Ding Wenjiang

Chinese geologist. Born in Jiangsu Province. Studied at Glasgow University in the UK and in Germany before returning to China in 1911. In 1916, he was appointed the first director of the Geological Survey of China, which was established in Beijing, but six years later he resigned from his position to pursue a career in politics. In 1929, he returned to his research in geology, was appointed professor at Peking University, and held important posts such as president of the Chinese Geological Society and secretary-general of the Academia Sinica. He was friends with the thinker Hu Shi, participated in the editing of ideological commentary magazines such as Doryo Weekly and Independent Review, and published his own papers. He is known for his controversy over the establishment of learning and science. One of his achievements in the history of science is a paper introducing Song Yingxing's "The Creation of Things by Heaven" from the Ming Dynasty.

[Masae Omori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国の地質学者。江蘇(こうそ)省の生まれ。イギリスのグラスゴー大学やドイツに留学、1911年に帰国した。1916年に北京(ペキン)に設立された地質調査所の初代所長に任命されたが、6年後には所長を辞して政界で活躍した。1929年にはふたたび地質学の研究に戻り、北京大学の教授に任命され、中国地質学会会長や中央研究院総秘書長などの要職に就任した。思想家の胡適(こてき)と親交があり、『努力週報』や『独立評論』などの思想評論誌の編集に参加し、自らも論文を公表し、「立学与科学」の論争で知られる。科学史の業績として、明(みん)の宋(そう)応星の『天工開物』を紹介した論文がある。

［大森昌衛］

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