Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 3, Mathematics and the Sciences of the Heavens and the Earth

Joseph Needham

Cambridge University Press, 1959 - History - 877 pages

After two volumes mainly introductory, Dr Needham now embarks upon his systematic study of the development of the natural sciences in China. The Sciences of the Earth follow: geography and cartography, geology, seismology and mineralogy. Dr Needham distinguishes parallel traditions of scientific cartography and religious cosmography in East and West, discussing orbocentric wheel-maps, the origins of the rectangular grid system, sailing charts and relief maps, Chinese survey methods, and the impact of Renaissance cartography on the East. Finally-and here Dr Needham's work has no Western predecessors-there are full accounts of the Chinese contribution to geology and mineralogy.

Contents

• page: xvii
• List of Tables: xxxv
• Authors Note: xli
• MATHEMATICS: 1
• 1: 64
• Aft h Geometry p: 91
• fro 4 Evaluation of π p: 99
• 8 Trigonometry p: 108
• an 1 Simultaneous linear equations p: 115
• ge 5 Quadratic equations and the method of finite: 123
• me 8 The Thien Yuan notation p: 129
• ins 10 Series and progressions p: 137
• m: 154
• m: 171
• ac b Definitions p: 178
• te ii Chinese and Japanese literature p: 185
• d Ancient and medieval cosmological ideas p: 210
• e The polar and equatorial character of Chinese astronomy: 229
• f The naming cataloguing and mapping of stars p: 263
• g The development of astronomical instruments p: 284
• A 5 The sightingtube and the circumpolar constella: 332
• Sy 6 The armillary sphere and other major instruments: 339
• th P: 343
• fr i The general development of armillary: 343
• spheres p 342: 354
• in iv The invention of the equatorial mounting: 367
• S 7 Celestial globes p: 382
• b h Calendrical and planetary astronomy p: 390
• ac 2 Sexagenary cycles p: 396
• e1 5 Resonance periods p: 406
• h 2 Novae supernovae and variable stars p: 423
• SO 3 Comets meteors and meteorites p: 430
• n j The time of the Jesuits p: 437
• to 3 Western science or New science? p: 447
• modern science p: 451
• to k Summary p: 458
• METEOROLOGY: 462
• e Rainbows parhelia and spectres p: 473
• g Thunder and lightning p: 480
• GEOGRAPHY AND CARTOGRAPHY: 497
• 3 Descriptions of southern regions and foreign: 510
• 5 Local topographies p: 517
• c A note on Chinese explorers p: 522
• ง e Chinese survey methods p: 569
• f Relief and other special maps p: 579
• h g The coming of Renaissance cartography to China p: 583
• en sedimentary deposition p: 598
• in 3 Caves underground waters and shifting sands: 605
• ve c Palaeontology p: 611
• id: 624
• MINERALOGY page: 636
• cha d Mineralogical literature and its scope p: 643
• her f Notes on some special minerals p: 652
• ma 5 Borax p: 662
• ter 7 Precious stones including the diamond p: 669
• ADDENDA: 675
• page: 685
• GENERAL INDEX: 803
• Table of Chinese Dynasties: 871

Bibliographic information

• Title: Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 3, Mathematics and the Sciences of the Heavens and the Earth; Volume 3 of Mathematics & the Sciences of the Heavens & the Earth; Volume 3 of Science and Civilisation in China, Joseph Needham; Volume 3 of Zhongguo zhi ke xue yu wen ming
• Author: Joseph Needham
• Editor: Joseph Needham
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1959
• ISBN: 0521058015, 9780521058018
• Length: 877 pages
• Subjects: History / Asia / China; Medical / History; Science / Earth Sciences / General; Science / History; Social Science / Diversity & Multiculturalism; Technology & Engineering / History