The Chinese Journal for the History of Science and technology  NO.2 2008 

The Earliest Western-trained Engineers in China's Industrialization of Iron and Steel Production (1894—1925) 

(Research Center for Science & Technology and Civilization,USTB, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract China’s early industrialization of iron and steel production began with the establishment of Hanyang Iron Works by the end of the 19th century, which later became Hanyehping Coal and Iron Limited Company in the early 20th century. In order to acquire its own technical ability, the Hanyehping Company sent about 10 Chinese students to western countries to study metallurgy, who later became the first generation of iron and steel engineers in modern China, and played a crucial role in the process of transplanting western metallurgical technologies in early modern China. In this article, the authors discuss some details about these engineers’ experience both of their studying abroad and of their working in China. By taking such point of view, they would like to give a deep insight into how the modern Chinese iron and steel industry was established, and how the earliest efforts to transplant western metallurgy technology in China were made.

Key words history of metallurgy, modern history, Hanyehping Company, Chinese engineers, technology transplant

Tan Xihong：A Forgotten Founder of the

Biological Department of Peking University

XUE Pan’gao

(Bureau of Veteran Cadres，CAS, Beijing 100864,China)

Abstract:  Tan Xihong was one of the first generation of modern biological educationists in China. In the summer of 1919, he got master’s degree for natural history in the Toulouse University of France. In the spring of 1920, he was appointed as a professor of the Department of Philosophy of Peking University by its president Tsai Yuen-pei, who meanwhile also assigned him to establish the Department of Biology for the university. In September 1925, the Department of Biology was established, for which Tan was appointed to be its first director. In the spring of 1927, being listed as wanted by the Government of Northern Warlord, he was forced to leave Peking and fled to the South. Thereafter he devoted himself to agricultural education, improving the industry of silkworm mulberry and economic construction, and faded out of biological academic circles. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, he was appointed as a consultant of the Ministry of Agriculture. This paper gives a brief account of Tan’s life and the process of establishing the Biological Department of Peking University.

Key words Tan Xihong, Peking University, Department of Biology, founder

Li Shizeng and the University Council of Republic of China

Liu Xiao

(Institute for the History of Natural Science, CAS, Beijing, China)

Abstract  The reform of university district system (1927-1929) promoted by Cai Yuanpei and Li Shizeng is an important experiment in the history of research and education in China. Through reviewing Li Shizeng＇s thought on research and education, this article shows that his role and status are by no means inferior to those of Cai Yuanpei. Li and Cai had close personal friendship, sharing many inclinations, especially both upholding the combination of education and research. But compared with Cai Yuanpei, Li Shizeng was more familiar with the university district system copied from France and for which he was more infatuated. He even associated his social idea and enterprise with his reform. The differences of Li and Cai in social relationship, political viewpoint, international background and personal style, finally made them became estranged, and caused the split of academic circle between the French speaking and English speaking schools led by Li and Cai respectively. The outcome of this reform was the founding of the Central Research Institute and the National Research Institute of Peking almost simultaneously. These two academies, one in south, one in north, stood facing each other, controlled respectively by Cai and Li who left their educational career and concentrated on leading research enterprise.

 Key words　 Li Shizeng，Cai Yuanpei，University Council，University District

Biographical Chronology of Xi Zezong

XI Zezong

(Institute for the History of Natural Science, CAS, Beijing 100010, China)

Abstract This article covers the events of Professor Xi Zezong’s life from birth to the present in chronological order. In 1954, Professor Xi began work in the history of science, participating in the establishment of both the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences (IHNS) and the Chinese Society for the History of Science and Technology (CSHST). He subsequently acted as director of the IHNS for 8 years and president of the CSHST for 10 years. A lifetime of work in the history of science, Professor Xi’s biography reflects the development of the field in China and is itself a valuable historiographical reference. According to Professor Xi, the years 1941, 1954, 1991, 2007 were important milestones in his life; 1956 and 1980 were pivotal years for the history of science in China as a discipline.

Key words Xi Zezong, history of science, Astronomy

AReview on Origin and Development of Algorithms：

the Characteristics of Oriental Mathematics

JI Zhigang

(Department for the History and Philosophy of Science,

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai200030,China)

Abstract Compiled from Prof．Li Jimin’s 31 papers, the book Origin and Development of Algorithms：the Characteristics of Oriental Mathematics consists of an introduction and four chapters. The Introduction deals with the characteristics of ancient Chinese mathematics. The four chapters are as follows: Origin and Development of Algorithms; Discriminative Analysis on Algorithms and Its Principles; Disabusing the Method of Regulating the Day-ratio; and the Theorem of Chinese Remainder. The book shows the brilliant thoughts and remarkable achievements that are contained in Prof．Li’s research works. For example, the phrase “the principles lying in the algorithms”, which he generalized, is the most outstanding characteristic of ancient Chinese mathematics and is now widely accepted. The method “discriminative analysis on algorithms and its principles”, which he named, is very useful for inquiring into the subtle problems and discriminating the doubtful points. After the stages of “discovering” (what mathematics was done) and “restoring” (how mathematics was done), the new question which appears to the young generation of the Chinese historians of mathematics is that “why mathematics was done”. This approach might lead the history of mathematics into a new stage, and so it is most necessary for us to think deeply about the outstanding research cases in the history of mathematics. Hence, in the view of methodology, the book Origin and Development of the Algorithms might be used as guidance for doing research on the history of mathematics.

Key words Li Jimin, Origin and Development of Algorithms：the Characteristics of Oriental Mathematics, book review, history of mathematics in China, algorithm

Comprehending Mathematics and Clarifying History:

Review on Modern History of Mathematics

DENG Mingli，WANG Xianfen

(College of Mathematics and Information Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050016, China)

Abstract  Written by Hu Zuoxuan, Modern History of Mathematics adds a new branch of research on modern history of mathematics, as well as lays foundation for studying the contemporary history of mathematics. Furthermore, it provides the groundwork for better comprehending mathematics and looking into its future. In comparison to other works of the same kind, it is featured by having a scientific theoretical framework, profound academic value and reliable source material. It points out the direction for later development. Hu’s book, accordingly, has lasting academic worth. 

Key words Hu Zuoxuan, Modern History of Mathematics，book review, mathematical thoughts，unification of mathematics

A Work for Showing the Most Literary Piece of the Human Civilization：

Review on Li Wenlin’s A History of Mathematics

XU Chuansheng，

(Department of Mathematics, Linyi Normal University , Shandong Linyi 276001,China)

YUAN Min

(Center for the History of Mathematics and Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069,China)

Abstract A History of Mathematics written by Li Wenlin is a brilliant work of human civilization. Its main characteristics may be summarized as follows. It selects succinct materials to describe the developing history of mathematics in precise terms. It fully discusses the evolution of modern mathematics. It expounds in depth the quintessence of the mathematical thought of great mathematicians. Being ingeniously organized and highly readable, it has now become the most commonly used teaching material in Chinese colleges and universities. This work of Li plays a very signficant role in pushing forward the research and popularization of the history of mathematics.

Key words  Li Wenlin, A History of Mathematics, book review, modern mathematics, text book

Treasury for Ancient Eastern Mathematics

—The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam：A Sourcebook

FENG Xiaohua

（Research Center for Philosophy of Science and Technology, Shanxi University ,

Taiyuan 030006, China）

Abstract The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam：A Sourcebook edited by Victor J. Katz is the first to provide an English translated collection of key mathematical texts from the five most important ancient eastern areas, and to talk about them in the world mathematics background. It not only enables Westerners to know eastern mathematics, but also makes people of the East themselves to know each other.

Key words The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam: A Sourcebook, book review, history of mathematics, eastern mathematics