are in conjunction and the five planets are in alignment, as the Shangyuan. The interval between Shangyuan and the year of compiling the calendar is called Ji Nian…
Well, he was extremely sensitive to numbers and didn’t remember the algorithm, but he still remembered that Liu Xin, the first strong man in the Western Han Dynasty who came up with this algorithm, calculated a terrifying number for Taiji Shangyuan - 23639040 years... He remembered that when he was young and frivolous, he memorized a lot of unconventional knowledge in order to show off, and used this number to trick a real academic master to death...
At this moment, Zhang Shou, who was quick-witted, immediately shook his head and said, "This kind of thing has long been thrown into the pile of old papers by Guo Shoujing, so don't take it out. However, to compile a new calendar, you can't just do some calculations. I remember reading in history books that when Guo Shoujing compiled the calendar, he measured it all over the world and sent people to 27 places in the country to measure shadows. If we really want to compile a new calendar now, we should at least do this, right?"
Seeing Ge Yong's expression eased a little, Zhang Shou knew that he had hit the nail on the head. Fearing that he would be caught calculating these things that completely drove him crazy, he had to say righteously: "When the Tang Dynasty compiled the calendar, the monk Yixing also sent people to observe in thirteen places across the country, and in the Yuan Dynasty, it was twenty-seven places. If our dynasty wants to compile a new calendar, it should naturally do the same. Measure first and then calculate, this is the only way to be accurate!"
He paused, then continued word by word: "This is the responsibility of the Imperial Observatory. Teacher, Mr. Qi, and Mr. Chu are not in the position to make decisions. They can make suggestions, but they should be allowed to do it. Otherwise, it will be meaningless if they are resented in the future!"
After presenting facts and reasoning, Zhang Shou finally convinced Ge Yong. He first asked the people from the Imperial Observatory to write a letter to the emperor requesting that he set up observation points throughout the country, and then talked about changing the calendar. He successfully escaped from Ge's house and then wiped his sweaty forehead.
The calendar is a pitfall. If Ge Yong really forces him to calculate again in the future, he will have no choice but to use the Gregorian calendar... But he has to think carefully about how to explain the origin and theoretical basis of this simple and refined algorithm, which has a leap year every four years, subtract three leap years every four hundred years, and only an error of one day in a full three thousand three hundred years.
