Basic Series of National Studies - Dream Pool Essays (New Edition)

Author: Shen Kuo (Song Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-09-01
Features: Shen Kuo was a great scientist in ancient Chinese history. The book Dream Pool Essays he left behind has become a repository of ancient Chinese scientific and technological achievements. It has long been valued by people and frequently cited by experts in various disciplines. This book is a precious legacy in the history of Chinese science and technology and also an outstanding work in the history of world science and technology. Shen Kuo wrote over forty works in his lifetime, with the most renowned among them being Dream Pool Essays, Supplementary Notes, Continued Notes, Dream Pool Records of Forgetfulness, and Good Remedies. Among these, Dream Pool Essays, Supplementary Notes, and Continued Notes, written in the form of notes, recorded, examined, and corrected a vast amount of information on contemporary and earlier dynasties' institutions, historical anecdotes, cultural relics, archaeological findings, local products, and folk customs. These works became reliable sources for later studies in literature and history. What is even more remarkable is the numerous astonishing scientific records and innovations they contain. These three works contain 609 entries, with approximately 255 of them being on scientific topics, accounting for about 42% of the entire book. They cover a wide range of scientific fields, including natural philosophy, music theory, mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, chronology, meteorology, geography, geology, biology, medicine, architecture, agricultural water conservancy, military equipment, craftsmanship, and metallurgy, with many scientific discoveries that were centuries ahead of other countries.