Was there science in ancient China?

There was science in ancient China.

When we talk about ancient Chinese scientific and technological civilization, people will naturally think of the "Four Great Inventions". The "Four Great Inventions" have long been a symbol of Chinese civilization and have received widespread attention and recognition around the world. But in fact, the "four great inventions" is not enough to fully demonstrate the scientific and technological achievements of the Chinese nation, because the important inventions of our ancient times are much more than that.

For example, our ancestors were the first to cultivate tea, one of the world's top three beverage crops; rice, one of the most important grain crops; soybeans, one of the most important legume crops; and fruits, one of the most important fruit crops. -soybean, and one of the most important fruit crops-citrus. The cultivation techniques of these crops have been spread to the world and have made significant contributions to the survival and development of mankind.

How did China construct a traditional cultural system that was both rich in humanistic qualities and technological creativity? How did China stay at the advanced level of science and technology in the world for a long time? I am afraid that it is difficult to answer these questions comprehensively using only the "Four Great Inventions".

In fact, the people of China have always expected to know what original scientific and technological achievements have been made in China. In order to answer the question, "What were the important scientific and technological inventions of China in ancient times?

In 2013, the Institute of the History of Natural Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHSNAS) set up a research group on "Important Scientific and Technological Inventions in Ancient China", inviting experts from inside and outside the institute to work together to systematically consider China's ancient inventions by combing the results of research on the history of science and technology, archaeology and other disciplines. The Bureau of Science Communication of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has given continuous encouragement and support to this work.

In June 2016, the research group's achievement "Important Scientific and Technological Inventions and Creations in Ancient China" was published by China Science and Technology Press. The book is divided into three major parts, namely "Scientific Discoveries and Creations", "Technological Inventions" and "Engineering Achievements", listing 88 important scientific and technological inventions and creations in ancient China, and explaining briefly their It lists 88 important scientific and technological inventions of ancient China, briefly explaining their content, time of emergence, and impact on the process of human civilization.

Once released, the book gained wide attention from the society, and won the honorary titles of "China's Good Book" in 2016 and "National Outstanding Science Popularization Works" in 2017, and was selected as one of the "2018 Best Books for Young People in China" issued by the State Press and Publication Administration. It has also been selected as one of the "2018 Catalogue of Hundred Outstanding Publications Recommended to National Youth" issued by the State Press and Publication Administration, and is an excellent popular science book on the history of science for the general public, which combines academic rigor and popularity of expression.

Extended Information:

Ancient Science and Technology Disciplines. p>The development of ancient science and technology categories is not balanced, and the reference factors are relatively complex, the research group firstly clarified the selection principles of major scientific and technological inventions and creations, and in the subsequent research and adjustment process consistently. There are three basic principles: one is to highlight originality; the second is to reflect the advanced level of scientific and technological development in ancient times; and the third is to have an important impact on world civilization.

The Important Scientific and Technological Inventions and Creations of Ancient China also systematically categorizes the selected entries. For a part of the evidence is sufficiently credible scientific and technological inventions and creations, a rigorous classification of the name, such as equations, charting six bodies, jacquard machine, papermaking, porcelain, water transport instrumentation, double-acting piston bellows, cannon, etc.. For some scientific discoveries and creations, technological inventions, are properly summarized.

For example, ancient China excelled in astronomical calculations and accumulated a large number of systematic observation records, among which the observation records of novae and supernovae also made important contributions to modern scientists' research on supernovae, radio sources, pulsars, neutron stars and other high-energy objects. These achievements have been summarized as "celestial records" and included in the list of important scientific discoveries and creations to reflect the achievements of ancient Chinese astronomical observations.

While sorting out the important scientific and technological inventions of ancient China, the research group paid attention to some characteristics and patterns of the development of ancient Chinese science and technology. The research group believes that the emergence of ancient Chinese scientific and technological creations was not evenly distributed in time. Technologies such as rice cultivation, corn cultivation and jade cutting appeared in prehistory and had a crucial impact on the formation of Chinese civilization.

The pre-Qin and Han dynasties were the formative periods for a considerable number of important scientific and technological inventions. The Sheng and Tang dynasties were less prominent in terms of scientific and technological creations, while the Song Dynasty, on the contrary, boasted brilliant creative inventions. From about the end of the Yuan Dynasty, China's traditional science and technology fell into a stage of slow development. To some extent, this also reflects the isomorphism between ancient Chinese scientific and technological achievements and cultural development.

During the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, the hundred schools of thought were active and contributed a lot of scientific and technological ideas in addition to politics and humanities, such as Mozi's discussion of the decimal value system.

After the Han Dynasty, the traditional cultural form of Confucianism was basically formed, corresponding to ancient astronomy, mathematics, medicine and agronomy, which also formed their own scientific paradigms. The spirit of erudition, skepticism, and reasoning developed by Confucianism in the Song Dynasty may shed light on understanding the development of science and technology in the Song and Yuan dynasties.

Throughout ancient history, much scientific and technological knowledge was shared by different civilizations through dissemination. For example, the Chinese contributed to the world in many ways methods of cultivating crops such as rice, soybeans and tea, as well as technologies in silk weaving, porcelain, paper making, printing and gunpowder, and also introduced crops such as wheat, cotton, corn, potatoes and tomatoes.

The Silk Road was not only a conduit for trade between China and the world, but also an active area of scientific and technological dissemination and interaction, driving the evolution of human civilization.

People's Daily Online - Showing the brilliant starry sky of ancient Chinese science and technology