Hangzhou,
It is a city full of creativity.
Ages
Many great technologists have emerged.
Their scientific and technological research involves astronomy, geography, medicine, architecture and many other fields.
It shows us the light of science and technology in ancient Hangzhou.
Today's heavy recommendation for you
"Born to Create"
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About the Author
Zhang Yiyang was born in 1995 in Huzhou, Zhejiang. Graduated from Zhejiang University of Technology, Master of Arts in Chinese Chinese. He is currently a teacher of Huzhou Xinfeng Primary School Education Group.
Hangzhou is a city full of creativity. Throughout the ages, many great scientists and technicians have emerged. Who are they? What scientific mysteries did they discover? What inventions have changed our history? ...... Hangzhou is a natural "creative school", this book uses a scientific perspective and relaxed language to tell the story of these technologists and Hangzhou. They were either born in Hangzhou or lived in Hangzhou, there are imperial court officials, there are ordinary people, there are theoretical explorers, there are also inventors, their scientific and technological research involves astronomy, geography, medicine, architecture and many other fields, showing us the light of science and technology in ancient Hangzhou.
Turning civil engineering into magic, the legendary life of a tower master
Yu Hao , also known as Pre-Hao , Yu Hao , was a native of Xifu (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang) at the end of the Five Dynasties. Hangzhou Metropolitan Material Craftsman, known as "Pre-Capital Material", is a famous construction craftsman with the reputation of "the first carpenter of the National Dynasty". He is good at building towers, and the method of laying boards and nailing solids layer by layer makes the tower of Hangzhou Brahma Temple stable. In his later years, he wrote the first carpentry manual in the field of architecture in Chinese history, the book "Wooden Classic", a three-volume book, which is a work of great architectural scientific value and has a far-reaching influence on future generations. The book reads:
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Although Yu Hao has read a little book and knows some words, he is not a cultural person after all, and he has never thought about writing books. But ever since he thought of bringing some convenience to thousands of carpenters and preserving these incomparable buildings for future generations, he was determined to complete this book.
After returning to Hangzhou, he went to work during the day and concentrated on writing book manuscripts at night. While sorting out the paintings of the capital, he continued to study the principles of wooden structures and summarized the methods, steps and techniques of architectural design. In order to make a more comprehensive and systematic explanation, he often forgot to eat and sleep, and in his sleep, he would cross his hands to simulate various structures, repeatedly studying and thinking.
In the cold and summer, the book "Wooden Classic" that condensed Yu Hao's lifelong income was finally born. Wood for a living, eventually into a classic, this is the first carpentry manual in The history of our country, it comprehensively and systematically explains the design principles and methods and techniques of various types of pavilions and houses, and continuously nourishes China's architectural civilization.
(The picture shows the Kaifeng Tower)
"Clay + Fire =?" A scientific and technological experiment that has gone down in history
The invention of Bi Sheng movable type printing is a great revolution in the history of printing. Movable type printing has the advantages of one word multi-purpose, reuse, printing more and faster, saving time and effort, saving materials, etc., which is more economical and convenient than full-page engraving, it has opened up a broad road for the development of Chinese culture and economy, and has made significant contributions to promoting the development of world civilization, and has been listed as one of the four major inventions of ancient China. Behind the creation and invention is the repeated attempts and explorations of Bi Sheng and his partners, and the book reads:
When all was said and done, Bi Sheng took out a carving knife that he carried with him, easily carved a "living" word on the square glue clay as thin as a coin, and carefully handed it to the firing workers. A few days later, the kiln was opened, And Bi Shengxing rushed to the pottery factory, and the clay character printing firing was successful, the strokes were clearly visible, hard and firm, and fully met the printing needs. You can fix your eyes on it, there are a little small holes formed by bubbles on the clay character print, Bi Sheng is worried that this will affect the quality of printing, and is busy asking the workers on the side. "It is normal to have bubbles, we usually burn some pots and pans of coarse guys, a little bubble does not affect the use and beauty, if you want to have no bubbles at all, you have to work harder, you must choose a clean and delicate block of glue, and mud is also very exquisite, to be transparent and cooked, you must first crush, soak in water, stir to clarify, remove sand impurities, etc., and then continue to pound and knead on the bluestone slab, until the mud is completely free of bubbles, become as soft and non-sticky as the dough, before you can carve the mold." While the workers were doing their work, they explained to Bi Sheng.
When making loose prints, the heat, materials, dry and wet environment, every link can not be wrong, the book reads:
"By the way, firing is also very skilled, different materials need the heat, time is not the same, you want to do such a beautiful and small word print, I suggest you can put it in the small kiln field to burn, this is mainly used to burn mud people, the heat is more uniform than the large kiln field, but also better control the fire." Workers on the sidelines also added.
"That's great! It's really a lot of people collecting firewood and the flame is high, thanks to everyone's advice, then I hurry to try again! "With the enthusiastic help of everyone, Bi Sheng repeatedly studied, made the appropriate glue clay according to the method said by the master, cut it into mud according to the usual font size, and when it was dry and wet, dipped in water and gently rubbed on the smooth board until each side was smooth." How perfect! Smooth and clean! Bi Sheng was quite satisfied with his craftsmanship.
The scientific titan of astronomy and geography on the bottom
Shen Kuo ( 沈括 ; Cunzhong ) was a native of Qiantang , Hangzhou ( present-day Hangzhou , Zhejiang ) , an outstanding scientist during the Northern Song Dynasty , as well as an outstanding engineer , military strategist , and statesman. He did a lot of practical work beneficial to the people in his political activities, and at the same time carried out scientific research, and made outstanding contributions to astronomy, mathematics, calendar, geography, biology, medicine, literature, history, music and many other disciplines.
In his later years, his "Mengxi Pen Talk" recorded in detail the outstanding contributions of working people in science and technology and his own research results, reflecting the brilliant achievements of natural science in ancient China, especially in the Northern Song Dynasty. The content of "Mengxi Pen Talk" not only covers a wide range, but also reflects the advanced level of science and technology at that time, so it is called "the coordinates in the history of Chinese science" by the historian of science and technology Needham. Behind this is Shen Kuo's calculation and investigation of each data and the phenomenon day and night, which reads in the book:
"Lord Shen, last night was another night without closing your eyes, right?" I see your eyes are red. A calendar officer came over with a waiting book.
"Even if it is a few days and nights, it is worth it!" You see, this is the armillary instrument I have improved in the past few days, expanding the caliber of the peeping tube, from the previous one and a half degrees to seven degrees, and finally I can clearly see the direction of the North Star! ”
"My lord, let us observe the record tonight, and you will rest for a few days." Li Guan looked at this brand new armillary instrument and admired Shen Kuo quite a bit.
"It's okay, I'd like to observe it myself for a few more days and improve it by the way." By the way, is there any news about the five-star information you asked you to find yesterday? ”
"The people at the Astronomical Institute said they would come to inform us as soon as there was news, but I don't think we should hold out much hope." The officer responded in a low voice.
Shen Kuo knew that at that time, many officials who had been dismissed for dereliction of duty were inevitably hated by others. However, the lack of five-star information on the calendar year is bound to increase the difficulty of changing the calendar work once again. Shen Kuo is by no means a person who gives up lightly, just as the so-called seeking others is not as good as seeking oneself, Shen Kuo decided to deduce according to the existing information. He worked day and night, reading every night with the lamp, staying up red eyes to rest a little, encountering places that he did not understand, always personally running to consult experienced calendar officials, whether young or not, always known as a master, and soon after, the entire historical officials of the Celestial Prison knew this red-eyed chieftain who had just taken office.
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Hangzhou Excellent Traditional Culture Series
"Hangzhou Excellent Traditional Culture Series" is a set of popular reading materials aimed at inheriting the historical context of the city and promoting excellent traditional culture, adhering to the principle of "storytelling, light reading, and easy dissemination", and fully presenting the characteristics of the times, the characteristics of the whole region, the characteristics of the story, and the characteristics of openness.
The whole series of books includes a monograph and ten series of more than 100 books, covering urban history culture, landscape culture, celebrity culture, relic culture, dictionary culture, art culture, craft culture, living culture, custom culture, ideological culture and other aspects, which are both comprehensive displays and highlights.
In order to attract more readers, especially young audiences, the series of books has changed the customary practice of taking literary and historical experts as the main authors, invited writers from inside and outside the province to serve as the main creative team, organized literary and historical experts and literary and art critics to check and improve, carried excellent traditional culture with rich historical stories, and contained excellent cultural ideas with delicate dialogues and plots.