五星盈缩差算法是中国古代行星运动理论中的一个关键算法,五星地心真黄经和五星定合、定见、定伏时刻的推算都与这个算法密切相关。由于科学史家通常认为五星盈缩差就是行星中心差,从而在很大程度上影响了他们对中国传统行星理论的客观评价。本文在前人的研究基础上,重新构建了五星盈缩差算法的理论模型,指出五星盈缩差是为修正行星中心差而设计的,但它既不等同于行星中心差,也与太阳中心差无关。通过对《纪元历》盈缩差算法精度的考察,可以较好地解释中国古代行星计算精度。
The algorithm of expansion and contraction difference of Five Stars is a key algorithm in ancient Chinese planetary theory.The algorithms of true conjunction,appearance and invisibility are associated with expansion-contraction-difference-algorithm of Five Stars.Some scholars think poorly of Chinese planetary theory because they believe that the expansion and contraction difference equal to equation of the center.Based on previous study and basic idea of ancient Chinese planetary theory,this paper constructs a theoretical model of the algorithm of expansion and contraction difference and points out that the algorithm of expansion and contraction difference was designed to correct planetary equation of center,but it doesn't equal to planetary equation of center and has no relation with the equation of center of the sun.After examining the precision of the algorithm of expansion and contraction difference of Five Stars in Jiyuan Li,the paper explains the planetary computation accuracy of ancient China.