Biography of Zhang Heng

Author: Xu Jie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-02-01
Features: Zhang Heng was a renowned thinker, scientist, and litterateur in the mid Eastern Han Dynasty. Unbound by the narrow-mindedness of Han Dynasty Confucianism and the heavy theological constraints, he conducted his life and scholarship with his own character and approach, achieving both breadth and depth. He made outstanding contributions in various fields such as philosophy, political science, astronomy, seismology, meteorology, as well as mechanical manufacturing and poetic composition, becoming a rare "all-rounder" in the intellectual history of Chinese culture. This book breaks away from the one-sided research methods of the past, focusing on the historical facts of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Zhang Heng's life. Through a comprehensive examination of his achievements in science and literature, it offers an in-depth and insightful exploration to reveal his intellectual characteristics and establish his historical significance. The book specifically argues against arrogance to avoid an unbalanced evaluation of Zhang Heng's academic accomplishments; it adopts a novel research perspective to elucidate the new ideas and spirit he demonstrated in navigating between Confucianism and metaphysics.