A History of Geology and Geological Education in China (to 1949)

Abstract

References to geology are in the earliest Chinese writings. However, the literature was little disseminated-and mostly unknown to the rest of the world until recently. The purpose of the imperial examination system, which began in the Sui Dynasty (581-618), was to select government officials- and thus greatly influenced topics studied by ambitious Chinese, The natural sciences were not included, and even mathematics was eventually excluded. Therefore, education in the sciences was neglected and the study of geology was virtually ignored. It was not until late in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) that the government formulated a policy to introduce foreign science and technology into China. Modern geologic ideas were introduced with the establishment of technical schools and the translation into Chinese of works by James D. Dana and Charles Lyell during the 1870s. Early in the twentieth century, foreign geology teachers were brought to China and Chinese students were sent to foreign countries to study geology. This infusion successfully developed the modern teaching and practice of geology in China.