著者

前原 あやの

出版者

関西大学東西学術研究所

雑誌

関西大学東西学術研究所紀要 (ISSN:02878151)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.45, pp.67-80, 2012-04

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Zhang Heng was a Chinese astronomer who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty of China. Zhang was promoted to grand historian (太史令), and his job was to record heavenly observations. Zhang believed that any observable phenomenon could be explained by scientific means and he tried to seek a rational explanation for such phenomena. Zhang submitted a report entitled 請禁絶図讖疏 to the emperor about his controversial ideas, and criticized the prognosticatory character of fortune-telling called Tuchen (図讖; prediction, prophecy). On the other hand, Zhang accepted 占術 (divination), which he specifically official. In fact, some kinds of divination, for example, Boshi (卜筮; scapulimancy and divination), and oneirocritics (夢占い) were used and described in the books entitled 思玄賦 and 霊憲 written by Zhang. The fact that Zhang criticized Tuchen (図讖) is widely known, but no specific study has been done regarding Zhang's criteria of judgment as to "wha". This article discusses the divination that appeared in books written by Zhang and reviews his critique on Tuchen (図讖), which clarify his thoughts on a close relationship between heavenly bodies and divination. The author provides an account of Zhang's philosophy and evaluates Zhang's philosophy both from the point of view as a literary man and as a scientist against the background of the history of thought in the Eastern Han Dynasty.