The Complete Book of Agricultural Administration is one of the most famous agricultural encyclopedias in ancient China. Its author was Xu Guangqi, a scientist and politician in the last years of the Ming Dynasty.
Xu Guangqi was a man of many talents, who not only achieved many achievements in science, but also conducted in-depth research in the military, economic, and social fields. During his reign, he presided over several revisions to the calendar and conducted extensive research on agricultural production. The results of his research were summarized into this "Encyclopedia of Agricultural Administration".
The book is very rich in content, including the cultivation techniques of various crops, soil improvement methods, the design of irrigation systems, and the processing of agricultural products. It also covers meteorology, biology and other disciplines, and can be said to be the culmination of ancient Chinese agricultural science and technology.
It is worth mentioning that the "Complete Book of Agricultural Administration" is not simply to record and organize existing knowledge, but through experiments and field investigations, many new theories and techniques are proposed. For example, the book mentions ways to use earthworms to improve soil quality, which was one of the first descriptions of soil ecosystems in the world at the time.
In addition, the Encyclopedia of Agricultural Policy also emphasizes the relationship between science and technology and socio-economic development. Xu Guangqi believes that only by applying science and technology to production practice can we improve agricultural production efficiency and promote social development. This concept is very advanced in Chinese history, and it is also an idea that is still worthy of our reference today.
The Complete Book of Agricultural Administration is a work with far-reaching influence, which has made important contributions to the development of agriculture in China and even in the world. Although centuries have passed, the wisdom and experience contained in it are still an important reference for our modern agricultural scientific research today. We should continue to learn from Xi and pass on this precious heritage and work towards a better future.