• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2013

We have uncovered 14 Korean royal astronomers and one scientist who worked in the early and mid-18th century. In spite of their high positions in the government office, all of them but one were not recorded anywhere in the major histories, such as WangjoSillok(王朝實錄) and JeungboMunheonBigo(增補文獻備考). Our search of Bon'gwans for each person has been carried successfully for 13 scientists. Their family relations are also uncovered finding five eminent astronomy families.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2012

This paper will introduce and overview in general the $Seongbyeon$ $Deungrok$ issued by the Gwansang-gam, the Astronomical Board in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. All the Chinese characters in the 1668 $Seongbyeon$ $Deungrok$ was deciphered at first and these were translated into Korean and English. With these translations and the word 'white vapor' in particular we discuss the nature of the main object in this $Deungrok$. Lastly, names of observers who engaged in the observations of this 1668 celestial, which are made as a by-product of this research, are introduced.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.367-380
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• 2017

The life and astronomical activity of Lee Deok-Seong (李德星, 1720-1794) was studied using various historical sources, including the astronomical almanac, Seungjeongwon-Ilgi (Daily records of Royal Secretariat of Joseon dynasty), and the Gwansang-Gam's logbooks during Joseon dynasty (A.D. 1392-1910). We present the results of the study including the following main findings. First, from the investigation of Lee's family tree, we find that a number of his relatives were also astronomers, notably Samryeok-Gwan (三曆官, the post of calendrical calculation). Second, we find that he took part in the compilation of an annual astronomical almanac over a period of at least 16 years. His major achievements in the astronomy of the Joseon dynasty were to establish a new method of calendar-making calculation and to bring astronomical materials to the Joseon court through a visit to China. The Joseon dynasty enforced the Shixianli (時憲曆, a Chinese calendar made by Adam Shall) in 1654 without fully understanding the calendar. So an astronomer and an envoy were dispatched to China in order to master the intricacies of the calendar and to learn as much of Western science as was available in that time and place. Lee Deok-Seong worked at the Gwansang-Gam (觀象監, Royal Astronomical Bureau) during the reigns of King Yeongjo (英祖) and Jeongjo (正祖). As best as we can ascertain in relation with the calculations in the Shixian calendar, Lee visited China four times. During his trips and interactions, he learned a new method for calendar-making calculations, and introduced many Western-Chinese astronomical books to Joseon academia. Lee greatly improved the accuracy of calendrical calculations, even while simplifying the calculation process. With these achievements, he finally was promoted to the title of Sungrok-Daebu (崇祿大夫), the third highest grade of royal official. In conclusion, history demonstrates that Lee Deok-Seong was one of the most outstanding astronomers in the late-Joseon dynasty.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.55-72
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• 2018

Matteo Ricci and Xu Gwangqi translated the first six Books of Euclid's Elements and published it with the title Jihe Yuanben, or Giha Wonbon in Korean in 1607. It was brought into Joseon as a part of Tianxue Chuhan in the late 17th century. Recognizing that Jihe Yuanben deals with universal statements under deductive reasoning, Jo Tae-gu completed his Juseo Gwan-gyeon to associate the traditional mathematics and the deductive inferences in Jihe Yuanben. Since Jo served as a minister of Hojo and head of Gwansang-gam, Jo had a comprehensive understanding of Song-Yuan mathematics, and hence he could successfully achieve his objective, although it is the first treatise of Jihe Yuanben in Joseon. We also show that he extended the results of Jihe Yuanben with his algebraic and geometric reasoning.