China’s Thought Wisdom in Ancient Science and Technology
Sun Xiaochun
Is there no scientific "gene" in China civilization?
Modern civilization can be said to be a civilization dominated by science and technology. The power of science and technology determines the power of civilization. Modern science came into being in the west, and countless works on the history of science depict the historical track of science from ancient Greece to Renaissance, to scientific revolution and to modern science. So there is a misunderstanding: modern science seems to be the necessity of western culture, something that other non-western civilizations can’t produce. There is a view that there is no scientific "gene" in China civilization; China’s language, writing and way of thinking could not produce modern science. China’s traditional culture is a "retarded child" of science and technology. However, this is biased and history is not that simple.
The in-depth study of ancient science and technology and civilization in the world shows that modern science came into being in Europe as a result of the integration of many civilizations in the world. Ancient civilizations such as ancient Egypt, Babylon, ancient Greece, India, the Arab world and China all made important contributions to the emergence of modern science in the West. China’s contribution, in addition to the "four great inventions" recognized by all, also includes many important scientific and technological inventions and discoveries, such as surplus and deficiency, stacking and casting. Needham, a British scholar, listed dozens of inventions and creations in his magnum opus History of Science and Technology in China. Although there is a tendency to judge the value of ancient science and technology with the hindsight of modern science, it fully shows that China did not lack the wisdom of scientific and technological creation in ancient times.
Modern science is characterized by mechanism, which showed its limitations at the beginning of last century. As early as the 1920s, the famous British philosopher Whitehead clearly pointed out that western modern science has experienced more than three centuries of development, and established materialism and determinism with nature as the big machine, and modern civilization is deeply influenced by this "natural mechanism". If civilization cannot transcend this kind of thinking, it will "be paralyzed after extremely limited progress." It is based on this understanding that western academic circles began to reflect on modern science and seek inspiration from ancient oriental ideology and culture.
The theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements is the symbol that China ancient civilization stepped out of primitive witchcraft and religious mythology and entered the stage of rational thinking.
The Book of Changes and the Five Elements of Yin and Yang are often interpreted as "feudal superstitions" and are completely denied, which is a misinterpretation and misunderstanding. China’s theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, developed since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, is the symbol that China’s ancient civilization stepped out of primitive witchcraft and religious mythology and entered the stage of rational thinking. This development was almost the same as the "discovery of nature" in ancient Greece, and it was similar in essence. From then on, China used such naturalistic concepts and theories as "Qi", "Yin and Yang" and "Five Elements" in ancient times, instead of witchcraft or gods to explain the phenomena and changes in nature and even society. For example, the eclipse is no longer a "dog swallowing the moon", but a "dark deficiency" caused by the qi of yin and yang; The earthquake is no longer a "turtle wagging its tail", but a "yang crouching but unable to get out, yin forcing but unable to steam". The change of yin and yang causes the change of things, which is the essence of the Book of Changes, that is, a "philosophy of change". "Yi" means "change". The Book of Changes constructs a series of symbols and concepts by using the philosophy of change of Yin and Yang, which has become the "understanding of nature and human society" in ancient China.General library of ideas and concepts "(Needham language). Aristotle’s view of the physical universe in ancient Greece can be divided into "the upper limit of the moon" and "the lower limit of the moon", which holds that things in the sky are "unchangeable, immortal and eternal". Different from ancient Greece, China’s "philosophy of change" can be applied not only to the earth, but also to the sky. This made China observe and explore astronomical phenomena that occurred in the celestial world very early, such as sunspots, comets, meteors, guest stars and so on. When galileo telescope’s invention caused a heated debate in the west in the early 17th century, it was not surprising in China, because these changes in the sky were expected in China’s ancient "philosophy of change".
In ancient times, the method of "learning knowledge by studying things" was in parallel with the modern scientific method.
"Learning from things", from "University". What exactly does "Gewu" mean? What Zhu Xi said is the meaning of "poor study of things". What kind of research method? In the final analysis, it is to observe and classify things. Shuo Wen Jie Zi says, "Ge, from the sound of wood", which means that the tree is tall and the branches are long, and it is extended to "Mu Ge". To put it bluntly, "grid" is a grid made of wood, just like a medicine grid in a Chinese medicine shop, which is used to classify herbs. As a method of studying things, the importance of classification is self-evident. To study things, we must first classify them. China paid special attention to observing and classifying things in ancient times. Although it was a preliminary study, it was also fruitful. China has rich observations and records on astronomy, meteorology, earthquakes, plants, etc. in ancient times, which have scientific value up to now. For example, ancient astronomical records are used to study supernovae, cosmic evolution and solar activity, and herbal materials are used for modern medical research. In ancient times, the method of "learning knowledge by studying things" went hand in hand with the method of modern science.
The thinking mode of taking images and analogy is the ideological source of China’s invention and creation of ancient science.
Scientific creation is inseparable from rich imagination. In ancient China, through the "relevance thinking" of "taking images and analogy", the relationship between things was established and the understanding of things was achieved. The formation of "image" is the key here. The "Xing" in The Book of Songs is a model for establishing images, such as "My Fair Lady, My Gentleman" can be associated with "My Fair Lady, My Fair Lady". The formation of "image" is a process of "promoting image" through imagination. In ancient times, China constructed a cosmic schema about heaven, earth, life and human beings by using this associative thinking of taking images and analogies. Telling the changes of rhythm, solar terms, yin and yang between heaven and earth, and demonstrating the laws of their changes are all based on the method of taking images and analogy, which is often based on "sound similarity", "shape similarity" or "spirit similarity". And these "similarities" are closely related to the general universe schema, empirical observation, intuitive imagination, expression and so on. To understand China’s ancient science, we must have a serious study of the "image-stimulating" way of ancient scientific thinking. This thinking mode of taking images and analogy is the ideological source of China’s invention and creation of ancient science.
The unity of man and nature makes people believe that the universe is cognizable, which should be regarded as the "first principle" of science.
"Harmony between man and nature" is another important thought of China in ancient times. Its main point is that the universe and man are harmonious and a whole. Human beings live in the universe. If the universe and human beings do not form a harmonious unity, it means that the universe is completely chaotic for human beings, and human beings cannot survive in it, and the universe is unknowable for human beings. Therefore, the idea of "harmony between man and nature" is essentially correct and necessary. The universe gives birth to human beings, and human beings have the imprint of the universe. Human music, aesthetics and body rhythm are closely related to the universe. The unity of man and nature makes people believe that the universe is cognizable, which should be regarded as the "first principle" of science. The most famous contemporary scientists, such as Hawking and Weinberg, believe in the harmony of the universe, pursue the "ultimate theoretical dream", discuss the "anthropic principle" and "great design", and pursue the ultimate goal of "harmony between man and nature".
Although the idea of "harmony between man and nature" was regarded by the rulers as the basis of "divine right of monarchy" from time to time in ancient times, as a basic idea, it also guided scientific research. "Studying the relationship between man and nature" was the highest goal of China’s ancient scientific research. China ancient astronomy, the main purpose is to "observe the image and give time", that is, to determine the season through astronomical observation and guide people to engage in production and etiquette activities according to the "season". It is also worth mentioning that China explored the "harmony between man and nature" in ancient times and thought that "Qi" was the medium of heaven and earth induction. Therefore, as early as the Han Dynasty, he designed the experiment of "waiting for Qi", which has something in common with the Michelson-Morey experiment of measuring "ether" in modern science in exploring the ultimate problem of science.
Another key point of the idea of "harmony between man and nature" is the correspondence between "big universe" and "small universe". Heaven and earth is a "big universe", human body is a "small universe", and the country is also a "small universe". The structure, function and operation mode of the big and small universes are similar. For example, Huangdi Neijing regards the human body as a "small universe", and its structure and function correspond to the "big universe". The health of the body is the balance of yin and yang in the body and the normal operation of the functions of various organs. This theory constitutes the theoretical basis of traditional Chinese medicine. The country is also like a body, and the country is strong, just like a strong body; A poor country is like a weak body. We should govern the country like a body, and we should govern it according to the rhythm of the "big universe". This idea is enlightening for today’s national governance.
Chinese civilization has a tolerance of inclusiveness and learning from others, which is why it lasts for a long time.
In the past, when we talked about ancient science and technology in China, we always tended to pursue the so-called "China first". This view of history is one-sided and does not conform to historical facts. Looking at thousands of years of civilization history in China, Chinese civilization has been absorbing, transforming and utilizing foreign civilizations. The communication with foreign civilizations is much earlier and richer than we thought at first. Since the Han Dynasty, China has been influenced by Indian civilization, Arab civilization and European civilization successively. Chinese civilization has a tolerance of being inclusive and learning from others, which is why it lasts for a long time. Confucianism has always attached great importance to science and technology for the purpose of practical application. The exploration of scientific and technological knowledge related to the national economy and people’s livelihood has always been affirmed and supported by the state. This is also the reason why China was able to make great achievements in many aspects of science and technology in ancient times. For example, in the Song Dynasty, the state attached importance to astronomy and medicine, so astronomy and medicine reached a peak in the Song Dynasty. For another example, since the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the astronomical institutions of China government have always adopted the practice of translation, study and dissemination of foreign Arabic astronomy, which has kept the ancient astronomy in China alive. Today, we should learn more actively from the West in an inclusive manner. We should carry forward the temperament of "tolerance is great" in Chinese civilization, and use whatever is conducive to active thinking, creativity and the national economy and people’s livelihood for our own use. Drawing lessons from the development of ancient science and technology in China,It is also beneficial for us to develop science and technology today.
The achievements of China’s ancient science and technology lie not only in numerous inventions and creations, but also in the scientific wisdom behind them, including scientific thinking, scientific thinking, scientific methods, world outlook, values, scientific management, etc. This is the source of strength that caused China’s ancient science and technology to continuously produce inventions and creations. What we have learned from traditional science and technology culture should be such wisdom to promote the development of science and technology. Science experienced the course of Greece-Renaissance-Scientific Revolution-Modern Science, which is an interpretation of western history, but it does not prove that science is a western patent. Modern science has entered the deeper and wider fields of the universe and life, and it is facing new challenges and opportunities both ideologically and methodologically. China’s wisdom in ancient science and technology may enlighten the development of future science.
(The author is a professor at the School of Humanities, Chinese Academy of Sciences)