小簡儀와 관련된 문헌의 학술적 번역

Abstract

Small abridged armilla(小簡儀) is one of the astronomical instruments that were developed for the sake of calendar reform under the reign of King Sejong in the early Joseon period. Translations with annotations were made for three major classical texts related to the instrument: the Inscription for the Small Abridged Armilla with Preface (called 「小簡儀銘幷序」) written by Jeong Cho (鄭招), the Report on the Directions for Use of Small Abridged Armilla.(called 「書啓」) written by Kim Eung’gi (金應箕) et al., and the Inscription for the Duplicated Small Abridged Armilla (called 「小簡儀銘」) written by Choi Bu (崔溥). The classical texts related to science and technology can be easily and accurately translated when its translators are familiar with the structure and operating principles of the subject. Based on the existing model of the instrument, we are able to translate more extended texts and correct the model recursively: for example, it may be added that the two ends of sighting bar (窺衡) taper to a tip (圭首) that the declination ring (四游環) has a double-ring structure, that the one-hundred-tick time ring (百刻環) is fixed while the equatorial ring (赤道環) can rotate, and that a small well for floating a compass needle is dug on the pedestal to align the axis of rotation toward the North Celestial Pole. In this paper we discuss the precautions when translating classical texts on science and technology.