Ancient China
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Ancient China
Some of the great philosophers of the period were Confucius, Mencius and Lao-Tse.
The numerous Chinese discoveries and inventions in the fields of science and technology are discussed in detail in the wonderful series of books written by Joseph Needham (see details below).
Four Great Inventions of Ancient China
* Compass
* Gunpowder
* Papermaking
* Printing
(And there are thousands more!)
Things Europe Never Invented: Ancient Chinese Inventions (Pt 1)
Bomb, Book and Compass: Joseph Needham and the Great Secrets of China
Bomb, Book and Compass: Joseph Needham and the Great Secrets of China. by Simon Winchester
Amazon Price: $14.74 (as of 02/17/2012)
This a rich and glorious book about the life of Joseph Needham who until the Australian ABC Science Show late 2008 I had not heard of before. The more I heard and the more I read about him, the more fascinating the story. (To whet your appetite, listen to the podcasts of the Science Show: Google "science show joseph needham" to find the links.)
Joseph Needham wrote the multi-volume Science and Civilisation in China. Volume 1: Introductory Orientations series. A towering intellect in his own field of biological research, a Chinese graduate student came from China to study with him at Cambridge University and they fell in love. He in turn fell in love with the Chinese language and pretty much all things Chinese.
He pursued his interest as a British diplomat selected to help lift the spirits of Chinese science, and provide material assistance in the form of books and instruments, during the Japanese occupation of WW2. He performed his tasks admirably, traveling widely and seeing in motion all kinds of research and technological advances in China that surprised and intrigued him. For instance, he saw an orchard worker grafting fruit trees using a technique unknown in the West. When did that technology arise in China? Was it before it arose in the West? Yes.
His longest and most difficult trek was to a set of caves far inland where he had heard of printed books that were manufactured long before printing was invented in the West. A stunning confirmation of technological advances in China.
This is a magnificent book of a towering intellect with a sweeping take on a range of interests. Part intellectual biography. Part travelogue. But mainly a well-written history of an amazing man.
Things Europe Never Invented: Ancient Chinese Inventions (Pt 2)
Science and Civilisation in China. Volume 1: Introductory Orientations
by Joseph Neeham
Science and Civilisation in China. Volume 1: Introductory Orientations
Amazon Price: $206.46 (as of 02/17/2012)
Dr Joseph Needham's account of the Chinese achievement in science and technology will stand as one of the great works of our time. It has been acclaimed by specialists in both East and West and also by readers with wider and more general interests. The text, based on research of a high critical quality, is supported by many hundreds of illustrations and is imbued with a warm appreciation of China. Volume I is an introductory volume, in which Dr Needham prepares his readers for the study of a whole human culture. He begins by examining the structure of the Chinese language; he reviews the geography of China and the long history of its people, and discusses the scientific contacts which have occurred throughout the centuries, between Europe and East Asia.
Things Europe Never Invented: Ancient Chinese Inventions (Pt 3)
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching: A Book about the Way and the Power of the Way
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching: A Book about the Way and the Power of the Way
Amazon Price: $10.28 (as of 02/17/2012)
There are many 'translations' of Lao Tsu's words. Which is the best? Perhaps it is not measured by the literal accuracy of the translation, or the poetic artestry of the word, but by it's ability to help the reader gain the perspective that Lao Tsu envisioned as the Tao. A translation that works for one, may not yield the same result for another.
Le Guin's rendition of Lao Tzu's 'Tao te Ching' was, for me, a good addition to my understanding. I have many copies. I almost always compare one with another when I sit down to think. Some 'translations' are better than others for different passages, or moods. With more than 15 years of experience in Asian cultures, primarily Japanese, and many years of contemplating Lao Tzu's writings, I recognize that some translations rely more heavily on a broader asian perspective than others. What seems natural or obvious to one steeped in asian culture may be contradictory or even 'silly' to a westerner This doesn't mean the message is wrong, but that the wording is not suited for that reader. One interpretation alone was insufficient to help me comprehend the simple nature of the Tao.
Once I began to see my world from within the understanding of the Tao, rather than see the Tao from the outside through others' words, I found a new enjoyment in seeing how others perceive the Tao. This is why I enjoyed Ursula K. Le Guin's approach immensely. Clearly, Ms. Le Guin feels the awe and wonder of the simple way, as I am beginning to enjoy it.
Hers is not as literal or as historically steeped as some, and not as contemporary as others (Stephen Mitchell). Not a hard-hitting philosophical analysis (Wing-Tsit Chan), nor an obscure or remote work [Asian feeling] (Gai-Fu Fen/Jane English). Her words invited me to enjoy the comprehension of the simplicity of it all.
Her approach was natural, simple, straightforward. In her fresh wording, I saw an elegence in the principles, a form of beauty. Her words reminded me of how I felt when I began to understand.
Thank you, Ms. Le Guin, for your contribution to my enjoyment of the Tao.
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Chinese Art (World of Art)
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 02/17/2012)
If you, like millions of westerners, have found within yourself an intense curiosity for, and resonance with, the Orient, but have been intimidated by the breadth of the subject matter, this book is an excellent way to "get your feet wet." Tregear wrote Chinese Art for the interested reader, not for art critics. Her book is scholarly, insightful, and very engaging. She has done well to write not only about painting and sculpture, but about landscaping, architecture and textiles as well, offering the reader a truly comprehensive survey of this magnificent artistic tradition.
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