Tian Jing Huo Wen 天经或问

Held in the University of Sydney Library’s East Asian Collection, Tian Jing Huo Wen 天经或问  is a compelling example of early modern scientific exchange across cultures. This item reflected how Asian scholars integrated Western astronomical knowledge into traditional Chinese astronomical thought.

The Library’s copy is a Japanese edition of the Chinese original, which was printed in Tōkyō in 1730. No copies of the 1672 Chinese original edition have survived, making this 18th-century Japanese edition the oldest extant version. Just 67 copies of this first Japanese edition have been identified and located around the world.

The classical Chinese text is accompanied by reading marks (kunten训点) added by Japanese scholar Nishikawa Seikyū (1693–1756) to assist Japanese readers in understanding Chinese grammar and syntax. These annotations reflect the active role Japanese scholars played in interpreting and transmitting Chinese translations of Western science.

More than just a scientific manual, Tian Jing Huo Wen is a rare artifact of cultural transmission – Chinese in language, influenced by Western astronomical ideas, and interpreted through a Japanese scholarly lens. It offers a tangible link to the region’s shared intellectual history and highlights the role of books in shaping scientific understanding across linguistic and national boundaries.

These items were acquired with funds from the Bequest of Dr M J Morrissey in honour of Professor Arthur Lindsay Sadler.

Call number: EA 7108 7