明代浑象的复原研究

明代正统七年制成的四件大型天文仪器浑仪、简仪、圭表和浑象,其中前三件完好地保存在紫金山天文台上,成为国家重点文物而驰名中外。唯有浑象因为在清朝初年不幸被毁,无缘见其面貌。为了展示明代天文仪器制作成就的全貌,我们对明代浑象进行了复原研究。在考查和分析大量古代天文史料和有关古籍后,我们对该浑象所表现的天文内容、各部尺寸、机械结构、以及外部装饰都做了深入探索。在此基础上,我们绘出了复原制作的工艺草图,作为技术部门施工时的依据。本文系统介绍复原研究中的文献考证、设计过程、以及复原制作工作情况。为了真实地反映此项研究的历史面貌,文中给出五张手绘的设计草图,以资存照。据此复制的明代浑象,现在陈列在紫金山天文台南京天文历史博物馆中。

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CELESTIAL GLOBE OF THE MING DYNASTY

It is well known that four big bronze instruments were made in the seventh year of the Zheng-tong reign of the Ming Dynasty(AD1442).They are the Armillary Sphere,Abridged Armilla,Gnomon and Celestial Globe.The preceding three ones are well preserved in the Purple Mountain Observatory.But the Celestial Globe was destroyed in the early period of the Qing Dynasty.According to the Astronomical treatises of the Yuan and Ming Dynasty and related references we designed the outside appearance,inner structure and decorative figures of the Celestial Globe.In Autumn 1994 we reconstructed this instrument in original size and exhibited it to the audience at the openning ceremony of the Nanjing Museum of Astronomy History.