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天工开物 Tiangong Kaiwu Encyclopedia - Exam failure led to first-class book
November 4, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Published in 1637, "Tiangong Kaiwu" - "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature" - is widely regarded as the world's first comprehensive book on agriculture and numerous industries, and an important encyclopedia of science and technology in China.
Written by Song Yingxing (1587-1661), a renowned scientist and encyclopedist in the late years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the book emphasizes the importance of collaboration between human beings and nature in farming and crafts.
Song also devoted numerous pages to descriptions of the development of industries, reflecting the progress of productivity during the fledging stage of capitalism in 17th century China.
Born in today's Jiangxi Province in eastern China to a scholar's family, Song passed the imperial civil examinations at provincial level and obtained the degree of Juren - Recommended Man - at the age of 28.
In the 16 years that followed, Song sat the metropolitan examination five times in the capital, today's Beijing, but failed on each occasion.
However, this disappointment had a positive side. The repeated journeys from his home village to the capital in northern China to take the exam provided Song with the opportunity to accumulate abundant knowledge in a wide range of fields.
Later, he was appointed as a low-ranking government official to several counties, mostly in eastern and southeastern China.
In 1634, Song was appointed the education official in Fenyi County in Jiangxi Province and began to write "Tiangong Kaiwu."
When the great work was completed three years later, Song sent the encyclopedia to press, with financial help from friends.
"Tiangong Kaiwu" contains 18 volumes in three parts. Featuring more than 120 detailed illustrations, the book describes the components and working procedures of more than 130 types of technology and tools used in agriculture and industry.
In its first part, the book records the planting and processing methods for grains, beans and hemp. It also describes textile and dyeing technologies for cotton and silk, and for producing salt and sugar.
The second part focuses on the production of ceramics; bronze metallurgy; transportation, such as ships and carts; iron metallurgy; mining and production of coal, vitriol, sulfur and arsenic; oil technology; and papermaking.
The third part is devoted to metallurgy of silver, lead, copper, tin and zinc; the manufacture and use of weapons - including those using gunpowder; the production of mercury and ink; the production of fermented beverages; and the gathering and processing of pearls and jade.
The detailed and accurate illustrations contained in the book have proved extremely useful for people in subsequent centuries to better understand many production technologies and tools used in China.
For instance, drawings of a Chinese drawloom demonstrate not only the parts of the specialized loom, but also depict the mechanics of its operation.
Another two illustrations explain ancient Chinese hydraulic-powered chain pumps - with one showing a horizontal waterwheel acting upon a vertical wheel and axle that rotates a square-pallet chain to bring up water from a stream for irrigation.
Song also introduced a number of new technologies and discoveries into his encyclopedia.
For example, he was the first scientist in the world to explain the metal zinc and the pinchbeck alloy (yellow brass). And after studying how sound is generated and transmitted, he concluded that sound is generated by a sequence of waves of pressure through air.
"Tiangong Kaiwu" was translated into a number of foreign languages, such as Japanese, Korean, French, German and English, helping to secure its author a reputation as a world-famous encyclopedist.
Written by Song Yingxing (1587-1661), a renowned scientist and encyclopedist in the late years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the book emphasizes the importance of collaboration between human beings and nature in farming and crafts.
Song also devoted numerous pages to descriptions of the development of industries, reflecting the progress of productivity during the fledging stage of capitalism in 17th century China.
Born in today's Jiangxi Province in eastern China to a scholar's family, Song passed the imperial civil examinations at provincial level and obtained the degree of Juren - Recommended Man - at the age of 28.
In the 16 years that followed, Song sat the metropolitan examination five times in the capital, today's Beijing, but failed on each occasion.
However, this disappointment had a positive side. The repeated journeys from his home village to the capital in northern China to take the exam provided Song with the opportunity to accumulate abundant knowledge in a wide range of fields.
Later, he was appointed as a low-ranking government official to several counties, mostly in eastern and southeastern China.
In 1634, Song was appointed the education official in Fenyi County in Jiangxi Province and began to write "Tiangong Kaiwu."
When the great work was completed three years later, Song sent the encyclopedia to press, with financial help from friends.
"Tiangong Kaiwu" contains 18 volumes in three parts. Featuring more than 120 detailed illustrations, the book describes the components and working procedures of more than 130 types of technology and tools used in agriculture and industry.
In its first part, the book records the planting and processing methods for grains, beans and hemp. It also describes textile and dyeing technologies for cotton and silk, and for producing salt and sugar.
The second part focuses on the production of ceramics; bronze metallurgy; transportation, such as ships and carts; iron metallurgy; mining and production of coal, vitriol, sulfur and arsenic; oil technology; and papermaking.
The third part is devoted to metallurgy of silver, lead, copper, tin and zinc; the manufacture and use of weapons - including those using gunpowder; the production of mercury and ink; the production of fermented beverages; and the gathering and processing of pearls and jade.
The detailed and accurate illustrations contained in the book have proved extremely useful for people in subsequent centuries to better understand many production technologies and tools used in China.
For instance, drawings of a Chinese drawloom demonstrate not only the parts of the specialized loom, but also depict the mechanics of its operation.
Another two illustrations explain ancient Chinese hydraulic-powered chain pumps - with one showing a horizontal waterwheel acting upon a vertical wheel and axle that rotates a square-pallet chain to bring up water from a stream for irrigation.
Song also introduced a number of new technologies and discoveries into his encyclopedia.
For example, he was the first scientist in the world to explain the metal zinc and the pinchbeck alloy (yellow brass). And after studying how sound is generated and transmitted, he concluded that sound is generated by a sequence of waves of pressure through air.
"Tiangong Kaiwu" was translated into a number of foreign languages, such as Japanese, Korean, French, German and English, helping to secure its author a reputation as a world-famous encyclopedist.
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