Western Instruments in the Qing Palace: Treasures of the Palace Museum

Author: Liu Lu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-09-01
Features: The Palace Museum houses approximately 2,000 science and technology artifacts related to Western learning. Among them, the traditional Chinese items mainly include stone sundials, bronze clepsydras, time incense, as well as measuring instruments like weights, measures, and scales, as well as traditional Chinese medical instruments and human anatomy models. The varieties related to Western learning are quite diverse and can be broadly categorized into six major fields: astronomy, mathematics, physics, geography, mechanical clocks and watches, and medicine. Specific examples include celestial globes, terrestrial globes, armillary spheres, gnomons, telescopes, compasses, calculating tools, measuring instruments, drawing instruments, dental instruments, blood pressure monitors, distillation apparatus, medical reflecting mirrors, ophthalmic surgical instruments, and microscopes. Studying these artifacts is not just about appreciating the relics but also about understanding the significance of mutual learning between China and the West.