Wang Zhenyi (1768 - 1797)
She studied mathematics especially trigonometry, and became interested in lunar eclipses. She modelled them by placing a round table in a garden pavilion (using it as a globe), from the ceiling she hung a lamp (using it as the Sun) and on one side of the table she had a big round mirror (as the Moon). Moving them around according to astronomica principles she could see how the lunar eclipse occurred, and her article 'On the Explanation of the Lunar Eclipse' was highly accurate. In 'Of the Ball-Shaped Earth', she attempted to describe why people would not fall off a spherical Earth, and also attempted to describe the cosmos and the relationship of the Earth within it. She advocated that within society men and women "are all people, who have the same reason for studying". (see Notable Women of China by Barbara Bennett Peterson, He Hong Fei, Guangyu Zhang for more information)