A Shift in the Interest to A Shift in the Interest to Science and Technology in Science and Technology in

the 11th Chinathe 11th China苏湛苏湛

Su ZhanSu Zhan

中国科学院自然科学史研究所中国科学院自然科学史研究所IHNS, CASIHNS, CAS

IntroduceIntroduce

1. Why to Focus on the Song Dynasty1. Why to Focus on the Song Dynasty

– ‘‘Whenever one follows up any specific piece of scientiWhenever one follows up any specific piece of scientific or technological history in Chinese literature, it is alfic or technological history in Chinese literature, it is always at the Sung dynasty that one finds the major focways at the Sung dynasty that one finds the major focal point.’al point.’ (Joseph Needham. (Joseph Needham. Science and Civilisation iScience and Civilisation in Chinan China, Vol. 1. p. 134), Vol. 1. p. 134)

– The ‘peak’ of development of science and technology The ‘peak’ of development of science and technology in the North Song Dynastyin the North Song Dynasty (Jin Guantao ( (Jin Guantao ( 金观涛金观涛 ), Fa), Fan Hongye (n Hongye ( 樊洪业樊洪业 ), Liu Qingfeng (), Liu Qingfeng ( 刘青峰刘青峰 ). ‘The Str). ‘The Structure of Science and Technology in History: On the ucture of Science and Technology in History: On the Factors Delaying the Development of Science and TeFactors Delaying the Development of Science and Technology in China in Comparison with the West since chnology in China in Comparison with the West since the 17th Century’. the 17th Century’. Boston Studies in Philosophy of SciBoston Studies in Philosophy of Scienceence, Vol. 179, 1996. pp.137-164), Vol. 179, 1996. pp.137-164)

IntroduceIntroduce

2.About the Method 2.About the Method

– Robert K. Merton. Robert K. Merton. Science, Technology Science, Technology

and Society in Seventeenth Century and Society in Seventeenth Century

EnglandEngland. (1935). (1935)

About the Source of DateAbout the Source of Date

Dictionary of Chinese NamesDictionary of Chinese Names ( ( 中国人名大辞典中国人名大辞典 ))

History of SongHistory of Song ( ( 宋史宋史 )) 、、 Collection of Long-pingCollection of Long-ping (( 隆平集隆平集 ) ) 、、 Dongdu ShilueDongdu Shilue ( ( 东都事略东都事略 )) 、、 Xu ZizhitonXu Zizhitongjian Changbiangjian Changbian ( ( 续资治通鉴长编续资治通鉴长编 )) 、、 Record of ImportRecord of Important Events in Chronological Order Since the Jianyan Yearsant Events in Chronological Order Since the Jianyan Years (( 建建炎以来系年要录炎以来系年要录 )) 、、 YuhaiYuhai ( ( 玉海玉海 )) 、、 The Collected SThe Collected Statutes of the Song Dynastytatutes of the Song Dynasty ( ( 宋会要辑稿宋会要辑稿 )) 、、 OthersOthers…………

The modern works, such as The modern works, such as Index to biographical Index to biographical materials on Sung figuresmaterials on Sung figures ( ( 宋人传记资料索引宋人传记资料索引 ), an), and so on.d so on.

Data ProcessingData Processing1. The General 1. The General ProcessingProcessing

The SamplesThe Samples: People who stepped into their fields be: People who stepped into their fields between 1001 (tween 1001 ( 咸平四年咸平四年 ) to 1120 () to 1120 ( 宣和二年宣和二年 ))

Chronological DividingChronological Dividing: Dividing a group every decad: Dividing a group every decade.e.

Data ProcessingData Processing2. About the Fields of Interests2. About the Fields of Interests

The 8 Common Fields of Interests:The 8 Common Fields of Interests: Politics, Military, Philosophy, H Politics, Military, Philosophy, H

istory& Geography, Literature, Art, Fangji (istory& Geography, Literature, Art, Fangji ( 方伎方伎 ), and Religion), and Religion

The Activities Touching upon Science & Technology Which ConsiThe Activities Touching upon Science & Technology Which Consi

sts of 12 Special Fields:sts of 12 Special Fields: Astronomy, Geography, Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Geography, Biology, Physics,

Agriculture, Technology, Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics, MAgriculture, Technology, Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics, M

edicine, Meteorology, and Others (including the compilation of encedicine, Meteorology, and Others (including the compilation of enc

yclopedias such as yclopedias such as BaiyaBaiya [ [ 稗雅稗雅 ], the study about Wuxing, Yinyan], the study about Wuxing, Yinyan

g, and so on)g, and so on)

Several Varieties of Special Deeds:Several Varieties of Special Deeds: Richness, Education, Virtue, Richness, Education, Virtue,

and Mysteryand Mystery

Data ProcessingData Processing3. An Extra Explain: What is the mean when the concept “3. An Extra Explain: What is the mean when the concept “TThe Activities Touching upon Science & Technologyhe Activities Touching upon Science & Technology” is ment” is mentioned here? ioned here?

A Crude Definition -- “A Crude Definition -- “The Activities Touching upon Science & TThe Activities Touching upon Science & Technologyechnology” consist of the following four varieties of activities:” consist of the following four varieties of activities:

Getting a doctrine or view which is agree with modern scienceGetting a doctrine or view which is agree with modern scienceRecording and narrateing the natural phenomenon correctlyRecording and narrateing the natural phenomenon correctlyAn activity whose purpose is similar to that of modern science such An activity whose purpose is similar to that of modern science such as to understand the natureas to understand the natureAn activity whose subject, means or instrument is same to modern An activity whose subject, means or instrument is same to modern sciencescience

Table 1: The Common Fields of InterestsTable 1: The Common Fields of Interests

Years Polit Mil Phil Hist&Geog Lit Art Fangji Relig

1000s 73 39 24 20 38 24 9 15

1010s 96 63 36 17 50 27 13 12

1020s 142 73 57 43 79 50 20 25

1030s 142 87 50 27 66 42 17 21

1040s 134 64 62 22 83 45 15 22

1050s 130 53 69 24 87 50 21 24

1060s 145 49 81 34 95 67 18 36

1070s 130 48 66 26 83 51 19 24

1080s 130 46 66 19 79 60 13 23

1090s 169 66 62 31 87 74 13 27

1100s 172 91 63 36 97 65 12 34

1110s 176 107 72 38 90 56 10 18

Graph 1 Graph 1

0. 00%

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Pol i tMi lPhi lHi st&GeogLi tArtFangj iRel i gSci &Tech

Table 2: Table 2: The Activities Touching upon Science & The Activities Touching upon Science &

TechnologyTechnology Years Sci&Tech Astron Geog Biol Phys Agri Tech Eng Chem Math Med Meteor Others

1000s 36 4 9 1 5 4 5 18 2 3 5 1 1

1010s 54 4 4 1 7 9 11 34 — 4 9 4 9

1020s 77 7 13 4 14 13 15 51 1 3 8 4 3

1030s 75 8 8 1 7 13 14 45 2 5 12 2 8

1040s 67 8 10 4 2 16 13 42 1 4 9 2 2

1050s 65 5 7 7 7 14 10 40 3 4 13 — 3

1060s 56 5 4 2 5 4 11 30 3 4 8 — 1

1070s 53 3 4 3 6 10 8 26 1 4 13 2 2

1080s 39 1 8 2 1 5 10 11 3 3 10 — 1

1090s 41 6 7 3 4 6 10 19 2 5 4 1 3

1100s 49 2 6 3 1 7 14 27 1 3 9 — 3

1110s 49 4 8 3 2 9 10 21 1 3 4 — 4

总计 661 57 88 34 61 110 131 364 20 45 104 16 40

Graph 2Graph 2

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Sci &TechAstronGeogBi olPhysAgriTechEngChemMathMedMeteorOthers

Graph 2 -- AdjustingGraph 2 -- Adjusting

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Table 3: Special DeedsTable 3: Special Deeds

Years Richness Education Virtue Mystery

1000s 4 7 7 3

1010s 3 9 6 4

1020s 2 15 8 4

1030s — 16 5 5

1040s 3 12 13 9

1050s 5 10 12 3

1060s 1 15 17 4

1070s 4 8 15 1

1080s 1 13 13 3

1090s — 9 15 3

1100s 3 8 19 5

1110s 4 6 13 —

Graph 2 -- AdjustingGraph 2 -- Adjusting

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Conclusion:Conclusion:

People’s interest to science & People’s interest to science & technology reached a peak in technology reached a peak in 1020s in the 111020s in the 11thth China, and then China, and then plummeted until the North Song plummeted until the North Song Dynasty was conquered.Dynasty was conquered.

A Discussion about the Accuracy of the A Discussion about the Accuracy of the ResultResult

1. The Factors Influencing the 1. The Factors Influencing the AccuracyAccuracy

– The Inherent Incompleteness of the Source of DateThe Inherent Incompleteness of the Source of Date(It was only the elitist(It was only the elitist cclasslass who could be written in history, b who could be written in history, but not the whole ut not the whole societysociety – See Liu Bing, 1996) – See Liu Bing, 1996)

– The Possible Change of the Historians’ InterestThe Possible Change of the Historians’ Interest(Whether was it only the historians’ interest to science and te(Whether was it only the historians’ interest to science and technology which declined, but not all peeple’s?)chnology which declined, but not all peeple’s?)

– The Error Caused by the Course of Data ProcessingThe Error Caused by the Course of Data Processing

A Discussion about the Accuracy of the ResultA Discussion about the Accuracy of the Result

2. The Justification2. The Justification

– Sure, the interest of the elitist class is not that of Sure, the interest of the elitist class is not that of the whole society. the whole society. The interest of the elitist class, The interest of the elitist class, however, lead the public opinion and the society however, lead the public opinion and the society value.value.

– Moreover, Moreover, the historians were the members of the historians were the members of the elitist class in themselves, and were the most the elitist class in themselves, and were the most important representation of the contemporary important representation of the contemporary dominant values in ancient China.dominant values in ancient China.

– At Last, At Last, the error might make the curve displace the error might make the curve displace or mistake the wave, but it wouldn’t change the or mistake the wave, but it wouldn’t change the total tendency.total tendency.

Graph 2 -- AdjustingGraph 2 -- Adjusting

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A Further Discussion: Why did the A Further Discussion: Why did the Decline Happen?Decline Happen?

A Clue:A Clue: The Change in 1040s The Change in 1040s

g. 人均涉足领域

0

0. 5

1

1. 5

2

2. 5

涉足领域 1. 96752. 03252. 25352. 09261. 77561. 9489 1. 937 1. 72591. 65781. 72311. 78681. 8808

1000s 1010s 1020s 1030s 1040s 1050s 1060s 1070s 1080s 1090s 1100s 1110s

b. 科技兴趣

0. 00%

5. 00%

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科技 29. 27%35. 06%35. 48%34. 26%26. 48%27. 66%20. 37%20. 46%15. 15%13. 03%15. 36%16. 23%

1000s 1010s 1020s 1030s 1040s 1050s 1060s 1070s 1080s 1090s 1100s 1110s

29%

美德

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美德 5. 69% 3. 90% 3. 69% 2. 31% 5. 14% 5. 11% 6. 30% 5. 79% 4. 92% 4. 89% 5. 96% 4. 30%

1000s 1010s 1020s 1030s 1040s 1050s 1060s 1070s 1080s 1090s 1100s 1110s

4.2%

1.95

d. 军事兴趣

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军事 31. 71%40. 91%33. 64%40. 28%25. 20%22. 55%18. 08%18. 53%17. 49%21. 50%28. 53%35. 43%

1000s 1010s 1020s 1030s 1040s 1050s 1060s 1070s 1080s 1090s 1100s 1110s

30%

The Interest to Sci-Tech The Interest to Military

The Interest to Virtue The Average Number of the Fields Touched on by People

Several Tendency since 1040s:Several Tendency since 1040s:

The Interest to Sci-Tech The Interest to Sci-Tech ↓↓

The Interest to Military The Interest to Military ↓↓

The Wideness of Interest The Wideness of Interest ↓↓

The Interest to Virtue The Interest to Virtue ↑↑

……………………

What did Happen in 1040s?What did Happen in 1040s?

The Qingli New Deal (The Qingli New Deal ( 庆历新政庆历新政 ))

The Neo-Confucianism (The Neo-Confucianism ( 理学理学 ) Comi) Coming upng up

The Effect of The Effect of the Neo-Confucianismthe Neo-Confucianism

Emphasizing the Virtue Emphasizing the Virtue – —— —— The Interest to Virtue The Interest to Virtue ↑↑

Opposing to seek pleasures (Opposing to seek pleasures ( 玩物丧志玩物丧志 ))– —— —— The Wideness of Interest The Wideness of Interest ↓↓

To Prefer the Pen to the Sword (To Prefer the Pen to the Sword ( 重文轻武重文轻武 ))– ————The Interest to Military The Interest to Military ↓↓

　　　　？？– ————The Interest to Sci-TechThe Interest to Sci-Tech↓↓

ThaksThaks

Any QuestionAny Question

○○((∩_∩∩_∩)○)○

宋学各学派的科技活动情况宋学各学派的科技活动情况

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安定 泰山 高平 庐陵 古灵 士劉諸儒0%

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象数派 濂学 朔学 新學 蜀學 洛学 关学 范吕諸儒

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滎陽 趙張諸儒 范許諸儒 丘劉諸儒 元祐学案 补遗别附 平均水平

庆历诸学派 熙宁 - 元佑诸学派

其它

宋学各学派的科技活动情况宋学各学派的科技活动情况安定学派的科技活动明显少于同时代其他安定学派的科技活动明显少于同时代其他学派学派

熙宁各学派参与科技活动的热情普遍低于熙宁各学派参与科技活动的热情普遍低于庆历各学派庆历各学派

熙宁各学派中“关洛之学”的门人参与科熙宁各学派中“关洛之学”的门人参与科技活动的比例最低技活动的比例最低

抑制科技兴趣的力量 抑制科技兴趣的力量 宋学与新教对科技活动的不同影响宋学与新教对科技活动的不同影响

1111 世纪，北宋世纪，北宋 1717 世纪，英国世纪，英国

文化专制主义 文化专制主义 宗教改革带来的多元化宗教改革带来的多元化

内求精神和非利倾向内求精神和非利倾向 功利主义功利主义

重义理寡实证 重义理寡实证 推崇手工劳动推崇手工劳动

我们能够知道什么？我们能够知道什么？

1. 1. 宋人对科技的热情从庆历年间开始一直宋人对科技的热情从庆历年间开始一直在衰退在衰退

2. 2. 上述衰退与宋学的兴起和发展同步，且上述衰退与宋学的兴起和发展同步，且相关相关