Science and Civilisation in China

Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 4, Physics and Physical Technology, Part 2, Mechanical Engineering Physics and Physical Technology Volume 4

By: Joseph Needham

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Hardcover | 2 January 1965

At a Glance

Hardcover
816 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
25.5 x 20.22 x 4.12

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$978.75

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As Dr Needham''s immense undertaking gathers momentum it has been found necessary to subdivide volumes into parts, each to be bound and published separately. The first part of Volume 4, already published, deals with the physical sciences; the second with the diverse applications of physics in the many branches of mechanical engineering; and the third will deal with civil and hydraulic engineering and nautical technology. With this part of Volume 4, then, we come to the application by the Chinese of physical principles in the control of forces and in the use of power; we cross the frontier separating tools from the machine. We have already noticed that the ancient Chinese concept of chhi (somewhat similar to the pneuma of the Greeks) asserted itself prominently in acoustics; but we discover here that the Chinese tendency to think pneumatically was also responsible for a whole range of brilliant technological achievements, for example, the double-acting piston-bellows, the rotary winnowing-fan, and the water-powered metallurgical blowing-machine (ancestor of the steam-engine); as well as for some extraordinary insights and predictions in aeronautics.

Industry Reviews

"[An] astonishing and enduring study...[Needham brings] depth of emotion and technical finesse to his task." Jonathan Spence, New York Review of Books "Perhaps the greatest single act of historical synthesis and intercultural communication ever attempted by one man." Laurence Picken, Cambridge University

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Science Science in General History of Science Engineering & Technology Technology in General History of Engineering & Technology Medicine Medicine in General History of Medicine History Regional & National History

Asian History

List of illustrations
List of tables
List of abbreviations
Acknowledgements
Author-s note
Mechanical engineering
Bibliographies
General index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Science and Civilisation in China