Tian Gong Kai Wu (Upper and Lower)

Author: (Ming) Song Yingxing
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-10-01
Features: The Treatise on the Works of Nature is a comprehensive scientific and technological work from ancient China, as well as the world's first comprehensive treatise on agricultural and handicraft production, known by European scholars as the Encyclopedia of Technology. It systematically summarizes various ancient Chinese technologies, forming a complete scientific and technological system. It comprehensively reflects the achievements of craftsmanship and technology through its rich experience in agriculture. Many of the production techniques recorded in the book were still used until modern times. The author is Song Yingxing from the Ming Dynasty. It was first published in the 10th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1637). The entire book is divided into three parts—Upper, Middle, and Lower—with a total of 18 volumes, describing the names, shapes, and processes of over 130 production techniques and tools. This world-famous masterpiece, however, remained almost unknown to the Chinese people for over two hundred years after its publication. During the Qianlong era, the Complete Collection of the Four Treasuries ignored it entirely. Apart from the official Comprehensive Examinations for Timely Agriculture, scholars of the time, including top masters of Chinese classics, never referenced a single word from it in their works. Strangely enough, it was revered as a precious treasure in neighboring Japan and Korea. Later, Europe obtained its Japanese edition from Japan and began to publish multiple translations, viewing it as a small encyclopedia of Chinese technology. It wasn’t until the 20th century, over two hundred years later, that China reprinted this book independently. What is even more puzzling is that out of the ten or so existing versions of The Treatise on the Works of Nature, most are foreign editions—a rarity in Chinese ancient classics. This renowned masterpiece that our nation takes pride in remains familiar to most people only through reputation rather than firsthand experience. Today, it is clear that viewing The Treatise on the Works of Nature merely as a masterpiece of Chinese technological history is far from enough—it is also a masterpiece of Chinese cultural and intellectual history. The book speaks of opening nature, yet it permeates traditional Chinese culture, with everything within it forming the foundation of the profound and extensive civilization of the Chinese nation. We can assure readers that if they thoroughly read this book and reflect deeply on it, they will undoubtedly gain a deeper understanding of the essence of Chinese civilization.