China's rulers have supported astronomy since ancient times, and departments concerned with matters of astronomy are among the very earliest scientific research organs in the history of Chinese bureaucracy. An imperial observatory was established in 2000 BC, and its Qin dynasty successor in the 3rd century BC employed over 300 people. Astronomy has always been highly valued, and dynastic changes never resulted in a cutoff of support.
天文既擔負了自然與人文雙重責任，自古中國就以國家之力網羅專門人才推動天文發展，天文機構成為中國官方最早的科學研究機構之一，西元前兩千年就設有國家天文台，秦朝皇家天文台工作人員已達三百多人，歷代更不曾因當權者失勢而廢止天象觀測。