Images of Science in Traditional Chinese Culture

Abstract

Science has changing images in Chinese culture. Images of science and Chinese culture influence each other while they change. During some periods, the change of Chinese culture together with the change of images of science is more dramatic than during other periods. Although trying to find a clear-cut line always proves to be futile, for the purpose of examining the change of images of science, Chinese cultural history can be roughly divided into two periods - before and after the systematic introduction of ‘Western science’. The Opium War in the early 1840 s is often seen as the beginning of China’s modern history. After the Opium war, Chinese society started to change fundamentally due to increasing Western influences. After the Opium War, Western science started to be introduced to China in a systematic way. The terms ancient China or ancient times are used to address the period before the Opium War. This chapter deals with the period during which Chinese culture developed comparatively free from the influence of the West.