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Our knowledge of science in medieval China is still very inadequate, but active research into this
subject is going on and it is hoped that a fuller picture of events may soon be perceived. Scientific
progress in China was not delayed so effectively by Confucianism as it was in Europe by the rise
of Christianity, and since Taoism was not unfavorable, there was
sufficient interest to carry forward
and develop the ideas of antiquity. This led to certain remarkable technical achievements, such as
the manufacture of paper and of gunpowder and the invention of block printing and of, possibly,
the magnetic compass -- though in the last instance the Muslim sailors may actually have adapted
it for navigational purposes. The first of these occurred early.
In the first year of the Yuan-Hsing period (AD 105), paper was made by Ts'ai Lun, an inspector of
public works, from tree bark, hemp, rags and fish-nets. In the biographical section of the History
of the Later Han Dynasty, written by Fah Yeh in the fifth century, it was stated that
henceforth, paper
was in general use and called 'the paper of Marquis Ts'ai'. Pure rag paper of AD 150 has been
found in a spur of the Great Wall of China by the famous Central Asian Explorer and archaeologist,
Sir Aurel Stein.
The Chinese were not lacking in appreciating the economic uses of the plant and animal kingdoms.
The earliest description of the banana (pa-chiao) plant was written at the end of the second century
AD in the book I Wu Chih (Records of strange things) by Yang Fu. Caravans carried Chinese silk
to the west in Roman times and the true mulberry silkworm was introduced from Khotan in AD 552
in the reign of Justinian. The Chinese author Lu Yu (late eight century) was the first to produce a
treatise on tea, Ch'a Ching, and in the late twelfth century Han Yen-Chih wrote the first work on citrus
fruits, a comprehensive study of oranges and their cultivation.
Alchemy continued to flourish in both East and West. A book Poo P'o Tzu was written by Kung Hung.
It deals with the theory and practice of alchemy, and amongst many remarks which are in no way
scientific, we do find illuminating passages showing that the scientific mind was
groping its way
forward. An excerpt is given here: "Indeed the diversity is boundless, and some things which appear
different are in fact the same. Sweeping laws should not be formulated too soon ... If a
generalization is driven too far it always ends in error, if you drink an extract of hair and skin it
will not cure your baldness."
Although alchemical theory frequently ended in verbal nonsense, the practical handling of
substances produced useful discoveries like real black ink (Indian ink) from lampblack and red ink
from mercury sulphide (cinnabar). It is interesting to note that the Egyptians used both of these before
the Chinese and the discoveries seemed to have been made independently.
A great civilizing influence came with the journeys of Buddhist pilgrims from China to India.
Professor Sarton says: The main point to emphasize is that the diffusion of Buddhism had for central
and eastern Asia the same tremendous significance as the diffusion of Christianity for Europe. In both
cases religion was the vehicle of a higher civilization; and, however much these two religions may
have opposed or impeded the progress of science at later periods, we must not
forget that it is they who made its birth possible and stimulated its first
efforts in many and vast regions of the world. It is literally true that
Christianity and Buddihism brought light and science with them, whenever they
penetrated uncivilized countries. |
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Questions |
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1. |
(a) |
Why do we hope to know more about China's scientific progress soon ? |
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(b) |
Compare the attitudes towards science of the two Chinese philosophies on
the one hand and of Christianity on the other. |
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(c) |
What were the consequences of the supportive attitudes of the Chinese
religions ? |
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2. |
(a) |
Trace the discovery of paper in China. |
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(b) |
Describe the earliest contact between China and the West. |
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(c) |
What are the three treatises on plant products. |
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3. |
(a) |
How does the author illustrate that the scientific mind was groping its
way forward ? |
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(b) |
How is Buddhism compared with Christianity ? |
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4. |
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For each of the following words give one word or short phrase ( not more
than seven words ) which has the same meaning as it has in the passage. |
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i. |
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sufficient |
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v. |
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groping |
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ii. |
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henceforth |
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vi. |
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generalization |
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iii. |
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flourish |
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vii. |
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tremendous |
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iv. |
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illuminating |
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viii. |
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penetrated |
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5. |
Write a brief summary, in 160 words or
less, on the early developments of science in China -- paragraphs 1 to
3. |
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Answers |
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1. |
(a) |
A lot of research is being carried out into China's past so we can hope
to have more information on the subject soon. |
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(b) |
Confucianism and Taoism were more supportive of scientific progress in
China than Christianity was in the western world. |
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(c) |
As a consequence of the support by religion, scientific progress in
China thrived because of sufficient interest in the discoveries. |
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2. |
(a) |
Ts'ai Lun, an inspector of public works in AD 105, made paper from help,
rags and fish nets. Pure rag paper was probably in use in AD 150. |
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(b) |
Chinese silk arrived in Rome in AD 552; this was probably the earliest
known east-west contact. |
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(c) |
There three are : 1. Yang Fu's description of strange things contained
a description about the banana plant.
2. Lu Yu's treatise on tea in the eight century.
3. Han Yen-Chih's treatise on citrus fruits in the twelfth century. |
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3. |
(a) |
The example given says that 'Indeed the diversity is boundless and some
things which appear different are in fact the same. Sweeping laws should
not be formulated too soon ... if a generalization is driven too far, it
always ends in error'. |
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(b) |
Just like Christianity helped science spread throughout the western
world, Buddhism helped to spread it in the orient. |
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4. |
i |
enough |
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ii |
from then onwards |
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grow |
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iv |
enlightening |
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v |
feeling |
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vi |
common thought |
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vii |
great |
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viii |
went into |
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5. |
The two main religions of China,
Confucianism and Taoism, were supportive of scientific progress. This
led to a lot of scientific enquiry and technical achievements. The
earliest achievements were the discovery of gunpowder, paper, block
printing and the magnetic compass. Paper was made by Ts'ai Lun, an
inspector of public works. He used bark, hemp, rags and fish nets. The
economic use of plants were appreciated as early as the second century
AD. Writings described the banana plant and there are treatises on tea
and citrus fruits. Chinese silk reached Rome in 552 AD. Alchemy
flourished and a book was written on the subject by Kung Hung. In its
beginning stages was scientific enquiry but generalization ended up in
error. Although alchemy often led into error, there were practical
results like the discovery of black ink. Just like Christianity diffused
science all over Europe and Buddhism did the same for China and the
other oriental countries. ( 158 words ) |
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