6. Confucian Scholars and Specialized Scientific and Technical Knowledge in Traditional China, 1000-1700

Abstract

There were various elements in the historical background of traditional China that had different effects on the scholars' attitudes toward specialized knowledge. This chapter begins by analyzing these elements: the classical ideas and phrases that were influential in forming scholars' attitudes toward specialized subjects; and the practical reasons that scholars could not shy away from them. Then it looks at the actual examples showing the varying relationships between scholars and specialized subjects, and tries to provide an overview of the relationship between Confucian scholars and specialized scientific and technical knowledge in China roughly between 1000 and 1700. The chapter ends with a comparative look at the situation in the West, where there were tendencies towards both separation and convergence between general scholars and specialized scientific and technical knowledge. It provides a global picture with a minimum of detail.Keywords: confucian scholars; specialized scientific knowledge; technical knowledge; traditional China