The representative work of Chinese scholar Li Shen, Zhongguo Kexueshi, or History of Chinese Science, has been recently published in Russian by Moscow University Press.
What is science? Did ancient China have science? This book provides a systematic answer to these fundamental questions. With a rigorous academic perspective and clear narrative style, the author conducts a comprehensive review of ancient Chinese science — vertically spanning from the age of ancient legends to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), traversing 5,000 years of civilization. Horizontally, it covers various fields such as medicine, astronomy, chemistry, agriculture, mathematics, and more.
Employing a methodical approach through chronological history, the book not only paints a holistic picture of scientific progress throughout different historical epochs but also meticulously tracks the inheritance and evolution of specific fields, shedding light on the enduring spirit of exploration and cognitive frameworks of ancient Chinese scholars toward the natural world.
For scholars, students, and enthusiasts engaged in the study of Chinese philosophy, science, history, and culture, this book provides important reference.
As planned, the book's Japanese translation is coming out later this year, and the English translation will be published in the following one to two years.
