About the Book
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 65. Chapters: Charles K. Kao, Zhang Heng, Hu Jintao, Shen Kuo, Su Song, Da-Wen Sun, Yi Xing, Hsue-Chu Tsien, Ma Jun, Xinyu Zhang, Li Bing, Zhang Sixun, Tung Hua Lin, Jeme Tien Yow, Lu Ban, Shi Yuzhu, Mao Yisheng, Li Hsi-mou, M. T. Cheng, Hu Haichang, Wang Guosong, Li Shouheng, Lee Iu-cheung, Liang Lingzan, Ximen Bao, Han Zhenxiang, Hu Qili, Jin-Shan Wang, Cai Xiang, Yang Guanghua, Sunshu Ao, Wang Tianpu, Ni Weidou, Yang Wei, Shao Xianghua, Zhang Yulin, Li Guohao, Ye Peijian, Zhang Guangdou, Zhu Zhaoxiang, Li Kui, Zhang Libin, Pan Jiazheng, Lui Ming Wah, Weng Shilie, Zheng Guo, Pan Yunhe, Ge Honglin, Chia J. Chu, Liu Yuanzhang, Zhu Wuhua, Sun Jinliang, Jiamo Fu, Zhou Guozhi, Tang Zhongming, Song Wencong. Excerpt: Shen Kuo or Shen Gua (Chinese: pinyin: Sh n Kuo; Wade-Giles: Shen K'uo) (1031-1095), style name Cunzhong ( ) and pseudonym Mengqi (now usually given as Mengxi) Weng ( ), was a polymathic Chinese scientist and statesman of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Excelling in many fields of study and statecraft, he was a mathematician, astronomer, meteorologist, geologist, zoologist, botanist, pharmacologist, agronomist, archaeologist, ethnographer, cartographer, encyclopedist, general, diplomat, hydraulic engineer, inventor, academy chancellor, finance minister, governmental state inspector, poet, and musician. He was the head official for the Bureau of Astronomy in the Song court, as well as an Assistant Minister of Imperial Hospitality. At court his political allegiance was to the Reformist faction known as the New Policies Group, headed by Chancellor Wang Anshi (1021-1086). In his Dream Pool Essays (; Mengxi Bitan) of 1088, Shen was the first to describe the magnetic needle compass, which would be used for navigation (first described in Europe by Alexander Neckam in 1187). Shen discovered the concept of true north in terms of...
