Development of Phenological Recognition and Phenology In Ancient China

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  • 古代中国における季節認識と季節学の発展
  • コダイ チュウゴク ニ オケル キセツ ニンシキ ト キセツガク ノ ハッテン

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Abstract

Routine observation and descriptions of phenological events started in China in the 21st century B.C. A phenological calendar of agricultural activities was also developed in this period. These facts should be noted from the viewpoint not only of bioclimatology, but also of the ancient history of natural sciences in the world. In the 11th century B.C., weather was recorded in terms of about 200 kinds of phenomena. Comparing the records in China to those in Parapegmata in ancient Greece, which were carved in limestone in the 5th century B.C., one noted that the Chinese phenological calendar was developed several hundreds of years earlier and was more comprehensive. In the 11th century B.C., a calendar named 24 “jieqi” was completed (with year divided into 24 periods, that is, two periods per month). Further, 72 “hou”, having five day-periods, was established in the 1st century B.C. by naming corresponding phenological events. This calendar was a peculiar solar-lunar calendar. In order to find climate anomaly for the year, special attention was paid to anomalous phenological events in the form of proverbs among the farmers.<br>

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