The Chinese Journal for the History of Science and technology  NO.3 2005

The Two Failed Joint Scientific Expeditions of China and Foreign Countries in the Early 20th Century……LUO Guihuan

【Abstract】 In the early 1930s,the two Joint scientific expeditions of China and foreigh countries organized by the National Scientific Union of China failed in cooperetion,which was due to the lack of experience and little knowledge about the purpose of expedition of the foreign side.As a result,there existed various problems in both making preprations for the explorations and the selection of members on the side of China.Moreover,the foreign countries were not really willing to cooperate.Reviewing the events of scientific history in China will be of help to understand the various problems and the influence of society which modern Chinese scientific circles experienced in their growth.

Walter Bradford Cannon and Chinese Physiologists……YAN Yiwei,ZHANG Daqing

【Abstract】 Walter Bradford Cannon,one of the most widely known scientists,had close connections with Chinese physiologists in his late years.In 1935,he was invited to China to work at the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) as a visiting professor.Based on archives and related sources,this paper tries to restore this short but memorable period in Cannon's life,to describe how he encouraged and supported the budding physiology in China,and to portray the friendship he formed with Chinese physiologists.Finally,it sketches the altruistic activities of this great scientist,who played an important role in collecting and delivering medical relief for Chinese people during the War of Resistance Against Japan. 

Yu Heqin's Organic Chemistry Terms:A New Beginning of Chinese Systematic Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry……ZHANG Hao

【Abstract】 A Chinese nomenclature for terms of organic chemistry was not yet established in the nineteenth century.Most of the Chinese organic terms were transliterated in that time.However,the Chinese preferred terms which conveyed a meaning.In the Zhongguo Youji Mingming Cao(The Chinese Terms of Organic Chemistry),published in 1908,marked a new beginning for the creation of a Chinese nomenclature for terms of organic chemistry.The author Yu Heqin(1879～1944)explains why the translation of organic terms is such a difficult task.The translator has to combine a deep professional knowledge on organic chemistry and a great sensitivity for the special traits of the Chinese language.He criticizes the nineteenth-century translations which sometimes consisted of more than four Chinese characters.He names as examples the term miyituoliyituoliameini for methylethylamine,and yituolimiyituolifeiniliameini ethylmethylphenylamine,all of them terms which were difficult for Chinese speakers to remember.Yu Heqin went to translate the organic compounds according to their chemical properties or their construction.In order to indicate components and structure of organic compounds he used the Chinese numerals and the chemical radicals.His nomenclature had great impact on the development of Chinese terms in organic chemistry.

Industrial Education in Jilin in Late Qing Dynasty……LUAN Xuegang

【Abstract】 During the period from the end of 19th century to the beginning of 20th century,a lot of enterprises in Jilin such as Jilin Arsenal Bureau set up during the Westernization Movement,Jilin Department of Manchu General Affairs Factory opened for planning the livelihood of Manchu people,Jilin Farming Testing ground established in the course of advocating industry,and Jilin Bureau of Tussah founded for popularizing silkworm industry,had their own affiliated schools.Most of the schools,which were run in an old-style apprentice-enrolling way,had a very clear teaching aim,a set of perfect rules and regulations and various testing methods,and carried out a mode of running school which was characteristic by following four rules:rules of taking production as the leading factor,combining production and studying,making production a medium of education,and studying for the purpose of application.So it is clear that industrial education was taking place in the late period of Qing Dynasty.

An Qingqiao's Explanation of Precession……YANG Xiaoming，LI Shuxue

【Abstract】 As an important concept in astronomy, precession attracted much attention in history in both China and the West. The ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy attributed precession to the slow movement of all fixed stars from west to east around the earth. Since the introduction of precession in China via Western missionaries in late Ming Dynasty, Ptolemy's explanation of it was very prevalent during the Ming and Qing Dynasties until after the Opium Wars. However, in the early 1800s, an interval of intercommunion between China and the West from 1723 to 1840, the Chinese scholar An Qingqiao refuted Ptolemy's viewpoint. In his work named Tui Bu Wei Shi written in 1811, which means that the study of astronomy must be based on the observation of celestial phenomena, a new theory was developed to further elucidate precession in geocentric system, quite independent of modern West, especially Newton's explanation of gravitation. That is, at the same time of self-rotating from east to west, the axis of ecliptic pole also completes a circle around the north pole of heaven at an appreciably faster speed in the same direction, and thus as a result of relative motion it slowly moves eastward around the north pole instead to cause precession phenomenon. Related to the visual motion of procession, An Qingqiao's viewpoint is linked to the current conclusion by a relationship of relative movement,since the results are the same between the revolutions of north pole around ecliptic pole and ecliptic pole around the north pole. Via the ideas and achievement of An Qingqiao, at least two facts further prove to some extent that Chinese scholars are of the same creativity as the ones in the West, and that a correct conclusion may be also drawn even in a theory which is now proven to be wrong. In the case of An Qingqiao, the wrong theory or precondition is the geocentric system related to the universe.

An Evidence for the Invention of Fertilizer-drill in Song Dynasty……ZENG Xiongsheng

【Abstract】 This paper argues that, Fertilizer-drill(fen lou), formerly thought to be invented in Yuan Dynasty (1279～1368), had been already used in the Song dynasty, according to new evidence found in Han Qi's(1008～1075)poetry.

The Traditional Firing Craft of Red Brick Kiln in South Fujian……ZHENG Linwei

【Abstract】 While dark brick is usually used for traditional local-style dwellings in China,there is a unique culture area in South Fujian. In this paper,a red brick kiln in Chongfu Village ,Longhai Town,Fujian Province is mainly studied as an example.The traditional craft of red brick firing in South Fujian is shown in detail with the five stages of materials collection,adobe making,installing into kiln,burning in kiln,and taking out of kiln.

The Free Space of Early Science Management Cadres: An Interview with Mr. Luo Deng……Recorded and emended by XIONG Weimin

【Abstract】 As the record of an interview with Mr. Luo Deng about the early history of the Institute of Cell Biology, CAS, this article relates how a few Right-diviationist science management cadres carried out the left orders of their superior officials. As the executors of the Party, they had some free space in their administration. But under the political atmosphere then, their ability of redressing leftism was very limited.

Psychoanalysis and the Western Modernity—Review on Secrets of the Soul:A Social and Cultural History of Psychoanalysis……LI Yaming

【Abstract】 For echoing one another with the new domains of personal social life, psychoanalysis served as the “Calvinism” of the second industrial revolution. Eli Zaretsky, the author of the above book, believes that this very process encouraged capitalism to grow into its modern form of mass consumption. At the same time, psychoanalysis also developed modernity into its mature form in every domain of Western culture. This article discusses how the author proves this point of view, on whose basis the relationship between psychoanalysis and modernity will be accessed.

Thoughts on Reading Shu Xinbei's Archives:The Destiny of a Talented Physicist……YAO Licheng

【Abstract】 It took Liu Haijun ten years or so to finish his book,Shu Xinbei's Archives:The Destiny of a Talented Physicist.In the thirties and forties of the last century, Shu Xinbei had been a respectable physicist and educationist,but after liberation,he had never made any research achieve-ment.By means of archives and interviewing,the author of the book narrates Shu Xinbei's fate of the latter half of his life,and answers a few doubts for us.The book not simply describes the individual fate of Shu Xinbei,but what is more important is that it offers us much reflection from his destiny.