Introduction
We are delighted to invite you to attend the 10th International Conference on Oriental Astronomy (ICOA-10), which will be held on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, on 23-27 Oct. 2020 at The Suites Hotel Jeju. ICOA-10 is hosted by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) and the Korean Space Science Society (KSSS), and is supported by IAU Commission C3 (History of Astronomy).
After three years of hard labour and efforts, the first International Conference on Oriental Astronomy (ICOA) finally came to life in October of 1993 in Seoul. ICOA-2 was hosted by Chinese scholars two years later, and ever since ICOA conferences have been held in different countries about every three years during the past 27 years. Most recently, we were in Pune, India, for ICOA-9.
The ICOA has the primary purpose of inspiring studies on the history of astronomy in Asian countries and encouraging collaborations and relationships between international researchers. Another aim of these conferences is to cooperate with Western researchers who study the history of Asian astronomy.
In the year 2020 we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the ICOA, and it is only right that it returns to the country where it was born. The LOC has devoted their efforts to promote ICOA-10 as a memorable occasion for all participants in one of the most scenic areas in the Republic of Korea, Jeju Island (which contains a natural world heritage site and lava tubes around Halla Mountain).
The main theme of ICOA-10 is “Patrons and Patronage of Astronomy in the Asia-Pacific Region”. This conference discusses the history of astronomy from antiquity up to the 20th century for nations of the Middle East, and South, Southeast and East Asia, and the Pacific Rim. It also targets the astronomy of European countries that had historical links with these regions.
This conference will include the following research themes:
a) History of Astronomy in East and Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.
b) Applied Historical Astronomy
c) Historical Records and Observations
d) Ancient Observatories and Their Astronomical Instrumentation
e) Calendars, Calendrical Science and Chronology
f) Star Maps and Star Catalogues
g) Ethnoastronomy and Archaeoastronomy
h) Exchange and Development of Astronomical Knowledge
i) The Development of Astrophysics and Radio Astronomy
j) Other Recent Research
For each theme the role of patrons and patronage should be examined, but we also welcome papers which indicate that factors other than patrons and patronage were critical for the local development of astronomy in the Asia-Pacific region.
We particularly encourage young scholars to participate in the conference by presenting papers.
Recall of the past conferences
ICOA-1: Oriental Astronomy from Guo Shoujing to King Sejong (Seoul, Korea / October 6-11, 1993)
ICOA-2: A Frontiers of Oriental Astronomy (Yingtan, China / October 16-18, 1995)
ICOA-3: Silk Road in the Cosmos (Fukuoka, Japan / October 27-30, 1998)
ICOA-4: Symposium on Zhang Heng (Nanyang, China / August 19-25, 2001)
ICOA-5: Celebrating 40 Years of Chiang Mai University (Chiangmai, Thailand / October 4-8, 2004)
ICOA-6: Highlighting the History of Astronomy in the Asia-Pacific Region (Townsville, Northern Australia / July 7-11, 2008)
ICOA-7: Mapping the Oriental Sky (Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan / September 6-10, 2010)
ICOA-8: Astronomical Heritages in Asia-Pacific Areas (Anhui, China / March 26-28, 2014)
ICOA-9: The Growth and Development of Astronomy and Astrophysics in India and the Asia-Pacific Region (Pune, India / November 14-19, 2016)