Tian Gong Kai Wu (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Song Yingxing (Ming Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Tian Gong Kai Wu (The Treatise of the Heavenly and Earthly) is a comprehensive scientific and technological work from ancient China, as well as the world's first comprehensive treatise on agricultural and handicraft production. It is referred to 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 craft techniques 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 largely unknown to the Chinese for over two hundred years after its publication. During the Qianlong era, the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) ignored it entirely. Apart from the official Shoushi Tongkao (Comprehensive Examinations on Agriculture), scholars of the time, including the top masters of Chinese classics, never referenced a single word of 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 the book independently. What is even more puzzling is that out of the ten or so existing versions of Tian Gong Kai Wu, the majority are foreign editions—a rarity in Chinese ancient classics. This renowned masterpiece of the Chinese people remains familiar to most only by name rather than sight. Today, it is clear that viewing Tian Gong Kai Wu 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 Up the World]," 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 read the book thoroughly and reflect deeply, they will undoubtedly gain a deeper understanding of the essence of Chinese civilization.