Heavenly Creation - Heavenly Monster

A book on industrial technology from the end of the Ming Dynasty in China. Written by Song Yingxing in 1637. With the exception of firearms, there is very little information on Western science and technology that had already been introduced, and the book is divided into 3 volumes and 18 sections on domestically-produced industrial technology. Food production, clothing, metal processing and related fields make up a large proportion of the book. The section on pottery also includes a mention of climbing kilns. The fact that one section is devoted to weapons, and that firearms in particular are the focus of the book, is thought to reflect the influence of Europe and the social situation at the end of the Ming Dynasty. The book is aimed at intellectuals, but it is also somewhat conscious of its role as a technical instruction manual, and records detailed notes that were likely obtained by witnessing the work in the field. Although there are exceptions, the book is generally permeated with the spirit of proof-testing that became prominent since the Song Dynasty. In China, few books cited this book until Ding Wenjiang praised it highly at the beginning of the Republic of China, and its influence was small, but it had a great impact on Japan during the Edo period.

[Kazuhiko Miyajima]

"The Creation of Heaven" translated and annotated by Kiyoshi Yabuuchi (1969, Heibonsha, Toyo Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)代末の産業技術書。1637年に宋応星(そうおうせい)が書いた。すでに伝来していた西洋の科学技術についての記載は、火器を除いてきわめて少なく、中国在来の産業技術が3巻18部門に分けて記載されている。食品生産関係、衣服、金属加工とその関連部門が大きな比重を占める。製陶の項には登窯(のぼりがま)の記載もある。兵器に1項をあて、とくに火器を取り上げたのは、ヨーロッパの影響と、明末の社会情勢の反映と思われる。この書は読者対象をインテリ層に置いているが、技術の指導書の役割もいくぶん意識し、現場に立ち会って得られたと思われる細かな注意を記しており、例外もあるが、全般に宋代以来顕著になった実証精神で貫かれている。中国では民国の初めに丁文江(ていぶんこう)が高く評価するまでこれを引用する書物は少なく、影響は小さかったが、江戸時代の日本に大きな影響を与えた。

［宮島一彦］

『藪内清訳注『天工開物』（1969・平凡社・東洋文庫）』

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