How to grasp the general situation and influence of the four great inventions

Based on the application of archaeological data, the investigation of unearthed cultural relics and the textual research of Chinese and foreign documents in recent 30 years, four great inventions of ancient china systematically and deeply studies the origin and early development of four great inventions of ancient china's papermaking, printing, gunpowder and compass and their spread history in eastern and western countries, and discusses the role and influence of the four great inventions in the development of world civilization. At the same time, the scientific principles and technical manufacturing on which the four great inventions are based are discussed, and the new technical restoration research on related artifacts is carried out. This book has *** 13 chapters and 305 illustrations, which are easy to understand and informative, reflecting the latest research results.

Author's brief introduction Pan Jixing, born in July, 193 1, a native of Beining City, Liaoning Province, graduated from School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 1954. For nearly half a century, he devoted himself to the study of the history of science and the history of scientific exchanges between China and foreign countries. At present, he is a professor at the Institute of Natural Science History of Chinese Academy of Sciences, a member of the International Academy of Sciences (Paris) Exchange Society, and a member of the National Planning Group for the Arrangement and Publication of Ancient Books. He has been a visiting professor at Robinson College, Cambridge University, USA, a visiting professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), a visiting professor at the Institute of Humanities, Kyoto University, Japan, and the ninth lecturer at the New Island Lecture of Kyoto Tongshe University. He is the author of China Paper-making Technology History Draft, China Science and Technology Official Paper-making Printing Volume, China Metal Movable Type Printing Technology Official System, Tiangong Collation Research, Song Review, China Rocket Technology History Draft, Sino-foreign Scientific Exchange, Karl Sholema and other books, and has published papers in Chinese and foreign languages.

catalogue

Chapter 1 The invention of papermaking

The first part is about the general concept of the paper.

First, the ancient writing materials before the appearance of paper.

Second, on the definition of the paper

Third, the scientific principle of papermaking

The second section discusses the origin of papermaking from the excavation of paper in the Western Han Dynasty.

1. Why did papermaking originate in China?

Second, papermaking originated in the Western Han Dynasty.

Third, about the historical role of Cai Lun.

The third part comments on the theory that papermaking originated from foreign countries.

1. Did papermaking originate in Europe or Egypt?

Second, comment on the theory that papermaking originated in Central America or India.

The second chapter is the development of papermaking in China.

Section 1 papermaking technology in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties

First, the improvement and popularization of hemp paper.

Second, develop new raw materials and new uses of paper.

Three, paper sizing, coating and dyeing technology

Section 2 Paper-making Technology in Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties

First, the development of leather paper and the rise of bamboo paper

Second, the origin of paper and the expansion of its use.

Third, the progress of papermaking technology and processing technology

Section III Papermaking Technology in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

1. Paper-making Technology in Song and Yuan Dynasties

Second, the paper-making technology in Ming and Qing Dynasties

Chapter III Invention of Block Printing

Section 1 Classic reproduction technology before the invention of printing

First, the influence of paper hot stamping on printing

Second, rubbinging technology of inscriptions

The invention of block printing and copper plate printing in the second quarter

1. Engraving printing originated in the Sui Dynasty.

Second, the records and physical materials related to printing in the early Tang Dynasty

Section III Development of Block Printing from Tang Dynasty to Northern Song Dynasty

I. Printing from the Middle Tang Dynasty to the Late Tang Dynasty

Printing in the Second, Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms and Northern Song Dynasty

Third, the traditional engraving printing technology.

Section IV Development of Printmaking and Multicolor Printing

First, the origin and development of printmaking

Second, the origin and development of color printing

The fifth part comments on the theory that woodblock printing originated from foreign countries.

1. Why did printing originate in China?

Second, comment on the theory that printing originated in India.

Third, comment on the theory that woodblock printing originated in South Korea.

Chapter IV Invention of Movable Type Printing Technology

Section 1 Invention of Non-metallic Movable Type Technology

First, wood movable type printing was invented.

Second, the development of wood movable type printing after Yuan Dynasty.

Third, the invention of clay movable type or pottery movable type printing.

The invention of metal movable type printing in the second quarter

1. Copper movable type printing originated in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Second, the development of copper movable type printing after the Song Dynasty.

Third, the origin and development of tin movable type printing

The third part comments on the theory of Korean invention of metal movable type.

I. Comment on the physical evidence on which this statement is based

Second, comment on the documentary evidence on which this statement is based.

Chapter V Invention of gunpowder technology

Section 1 ancient arson weapons before gunpowder appeared

1. In ancient times, crossbows were used to launch longitudinal rockets.

Second, ancient torches, flying torches, firebirds and fire beasts

Fierce oil engines in the Three, Five Dynasties and Northern Song Dynasty

The definition and combustion theory of gunpowder in the second quarter

First, the definition of gunpowder

Second, the ancient theory of gunpowder combustion

Third, modern gunpowder combustion theory

Why did China invent gunpowder in the third quarter?

First, the historical facts of China's earliest utilization and purification of saltpeter

Second, China first discovered the historical facts of gunpowder mixture.

Invention of gunpowder technology and early firearms in China

1.1firearms in the early northern song dynasty since the 20th century.

Second, the earliest military gunpowder appeared in 10 century.

Section 5 comments on the theory of foreign invention of gunpowder.

First, comment on India's theory of inventing gunpowder.

Second, comment on Byzantine theory of inventing gunpowder.

Third, comment on the European theory of inventing gunpowder.

Chapter VI Early development of gunpowder and firearms technology in China.

Section 1 Manufacture of High Nitrate Granular Powder

1. Fireworks and explosions in the Song Dynasty

Second, spears and muskets appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty.

In the second quarter, muskets, rockets and hard-shell bombs appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty.

One 1259 musket

Second, rockets and rockets.

Three, hard shell grenades and bombs

Section III Development of Gunpowder and Firearms Technology in Yuan and Ming Dynasties

The first is the metal utensils of the Yuan Dynasty.

Second, the Ming Dynasty's metal vessels, artillery and vessel arrows.

Three, rockets, cluster rockets, two-stage rockets and flying rockets.

Four, bombs, time bombs, mines and mines

Chapter VII Invention and Early Development of Compass

The first section before the invention of the compass, the method of orientation determination by the ancients

First, the positioning method of measuring the sun shadow with a standard table since the Warring States Period.

Second, watch the ancient method of determining the orientation of Polaris.

Third, China was used for astronomical navigation in ancient times.

The invention of Si Nanyi, the predecessor of the compass, in the second quarter

First, the discovery of magnetic finger polarity and the manufacture of Sina instrument.

Second, the form and usage of Sina

Third, the technical improvement of Si Nanyi from Jin Dynasty to Tang Dynasty.

The invention and early development of the compass in the third quarter

First, the compass needle invented in the late Tang Dynasty.

Second, the structure and restoration of Shuiluojing in the Northern Song Dynasty

Third, the drought compass invented in the Southern Song Dynasty.

Fourth, the navigation compass of flood and drought disasters in Ming and Qing Dynasties

Section 4 Application of Compass in Navigation

First, the navigation compass and chart in the Song Dynasty

Second, the navigation compass and chart of the Yuan Dynasty

Third, the map of Zheng He's navigation needle in Ming Dynasty and the dry compass in Qing Dynasty.

Chapter VIII The Spread of Papermaking in China

Section 1 The Spread of Papermaking in Korea and Japan

First, the origin and early development of papermaking in the Korean Peninsula

2. Paper making in North Korea and South Korea.

Third, the origin and early development of Japanese papermaking

Fourth, paper making in Japan after Nara Dynasty

The Spread of China Papermaking in Other Asian and African Countries in the Second Section

First, the spread of papermaking in Vietnam.

Second, the spread of papermaking in South and Southeast Asian countries.

Thirdly, the spread of papermaking in Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa.

The third section is the spread of China papermaking in Europe and America.

First, Spain, Italy and France started papermaking.

The second is the spread of papermaking in other countries in Europe and America.

Third,/kloc-Paper-making technology imported from China by Europe and America in the 0/8th century.

Fourth, the influence of China's papermaking technology on Europe in the19th century.

Chapter IX The Spread of Printing in China

Section 1 The Spread of Printing in Japan and the Korean Peninsula

First, the beginning of Japanese woodblock printing

Second, the beginning of Japanese movable type printing

Third, the beginning of engraving printing on the Korean Peninsula.

Fourthly, the beginning of movable type printing on the Korean Peninsula.

Section 2 the spread of printing in other Asian and African countries

First, the early development of printing in Vietnam

Second, the beginning of printing in the Philippines and Thailand.

Third, the beginning of Persian printing.

Fourthly, the beginning of Egyptian printing in North Africa.

The third quarter, the spread of China printing in Europe

First, the beginning of block printing in Europe.

Second, the beginning of European wood movable type printing

Third, the beginning of metal movable type printing in Europe.

Chapter X The Spread of Gunpowder Technology in China

The first section is the spread of China gunpowder in the Arab region.

First of all, the Arabs' early records about saltpeter and gunpowder

Second, the knowledge of gunpowder in Hassan's Art of War "The Gunner of Ilihan".

Third, the knowledge of gunpowder and firearms in Burning the Enemy and Attacking the Fire.

……

Chapter XI The Spread of China Compass in Foreign Countries

Chapter XII Influence of Contract Printing on the Development of World Civilization

Chapter XIII Influence of gunpowder and fuse on the development of world civilization

A brief conclusion

>> China was famous for its advanced science and technology in ancient times. More than half of the basic discoveries and inventions that the modern world relies on come from China, and China has at least 100 important discoveries and inventions that have an impact on world science and technology. Therefore, in the long years of the Middle Ages, China has been in a leading position in science and technology. Among them, papermaking, printing, gunpowder and compass are revolutionary super inventions that have shocked the world for two thousand years in terms of their influence on the social and historical process and the development of science and culture. /kloc-Francis Bacon, a British scholar in the 6th century (156 1 ~ 1626), thinks that these inventions have changed the face of the world and the original state of everything, and their influence scope is not limited to a local area, but the whole world; Its influence is not temporary, but lasts for hundreds of years, which no empire, religion or great man in the world can do. (2) China's four great inventions are rich in content, each of which includes a series of single inventions, such as printing including block printing, copperplate printing, movable type printing and color printing. Gunpowder includes explosives, propellants, detonators and various firearms, and compasses include water compasses and dry compasses, and also involve navigation technology. Studying the history of the four great inventions should be said to be a major topic in the history of science and culture.

In the past, although Chinese and foreign scholars have published monographs on papermaking, printing, gunpowder and compass history, they are all limited to one or at most two of them. There is no academic monograph at home and abroad that makes a thorough and systematic study of the four great inventions together. Most of the books about the four great inventions that people can see are short-lived popular works, and now some of them are out of date and need new monographs in this field. In view of this, in 1998, China University of Science and Technology Press asked the author to write such a book, which was published by them. This is a creative publishing topic, so I took the liberty of agreeing with it. After nearly two years of hard work, the first draft was completed in 2000, and then revised and finalized in May 2002, named four great inventions of ancient china-Origin, Rumors and World Influence.

Excerpts from wonderful books

The earliest paper was hemp paper made of hemp heads and rags, while flax was woven from hemp and ramie originated in China. Other countries or regions have flax and jute, which can also be used for spinning, and rags can also be used for making paper. But why was papermaking invented in China and not elsewhere? This problem needs to be discussed. The factor that promotes people to make paper is the actual demand for new writing materials in society, which is related to the socio-economic, cultural, educational and technical background. In the centuries BC, there were only a few writing materials in the world, namely bamboo slips, silks, sedges, sheepskins, scallops and bark. At this time, Greece, Persia, Egypt, Rome and India were still in slave society, with frequent wars and constantly changing territories, or in a turbulent period of separatist regime. The slave owners' ruling group only wants to plunder wealth, land and seek hegemony, and does not care about the development of culture and education. Classic writing materials are enough to meet the needs of society, and there is no demand for new materials.

Papermaking, as a product of new writing materials and the development of culture and education, is impossible to produce in slave society. Only a feudal society with more progress, stronger social productivity and more developed culture and education than a slave society can promote the invention of papermaking. China entered the feudal society as early as the Warring States Period in the 5th century BC, earlier than other countries. At that time, in other parts of the world, slave owners and nobles were waging wars. Egypt was conquered by Persia in 525 BC, Persia was conquered by the kingdom of Macedonia in Greece in the first 330 years, and Rome surrendered to Greece in the first 146. India in the East was ravaged by Alexander of Greece in 323 years ago. It was not until the reign of King Ashoka (273-232 BC) that India became a unified slave country and fell into a state of division after his death. Some ancient civilized countries have been conquered by foreign countries one after another, and their cultures have been destroyed, even the original characters have not been preserved.