A History of Ancient Chinese Geoscience

This book studies the history of geoscience in ancient China. Building on a comprehensive review of the historical development of Chinese geoscience, the authors map out the trends and patterns in the development of geoscience, thereby filling a research gap in this field and laying the groundwork for a systematic study of the history of Chinese geoscience. The Chinese version of this book was selected as a key national book planning project under China’s 12th Five-Year Plan and was funded by the National Publication Foundation. It also won the 6th China Outstanding Publication Award. Involving historical accounts of both geography and geology, the book explores the origin, development and prosperity of ancient Chinese geoscience. It introduces a wide range of topics covering a time span from the primitive societies to the Late Qing dynasty. In each time period, as well as discussion of the contexts, the topics include the mainstream schools of thought, scientific discoveries and their significance, scholarly works, well-known experts, major research activities, research institutes, educational programmes, academic journals, scientific instruments, and knowledge exchange. The book also deals with the history of several neighbouring disciplines such as climatology, cartology, hydrology, geomorphology and mineral petrology. The authors provide an exceptionally detailed description of geoscience in embryo – the forming of early knowledge of the Earth in primitive society. For the first time, philosophers’ geoscientific understanding of the world and the findings of historical mineralogy and petrology are brought to the fore, supported by data from various sources including ancient literature, archives and documentation, archaeological sites, cultural artefacts and modern experimental evidence. The novel design of contextualising each phase of development in its unique social-political conditions is unprecedented and of high academic and social value. Marked by its specialised interpretation and scientific rigour, this work proves to be unparalleled in revealing the reciprocity between scientific innovation and societal transformation, thus providing valuable lessons and suggestions for future geoscientists. As a reference book on the history of geoscience, it aims to provide specialist guidance for professionals in the field of geoscience, geoscience historians and researchers, university teachers and students in relevant disciplines, and teachers of geography or science in primary or secondary schools.