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

• List of Illustrations: xvi
• List of Tables: xxxiii
• Acknowledgments: xxxix
• MATHEMATICS: 1
• Aft h Geometry p: 91
• fro 4 Evaluation of 1 p: 99
• 8 Trigonometry p: 108
• ano 1 Simultaneous linear equations p: 115
• get 5 Quadratic equations and the method of finite: 123
• mo 8 The Thien Yuan notation p: 129
• ins 10 Series and progressions p: 137
• sei 6 Influences and transmissions p: 146
• mi: 153
• m: 171
• ac 6 Definitions p: 178
• te 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
• The naming cataloguing and mapping of stars p: 263
• 8 The development of astronomical instruments p: 284
• h Calendrical and planetary astronomy P: 390
• i Records of celestial phenomena p: 409
• j The time of the Jesuits p: 437
• k Summary p: 458
• METEOROLOGY: 462
• e Rainbows parhelia and spectres p: 473
• 8 Thunder and lightning p: 480
• GEOGRAPHY AND CARTOGRAPHY: 497
• GEOLOGY and Related Sciences: 591
• SEISMOLOGY: 624
• MINERALOGY: 636
• page: 681
• 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 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 / History; Technology & Engineering / History