khâm thiên giám
Definition
- Noun:
- Imperial Astronomical Bureau: A historical institution in feudal Vietnam responsible for astronomical observation, calendar creation, and the interpretation of celestial phenomena for the royal court.
- Astronomical Service: The official government office in charge of astronomy, calendrical science, and weather observation in ancient Vietnam.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Khâm thiên giám đã soạn thảo lịch cho triều đình. (The Imperial Astronomical Bureau compiled the calendar for the royal court.)
- Các quan ở khâm thiên giám có nhiệm vụ quan sát thiên tượng. (The officials at the astronomical service had the duty to observe celestial phenomena.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is exclusively used in a historical context to refer to the official astronomical and calendrical institution of pre-modern Vietnamese dynasties, such as the Lê or Nguyễn dynasties.
- It denotes not just an observatory but an entire administrative body with official duties for the state.
Variants and Related Words
- Thiên văn giám: A less common, synonymous term for the same institution.
- Toà thiên văn: (Modern term) Observatory. This is the contemporary general term for an astronomical observatory and is not specific to the historical royal bureau.
Synonyms
- Imperial observatory: (Historical) A direct translation conveying its official and royal nature.
- Astronomical board: (Historical) Emphasizes its role as an administrative body.
Related Phrases
- Làm lịch: To make/compile the calendar. This was a primary function of the .
- Xem thiên tượng: To observe celestial omens/phenomena. This was a key duty of the bureau.
Related Idioms
- While there are no direct idioms using , its functions are related to traditional idioms about weather and stars, such as "trông trời, trông đất, trông mây" (to watch the sky, the earth, the clouds – meaning to observe signs carefully), which reflects the observational role of the bureau.
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(lịch sử) The astronomical service
