Chongzhen Lishu

Chongzhen Lishu, Chongzhen Almanac, is one of the most important books about the European astronomy in ancient China. The book was co-compiled by Qu Guangqi, Li Zhizao, Li Tianjing and German missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell from 1629 to 1634 during the Late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The almanac consisted of 137 volumes, covering knowledge both on calendar and astronomy. The almanac introduced about De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium by Copernicus Nicholas, the widely recognized founder of modern astronomy.

The almanac was not enforced because of the pressure from the opposition as well as wars in the Late Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Johann Adam Schall von Bell edited the almanac. It was adopted as the official calendar of the Qing dynasty in 1645 and the name was changed to Shixian Calendar.