The Chinese Journal for the History of Science and technology  NO.2 2003

Study on Stockholders,Money Paid for Shares and Reorganization of the Science Society of China……ZHANG Jian

【Abstract】 Through checking the three archives "Table of Stocks Subscribed","Table of Stocks Handed Over" and "Gross Income from Money Paid for Shares" as well as the first accounting report by the Science Society of China (1916), this paper is able to give a clear account of the names of stock holders of the society and how money was paid by Zhang Yuanshan, Hu Shi and others in the initial stage of the society, and makes corrections for certain correlated misundersandings among academic circles. At the same time, the paper holds that apart from the subjective wish of the members of the society to promote science in China, there was even a more severe element of economy being in straitened circumstances for reorganizing the Science Society of China from a stock company into a purely academic mass organization on Oct. 25, 1915.

Additional Remarks on the Study of K.c.Wang's Work During the Anti-Japanese War……YAO Licheng

【Abstract】 This article offers several additional remarks on the study of K.C.Wang's work during the Anti Japanese War.(1)K.C.Wang'spaper A Suggestion on the Detection of Neutrino met with refusal when it was sent to Chinese Journal of Physics for publication,and the real reason was that the journal suspended publication for lack of funds during the war.(2)The article makes a list of Wang's papers submitted to the 12th Annual Conference of the Chinese Physical Society together with their summaries.(3)Reviewing the development of nuclear emulsion photography,we find that the method in his paper A Suggestion on a New Experimental Method for Cosmic Ray Particles still remained in a testing stage with poor operability,and that many difficulties had to be overcome before it would become a commonly accepted accurate particle detector.

On the Progress of China's Modern Earth-Science from Coching Chu's Contribution……ZHANG Jiuchen

【Abstract】 Coching Chu, one of China's academic authorities and leaders, made a great contribution to the spreading and developing of Chinese modern earth science. Coching Chu gave full play to establish earth science institution in China, especially on the founding of China's first modern earth science deparment in the university. The most founders of China's modern geography and meteorology were Chu's students. This paper ananyses the forming of Chinese modern earth science from Chu's scientific ideas.

The Unification of Chinese Chemical Nomenclature:1912-1945……ZHANG Hao

【Abstract】 In the process of the unification of Chinese chemical nomenclature,the cooperation between the National Institute for Compilation and Translation and the Chinese Chemical Society played a significant role. In 1932,the Ministry of Education held the chemistry forum that resulted in the establishment of the Chemical Society. At the same time,this society provided the chemists who laid down the principles for chemical nomenclature. The chemical terms decided at the forum formed the basis of the unification. Before this task was conducted,the work of chemical nomenclature was done by the General Committee for Scientific Terminology which was composed of the Chinese Medical Missionary Association, the Chinese National Medical Association,the Chinese Medico pharmaceutical Society and Kiangsu Educational Association. However,their chemical nomenclature effort was neglected because of the political upheavals after 1927.

The Calculation of the Equation of Center in the Lixiang Kaocheng Houbian and the Accuracy of the Theory of the Sun and Moon in the Book——In Memory of Professor Bo Shuren……SHI Yunli

【Abstract】 This paper discusses the Western sources of the methods employed in the Lixiang Kaocheng Houbian (Later Edition of the Established System of Calendrical Astronomy) to resolve the Kepler Equation in calculating the solar and lunar equations of center. Meanwhile, it also analyzes the precision of these methods and the overall accuracy of the lunisolar theory of the book in positional calculations. The methods, as applied to the equation of center of the sun and the moon respectively, are found to be simplified versions of the procedures of I. Boulliau and J. Cassini. While the former can be correct to within 1 arcsecond in calculating the equation of solar center, the latter displays an error not exceeding 11 arcseconds as used to calculate the equation of lunar center. The Jesuit authors' selection of these two methods turns out to be very reasonable with respect to the overall precision level of the lunisolar theory of the book, although it was not the best choice of the time as seen from the present point of view. Since the book appropriated the most important European achievements from the time of Kepler to thet of Newton like the two methods, the positional astronomy of the sun and moon thus witnessed a very remarkable advancement in the Qing dynasty: as compared with the theory of the old Lixiang Kaocheng, the precision of the positional calculation of the sun enhanced more than ten times, whereas the lunar theory became over four times more accurate in the longitudinal calculation and nearly ten times more accurate in the latitudinal calculation, thus laying a sound foundation for improvement in the predictive calculation of solar and lunar eclipses.

A Glimpse of Metal Processing Technology of Ancient Through a Zengfu of Han Dynasty……ZHOU Shuanglin

【Abstract】 A bronze antique of Han Dynasty called "zengfou" is introduced in this paper. The concentric circles on the surface of the antique is believed to be the traces of cutting technique. This antique is a real example for the research of metal processing technology of ancient China.

Analysis on the Dyed Silk Unearthed from a Han Tomb at Yongxing in Sichuan Province……ZHU Bing，CAO Hongxia,XIA Xiuli,GAO Laibao,YANG Junxia

【Abstract】 Through testing and analysing the dyed silk unearthed from a Han tomb in the suburban district east of Mianyang in Sichuan province and determining its fibre property,fabric weave and dye type,this article concludes that this piece of work plays an important role in the history of silk in Sichuan as well as in the dyeing history of ancient China.

A Historical Fact That Ought to Be Clarified in Mathematics……LI Wenming

【Abstract】 One hand written copy named Dingfa Square Arithmetic was collected by Beijing Library. The words "It is written by Xu Guangqi" appear on its title page;so the copy was mentioned and photo offset for publication by many people.This paper makes a comparison between this copy and the Qing book named Mathematical Essence .It points out that the content of Dingfa Square Arithmetic was extracted from Mathematical Essence and that the writer was not Xu Guangqi.

The Mottled Copper and Black Copper Run Through with Silver in Yunnan……LI Xiaocen

【Abstract】 Mottled copper and black copper run through with silver are famous handicraft articles of Yunnan. Unique with respect to their technology,they occupy an important position among China's traditional metal handicrafts. Having gone for many times to Huize,Kunming and other places of Yunnan to conduct on the spot investigations and have interviews with folk artisans,the author got to form a rough idea about ther production technology and skill. Based on the material of investigation,this paper briefs and analyses the technical background,technological process,technical principle and present condition of raw mottled copper,wrought mottled copper and black copper run through with silver.

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Chen Li's Replies to the Enquiry About "Psychological Analysis to the Reasons for the Low Level of Development of Science in China……XU Kang

【Abstract】 Chen Li's article "Psychological Analysis to the Reasons for the Low Level of Science in China "(July,1944) was written earlier than the earliest discussion of the Needham Problem (October, 1944) by Joseph Needham (1900-1995) himself and was first introduced by Zhu Kezhen (1890-1974) in his article "Why Was There No Natural Science in Ancient China?" At the beginning of 2000, the auther of this paper corresponded with Professor Chen Li about the background of his writing the article. Professor Chen Li's replies regarding the background is given hereunder and noted in this paper for looking into the Needham Problem.