The Exploitation of the Works of Nature

Name: The Exploitation of the Works of Nature
ISBN: 9787531758105

Song Yingxing / 李经邦Northern Literature and Art Publishing House (Beifang Wenyi Chubanshe) · ChinaMar 2023

5.0

Word count: 166K words
Chapters: 20
ISBN: 9787531758105

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Summary

This comprehensive and systematic work records the production techniques and experience of agriculture and handicrafts in ancient China, including the cultivation of grains, cotton and ramie, sericulture and silk reeling, fuels, food processing, salt making and sugar refining; the manufacture of bricks and tiles, ceramics, iron and steel implements, the building of boats and carts, the quarrying and smelting of lime, coal, stone and sulfur, oil pressing, candle making and papermaking; and the mining and smelting of metals, the making of weapons, gunpowder, vermilion ink, pigments and medicinal ferments, as well as the quarrying and carving of pearls and jade. It records in great detail the varieties, quantities and places of origin of raw materials, the structure of tools, and the operational processes of production and processing. Through field observation and research, the author summarizes the achievements of ancient production technology, giving the work important scientific value.

Editor's review

Written in 1637 by the Ming dynasty scientist Song Yingxing, Tiangong Kaiwu is a comprehensive scientific and technological work hailed as "China's 17th-century encyclopedia of crafts." The book systematically records the production techniques and experience of agriculture and handicrafts before the mid-Ming period, covering thirty categories including grain cultivation, textile dyeing, salt and sugar making, ceramics and casting, boat and cart building, and weapon making, and it is accompanied by numerous finely detailed illustrations. It is not only a detailed technical manual but also embodies a simple philosophical idea of harmony between "heavenly craftsmanship" (the forces of nature) and "opening things" (human creation). Song Yingxing, though trained for the civil examinations, turned his attention to the common artisans; his pragmatic spirit and scientific attitude were especially precious in an era that prized eight-legged essays. On the basis of preserving the original ancient text, the Northern Literature and Art Publishing House edition provides modern Chinese collation, annotation and interpretation, making it easier for contemporary readers to understand. Reading this book not only offers a glimpse of the brilliant achievements of ancient Chinese science and technology and conveys the wisdom of our forebears in adapting to local conditions, but also prompts reflection on the relationship between technological development, humanity and nature; it is of profound value for understanding the technological tradition and modes of thought of Chinese civilization.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of science and technology and craft culture in ancient China
Rational thinkers who enjoy exploring how things work and value practical knowledge
People engaged in design, engineering or traditional crafts who seek inspiration and historical reference
Students and teachers who wish to broaden their knowledge and understand the material and cultural foundations of Chinese civilization

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking purely literary narrative or plot-driven stories
Readers expecting a directly applicable modern technical tutorial or practical guide

Reading tips

Read alongside relevant object images or museum exhibit materials keyed to each chapter's theme to enhance intuitive understanding
Need not be read linearly; choose specific fields of interest (such as "Garments" or "Ceramics") for deeper study
While reading, pay attention to the illustrated style of exposition and the observational methods and systematic thinking behind the text

About the publisher

Northern Literature and Art Publishing House (Beifang Wenyi Chubanshe) China · Founded in 1961

Northern Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on contemporary and modern literary and artistic works, literary theory, and translations of foreign literature, while also covering categories such as history, popular science, Eastern philosophy, and world classics. Its collection includes 737 titles, with representative publications ranging from traditional Chinese classics such as Records of the Grand Historian, The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, and The Analects to foreign literary works including the complete classic plays of Shakespeare, Balzac's Old Goriot and Eugénie Grandet (in celebrated translations by Fu Lei), and The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Its author resources span classical figures such as Sima Qian, Song Yingxing, and Confucius, foreign writers such as Shakespeare and Balzac, and translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Fu Lei. The press combines the transmission of classics with an orientation toward general reading, developing a distinctive profile in both the editing of traditional texts and the translation of foreign literature. Public information is limited, so the above emphasizes the publishing profile reflected in the books held in the collection.

版权信息
天工开物序
乃粒
乃服
彰施
粹精
作咸
甘嗜
陶埏
冶铸
舟车
锤锻
燔石
膏液
杀青
五金
佳兵
丹青
曲糵
珠玉

FAQ

Does Tiangong Kaiwu still have practical reference value today?

Yes. Although most of the specific techniques have been surpassed by modern science and technology, its systematic recording of production logic, use of materials, principles of tools and wisdom of coordinating humanity with nature still offer a historical perspective and intellectual inspiration for innovation, especially in fields such as sustainable design and the revival of traditional crafts.

Is the content of this book difficult to understand?

The original text is in classical Chinese, but the modern annotated edition provides vernacular translation and notes. The content focuses on describing concrete craft processes in plain language; as long as one has basic patience for technical descriptions, the threshold for understanding is not high.

What are the features of the Northern Literature and Art Publishing House edition compared with other editions?

While respecting the original work, this edition emphasizes cultural accessibility and readability and usually includes an introduction, detailed notes and interpretations relating the content to modern life, making it suitable as an introductory reader for the general public to understand this classic.

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About the author

Song Yingxing Author · Chinese · 1587–1666

Song Yingxing (1587–c. 1666), courtesy name Changgeng, was a native of Fengxin, Jiangxi, and a scientist and thinker of the Ming dynasty. After failing the metropolitan examination five times, he turned to practical learning and, while serving as an instructor in Fenyi, completed Tiangong Kaiwu (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature), a systematic record of agricultural and handicraft techniques hailed as "China's seventeenth-century technological encyclopedia"; Joseph Needham called him "the Chinese Diderot." The library holds 12 of his works, including several editions of Tiangong Kaiwu (public-domain, annotated, translated, and illustrated versions) as well as related compilations from the Siku Quanshu and the Chinese ancient material culture series. His writing is grounded in field observation and practical technology, clearly classified and concretely detailed, covering crop cultivation, textiles, metallurgy, papermaking, and weaponry, with data and operating procedures that reflect an empirical and people-oriented approach. His work has had a profound influence on later studies of the history of science and technology and of material culture.

李经邦 Author

Li Jingbang — public information about this author is limited, and his life and background still await further verification. Judging from the works held in the library, the books he has compiled or edited span several fields, including popular science, classical poetry, and prose miscellanies, indicating a broad interest in reading and compilation. His representative works include classics such as Tiangong Kaiwu (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature) and Renjian Cihua (Poetic Remarks in the Human World), as well as sets of classics of Chinese national learning aimed at general readers, suggesting that his work leans toward the collation and dissemination of traditional texts. Such compilations tend to emphasize the accessibility and readability of the selected editions, making it easier for beginners to approach the original works. Owing to a lack of primary biographical materials, it is currently difficult to describe his personal experience or academic lineage in detail; only a preliminary observation of his editorial orientation can be offered: he seems to pay closer attention to traditional texts that combine knowledge with literary quality, continuing their value for popular reading.