新천상열차분야지도 (2015)

What comes to mind when you are looking at stars in the night sky? Let us tell you a story about Korean people who looked at the sky and started having big dreams. This story goes back to the 15th century, when the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) ruled the country. Joseon achieved remarkable scientific developments in the 15th century. Joseon’s scientists invented many astronomical instruments to observe the sky. Astronomical phenomena were accurately observed in its capital of Hanyang. Using this advanced technology, Joseon created its own astronomical calendar system called Chiljeongsan in 1444. Chiljeongsan used Hanyang as its standard, while benefiting from research on the Chinese and Islamic calendars. As a result, King Sejong(1397-1450) created the Korean native alphabet, Hangeul, and the native time system. How did he achieve such incredible developments? It was because he had a team of remarkable scientists, including Jeong Inji (1396~1478), Jeong Cho (? ~ 1434), Yi Cheon (1376-1451), Yi Soonji (1406-1465), Kim Dam (1416~1464), and Jang Yeong-sil, who supported his vision. In 2004, the International Astronomical Union named the asteroids discovered by modern Korean scientists after Korea’s great scientists from the Joseon Dynasty which included Yi Cheon, Yi Soonji, and Jang Yeong-sil. These were Korean men who looked at the stars and pursued big dreams with King Sejong. In the 21st century, they became true stars who inspire young Koreans to pursue their own dreams. Here are the stories of great historical figures who achieved their dreams and created history like King Sejong and his scientists. Now, it is your turn to take the challenge to achieve your dreams and create history! Astronomical History of the World Astronomical Ceiling of Senemut Tomb 1473 BC | Egypt The Astronomical Ceiling of Senemut Tomb is an ancient celestial diagram that describes the 12 months of the Egyptian calendar and the northern constellations. Thirteen Towers of Chankillo 4th BC | Peru The Thirteen Towers of Chankillo are a solar observatory that was built around 4th BC in Peru on the South American continent. Klaudios Ptolemaios(100-170) | Greece Ptolemaios(100-170) was a Greek astronomer who formulated the geocentric view of the universe. Aryabhata(476-550)| India Aryabhata(476-550) was an Indian mathematician and astronomer who authored books about mathematics and astronomy, and claimed that the earth rotates. Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi(903-986) | Iran Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi(903-986) was a Persian astronomer who authored “the Book of Fixed Stars” and made the earliest record of the Andromeda Galaxy. Observatory at Chichen Izta 906 | Mexico The observatory at Chichen Izta, aka El Caracol, is a Mayan astronomical observatory in Yucatan, Mexico. Shoushi Calendar 1281 | China The Shoushi Calendar was made by Guo Shoujing (1231-1316) and his colleagues in 1281 during the Yuan Dynasty. It had 365.2425 days a year. This calendar was introduced over 300 years earlier than the Gregorian calendar (1582). Ulugh Beg’s observatory 1420s | Uzbekistan The Ulugh Beg Observatory, built by Timurid ruler Ulugh Beg (1394-1449), is one of the finest astronomical observatories in the Islamic World. Nicolaus Copernicus(1473~1543) | Poland Copernicus(1473~1543) was a Polish astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the universe and opened the door to modern astronomy. Galileo Galilei(1564~1642) | Italy Galilei(1564~1642) was an Italian astronomer who supported Copernicus’s theory and observed the sky through a telescope. Greenwich Observatory 1675 | The United Kingdom Greenwich Observatory, built in Greenwich, London, in 1675, became the indicator of longitude 0° for the earth. Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope 1820 | The Republic of South Africa Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope made significant contributions to position astronomy in the Southern Hemisphere, famously known for observations of Alpha Centauri and use of astrophotography. Apollo 11 Moon Landing 1969 | USA On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon, opening up an epoch of space exploration. Astronomical History of Korea Cheomseongdae Observatory | Silla Kingdom (57 BC – AD 935) Cheomseongdae, built during the the Queen Seondeok(reign 632-647)of Silla Kingdom, is the oldest extant astronomical observatory. Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido | Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido is a celestial map created during the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) that is based on an astronomical map from Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BC – AD 668) and Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). It is one of the oldest astronomical maps in the world. Chiljeongsan 1444 Chiljeongsan is a calendar system that was created during the reign of King Sejong. It overcame the limitations of the Chinese and Islamic calendars by using today’s Seoul local time as its standard. Honui, Honsang, Ganui, Soganui | Joseon Dynasty Honui, Honsang, Ganui, and Soganui are examples of astronomical instruments that were created during the reign of King Sejong. Honui, armillary sphere Honsang, sky globe Ganui, simplified armillary sphere Soganui, small simplified armillary sphere Angbuilgu 1434 Angbuilgu is a sundial that was built during the reign of King Sejong. Jagyeongnu 1433 Jagyeongnu is an automatic water clock with a self-striking mechanism, built during the reign of King Sejong. Ilseongjeongsiui 1437 Ilseongjeongsiui is an astronomical instrument that complemented a sundial’s function by allowing the measurement of time at night by observing the stars. Yi Cheon(1376-1451) Yi Cheon(1376-1451) was a military official and scientist who managed the creation of movable metal type and astronomical instruments, including Ganui, Honui, and Angbuilgu, during the reign of King Sejong. Jang Yeong-sil Jang Yeong-sil was a skilled craftsman and engineer who contributed to the production of movable metal type, water clocks (Jagyeongnu, Ongnu), and many other astronomical instruments. Yi Soonji(1406~1465) Yi Soonji(1406-1465) was a scholarly official and astronomer who completed Chiljeongsan by using the capital of Joseon as the standard of reference. King Sejong the Great(1397-1450) King Sejong the Great(1397-1450) was Joseon’s fourth ruler who created the Korean native alphabet of Hangeul and the Korean calendar of Chiljeongsan. He made significant advancements in science.