Science and Technology in Pre-Colonial Asian Societies - CHINA

1. PRE-COLONIAL
China
Ma. Eunice Abenis

2. China and the West
Europe
China
Concept of Natural Law
Presence of
divine deity in
nature
Absence of divine
deity in nature
View of the world
Mechanical
Organic
Mathematics
Geometric
Algebraic
Invention and Labor
power
Labor power served
as hindrance to
invention
Labor power did
NOT serve as
hindrance to
invention

3. China and the West
Europe
Science
•
•
Geography &
Cartography
Engineering
•
China
mechanics and
dynamics relatively
advanced
wave-particle antithesis:
atomistic view
•
Discoid cosmographic
world maps (discshaped)
•
advanced survey methods and
the making of relief maps
(quantitative cartography, use
of rectangular grid)
•
efficient harness for equine
animals (linkwork)
mastery of iron casting 15
centuries before its achievement
in Europe
first appearance of gunpowder
(9th century A.D.), vigorous
development of explosive
weapons some three centuries
before they appeared in Europe
(and from A.D. 1000 onwards)
•
•
•
Optics, acoustics and
magnetism, geological
sciences and meteorology
wave-particle antithesis: wave
theory connected with yin-yang

4. Types of Science
in Ancient China
ORTHODOX
NEUTRAL
Astronomy
Mathematics
Physics
Hydraulic Engineering
Medicine
NON-ORTHODOX Alchemy

5. The Social Position
of Scientists and Engineers
of Traditional China
SCHOLARS
FARMERS
ARTISANS
MERCHANTS
The Chinese Social
Stratification

6. The Social Position
of Scientists and Engineers
of Traditional China
Chief categories into which lives of
scientists
and engineers seem to fall
1. HIGH OFFICIALS
2. COMMONERS
3. MEMBERS OF THE SEMI-SERVILE GROUPS
4. THOSE WHO WERE ACTUALLY ENSLAVED
5. A VERY SIGNIFICANT GROUP OF MINOR
OFFICIALS, (scholars who were not able to make
their way upwards in the ranks of the bureaucracy)

7. The Social Position
of Scientists and Engineers
of Traditional China
Skilled Workers
Metallurgists
Well-drillers
Weavers and paper makers
Technicians

8. Strengths
 numerous inventions in various fields
 inclination to field theories
 strong civil tradition allowing state to
utilize population’s brightest

9. Weaknesses
 organic view of the universe (Taoism)
 limited knowledge of geometry
 science shrouded in semi-secrecy

10. PRE-COLONIAL
China