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Thesis ID: CBB001560524

State and Science: Scientific Innovations in Northern Song China, 960--1127 (2007)

University of Pennsylvania
Sivin, Nathan

Publication Date: 2007
Edition Details: Advisor: Sivin, Nathan
Physical Details: 205 pp.
Language: English

Outside Links

Academia.edu

Medicine Medicine and government East Asia, civilization and culture Astronomy Alchemy Science and government Song Dynasty (China, 960-1279) Medieval China

This dissertation studies how science was related to the Northern Song state in 10th- through 12th-century China. It investigates how the development of sciences differed from each other depending on their relevance to the governance of imperial state. It focuses on three Chinese sciences: astronomy, medicine and alchemy. They were related to the aims of the imperial government in different ways so that they present different pictures of development during the period. Astronomy was politically important to the imperial state because a good astronomical system indicated the legitimacy of rule and symbolized good governance. This political relevance made astronomy a state enterprise. Astronomy received sustained organizational and financial support from the Northern Song imperial government. This accounts for the many achievements during the period. Medicine experienced unprecedented development when the Northern Song rulers and government came to regard medicine as embodying benevolent governance. The Northern Song government showed remarkable activism in both production and dissemination of medical knowledge. The active involvement of scholar-officials also helped shape the development of medicine during the period. The government treated astronomy and medicine in different ways. On the one hand, astronomy was seen as a sort of secret science of unique political interest to the imperial ruler, meticulously monopolized by the imperial government. This monopoly had its negative impact on astronomy. The changes were often limited within the conventional framework. The government would not support a daring research agenda that fell outside the political needs of the imperial state. Medicine, on the other hand, was broadly encouraged in its study. The government spread medical knowledge as widely as possible, as part of the agenda of empire-building. Alchemy, however, was in stark contrast to astronomy and medicine in its relation to the state. Being regarded as an occult knowledge that belonged to the realm of self-cultivation, it hardly received any subsidy from the imperial government. This absence of regular governmental support caused alchemy to stagnate, and to shift its focus from external alchemy to internal alchemy, which was not so much affected by governmental support.

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Description The focus is on astronomy, medicine, and alchemy. Cited in Diss. Abstr. Int. A 68/11 (2008). Pub. no. AAT 3292077.

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