黄百家与日月五星左、右旋之争

关于中国古代日月五星左、右旋之争 ,继清初的王锡阐之后 ,不但没有平息的迹象 ,反而由于传入的西方天文学特别是其多重天说的影响 ,至少与王锡阐同时或稍后的梅文鼎 (持左旋说 )、黄百家 (持右旋说 )等人又以中西会通的视角 ,重启论争。黄百家在继承前人成果的基础上 ,站在一个全新的高度 ,即主要以当时在中国最先进的西方第谷“准地心体系” (特别是其多重天说 )及其测定数据 ,对左旋说进行质疑 ,同时使传统右旋说克服了致命缺陷——日月高下与一重天之间的矛盾 ,而且还自然蕴含着左旋说在天体层次观念等方面的所长 ,从而又将传统的右旋说升华到一个全新的高度。

Huang Baijia''''s Position in the Debate About the Left-handed or Right-handed Rotation of the Sun,Moon and Five Planets Around the Earth in Ancient China

Analysis of newly-found historical materials shows that the debate about the left-handed or right-handed rotation of the sun, moon and five planets(namely,Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn)around the earth since Wang Xichan in early Qing Dynasty was not calmed down. Taking Western astronomy, especially its multi-heaven theory as basis,Mei Wending and Huang Baijia, both contemporaries of Wang Xichan, had the debate developed on a new level.By analysing Huang Baijia's position in the debate, an important conclusion is reached in this paper.That is,by developing China's traditional achievements, and by introducing Western astronomy, especially Tycho's system(its multi-heaven theory and measured astronomical data),Huang Baijia not only questioned the left-handed rotation theory, but also complemented and developed the right-handed rotation theory to a completely new height.