Ancient Chemistry (Part II)

Name: Ancient Chemistry (Part II)
ISBN: 9787807119920

Xing Chunru / 李穆南 / Jie Baofeng / 刘心莲Liaohai Publishing House · ChinaFeb 2017

3.1

Word count: 64K words
Chapters: 13
ISBN: 9787807119920

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Summary

The Chinese nation is the oldest people in the world, and Chinese civilization is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. China has a recorded history of nearly 5,000 years; from 841 BCE onward, its documented chronicles have never been interrupted, spanning nearly 3,000 years—something unparalleled in the long course of human history. Among the four great ancient civilizations of the world, only China's history has been transmitted in an orderly and unbroken sequence, never interrupted.

Editor's review

Ancient Chemistry (Volume II), a volume in the "Chinese History Encyclopedia" series edited by Xing Chunru, continues the series' rigorous and solid style of academic popularization. The book focuses on the evolution of chemical crafts and technological achievements in ancient China. Its core reading value lies in the fact that it is not a simple listing of the history of chemistry but places ancient chemistry within a broad socioeconomic and cultural context. It describes in detail the practical wisdom in ceramics, metallurgy, papermaking, gunpowder, brewing, dyeing, medicine, and alchemy, revealing the social needs and intellectual concepts that drove technological innovation. For example, its analysis of "alchemy" not only addresses its experimental methods as a precursor of modern chemistry but also explores in depth its complex connections with ancient philosophy and religious belief. This interdisciplinary perspective enables the book to transcend a mere history of technology and become a key to understanding the interaction between the material and spiritual worlds of ancient China.

From a professional editorial perspective, the book is well documented and clearly structured, and its language strives to be accessible while maintaining academic rigor, making it suitable as an introductory work for non-specialist readers. It should be noted, however, that because the book was completed relatively early (2007), some archaeological discoveries and scholarly views may not include the latest research; readers may consult recent archaeological reports and studies in the history of science and technology for reference. Overall, this is a reliable work that helps readers systematically build a framework for understanding ancient Chinese science and technology, and it is especially good at showing the extraordinary creativity of skilled craftsmen buried in the dust of history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Non-specialist readers interested in the history of ancient Chinese science and technology and material culture
Enthusiasts who wish to understand the historical origins of traditional crafts such as ceramics, metallurgy, and gunpowder
Students in middle school or university who need to expand their background knowledge of the history of science and technology
Professionals in cultural communication or cultural and creative design who need inspiration from history

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking cutting-edge chemical theory or updates in modern chemical knowledge
Professional historians who require a very high level of academic depth and whose purpose is research based on primary sources

Reading tips

It is recommended to read this together with Ancient Chemistry (Volume I) for a complete line of knowledge
While reading, consult maps or historical chronologies to understand technological development within specific temporal and spatial contexts
For specific crafts mentioned in the book (such as bronze casting), further consult relevant documentaries or museum objects to aid understanding

About the publisher

Liaohai Publishing House China · Founded in 1996

Liaohai Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for textbooks and the collation of ancient works. Its publishing scope covers state-approved textbooks, local curriculum materials, supplementary educational books, and national and local ancient-text compilation projects, while also extending into humanities fields such as Eastern philosophy. Its catalog contains about 4,694 titles, with representative works including the multi-volume Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), and its author resources include classic writers and works such as Sima Qian and Confucius. Grounded in educational publishing and the transmission of traditional culture, the press maintains sustained investment in ancient-text collation, forming a publishing profile that balances textbooks and scholarship. Due to limited public information, its more specific publishing directions and features require further supplementation.

编写说明
二、秦汉—宋元化学
冶铁炼钢技术的发展
陶瓷技术的重要突破
造纸术的发明和革新
铜的冶炼技术
“南青北白”的唐代瓷艺
名窑林立的宋代瓷艺
黄白术
三、明清化学
古代瓷艺的鼎盛时期
本草学的总汇
明代火药和火药武器

FAQ

Does this book have a high Douban rating? Is the content reliable?

A search shows that the book has no widespread reader rating record on public platforms such as Douban. As part of the "Chinese History Encyclopedia" series, its content was organized and compiled by a professional editorial team and is mainly based on generally accepted historical facts and research findings. It is foundational and reliable and suitable as an introductory popular work.

What is the background of the author, Xing Chunru?

Xing Chunru is the chief editor of this series. Public information shows that he has long been engaged in the compilation and publication of books on literature and history and has presided over or participated in the compilation of several large encyclopedic and historical works, with extensive experience in knowledge popularization. This book is a compilation integrating research findings in relevant fields.

How is this book different from the history of chemistry taught in middle school chemistry textbooks?

The difference is significant. The history of chemistry in middle school textbooks is mostly presented as outlines and conclusions in service of theoretical teaching. This book focuses more on the level of "history of crafts and technology"; its content is more specific and richer, showing in detail the operational details, development processes, social applications, and cultural connotations of various technologies, and its perspective is broader and more three-dimensional.

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About the author

Xing Chunru Author · China

Xing Chunru is a Chinese full-time book editor about whom publicly available information is limited. He has long compiled popular series for institutions such as Liaohai Publishing House. His output is considerable, with more than 700 titles held in the collection, covering fields such as art history, science and military affairs, politics and history, language and writing, and film and television. Representative works include Chinese Martial Arts (Part II), A History of Chinese Art, A History of Chinese Science and Technology, A Course in the Art of Language, Famous Paintings and Masterpieces, and the series A Grand Garden of Chinese Cultural Knowledge. These books present specialized knowledge in an accessible style, emphasizing systematic organization and readability, and are intended for young readers and general audiences, helping to popularize and guide understanding of traditional culture, art appreciation, and language expression.

李穆南 Author

Li Munan: publicly available information is limited, and details of his life, such as nationality and dates of birth and death, are not clearly recorded. Nevertheless, the 229 works held in the library indicate a prolific compiler with wide-ranging interests. His works focus mainly on Chinese culture and history, and representative titles include Chinese Martial Arts (Volume Two), The Grand Compendium of Chinese Cultural Knowledge: Science and Military Volume, The Grand Compendium of Chinese Cultural Knowledge: Politics and History Volume, The History of Ancient Chinese Literature, The History of Contemporary Chinese Literature, Poems of Successive Dynasties, and Residential Architecture and Folk Customs (Volume One). The common categories cover culture, popular science, general biography, and history readers, showing that his writing centers on knowledge popularization and cultural dissemination. His subjects span literary history, folk customs, military science, and political history, and are mostly aimed at general readers. Overall, Li Munan's body of work is extensive and emphasizes the systematic organization of traditional Chinese culture and historical knowledge, giving him a certain accumulated presence and influence in the compilation of popular cultural reading materials.

Jie Baofeng Author · Chinese · 1976

Jie Baofeng, born in 1976 and a native of Qianguo, Jilin, is of Han ethnicity and serves as an assistant researcher. He is currently director of the Jilin Provincial Local Chronicles Museum, a member of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial CPPCC, and vice chair of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and has long been engaged in compiling local chronicles. He has planned and published more than ninety chronicles and gazetteers, including the Illustrated Gazetteer of the Colonial Governing Institutions of the Puppet State of Manchukuo, and has served as chief editor of numerous history and popular science series, gaining extensive experience in document organization and knowledge dissemination. His works span a wide range of subjects, including folk literature, inspirational growth, and social fiction, with 970 titles held in the collection. These include multivolume editions of traditional classics such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas and The Complete Works of Guiguzi, as well as accessible popular readings, reflecting an editorial approach that balances scholarship with readability.

刘心莲 Author

Liu Xinlian is a Chinese compiler credited with a considerable number of titles, though public information about her is limited, and her nationality, dates of birth and death, and personal background are not clearly recorded. Judging from the 182 works held in the collection, her writing focuses mainly on cultural popularization and general knowledge books, covering such subjects as Chinese martial arts, political history, science and military affairs, emperors and eunuchs of successive dynasties, imperial examination top scholars, and myths and legends. The common categories include culture, popular science, history readings, folk literature, and general biography. Representative works include Chinese Martial Arts (Volume II), The Grand View of Chinese Culture: Political and Historical Volume, The Grand View of Chinese Culture: Science and Military Volume, Emperors of Successive Dynasties, and Myths and Legends. Overall, her editorial style leans toward accessible introductions for general readers, emphasizing systematic organization and readability, making it suitable for ordinary readers seeking to understand traditional culture and historical knowledge.