Chapter 67 Section 18 Xu Shou and Hua Hengfang

Xu Shou (AD 1812-1884), courtesy name Xuecun, nickname Shengyuan, was born in Wuxi, Jiangsu.He studied hard since he was a child, and he also passed the imperial examination in his youth, and participated in the Tongsheng Examination, but failed to achieve fame.Later, he realized that stereotyped articles were "useless and practical", so he devoted himself to scientific research by "specializing in the study of studying things to gain knowledge".He is familiar with the ancient Chinese book of astronomy and natural history and scientific works translated by the Jesuits in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.In order to seek new knowledge, he went to Shanghai with fellow countryman Hua Hengfang in 1857.When he was in Shanghai, he saw the "New Edition of Natural History" translated and published in 1855.This is a book introducing the most basic knowledge of natural sciences such as modern western physics and chemistry. The description of chemistry and its experimental methods in it aroused his great interest and prompted him to embark on the path of chemical research.After that, he successively worked in Anqing Ordnance Institute and Shanghai Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, and made important contributions to China's modern science and technology.

At the Anqing Ordnance Institute, he presided over the development of China's first steam-powered ship "Huanghu".This is a wooden paddle steamer built in 1863, with a load of 25 tons and a speed of more than 20 miles per hour. All parts from the steam engine to the ship are made in China. System, do not fake Westerners" ("Drafts of Qing History Biography of Xu Shou").Those who participated in this research work included Hua Hengfang, Xu Shou's second son Xu Jianyin and others. In 1867, after Xu Shou and his son went to the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, they successively developed "Tianji" (later renamed "Huiji"), "Caojiang", "Chehai", "Weijing", "Haian" and "Yuyuan". , "Chengqing" and other ships.During this period, he also co-translated "The Beginning of the Steam Engine [Ren Blade]" together with the missionary Wei Lie Yali. It is the first book in China to systematically introduce the steam engine.

In the process of developing the ship, Xu Shou deeply realized that in order to introduce advanced foreign science and technology, it is necessary to systematically introduce some important foreign scientific and technological works.Under his initiative and planning, Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau set up a translation school dedicated to the translation of scientific and technological works.From 1867 to 1884, dictated by missionaries, he translated more than 20 books, nine monographs, and one proofreading book.Among them, six chemical works including "Chemical Jianyuan" systematically introduced the knowledge of modern inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry and industrial chemistry, and laid the foundation for the emergence and development of modern Chinese chemistry and chemical industry.In translation, he also created the method of using single characters to represent the names of elements and adding radicals to make them unique, and named elements with the first or second sounds of Western languages.This method has been used to this day, and 44 of the 64 elemental Chinese names he translated are still in use today.At the same time, he also founded "Gezhi Academy", one of the earliest science education institutions in China, and the earliest scientific journal "Gezhi Compilation".

In addition, Xu Shou also made contributions in chemical industry, machinery, mining, medicine, military industry and so on.His second son, Xu Jianyin, inherited his father's career and has been active in the cause of modern Chinese science and technology. Hua Hengfang (1833-1902 A.D.), courtesy name Wan [wanwan] Xiang, nickname Ruoting, was born in Wuxi.He was fond of mathematics when he was a teenager, and later made friends with Xu Shou and participated in many activities hosted by Xu Shou.After Xu Shou's death, he taught in schools in Tianjin, Wuchang, and Wuxi, and became a master of mathematics education in the late Qing Dynasty.

Hua Hengfang has a deep attainment in mathematics, and has made deep researches on the methods of opening squares, cumulative calculations, and counting roots, and has made some achievements.He is the author of "Xingsuxuan Calculation Draft", "Algorithm Instructions" and "Elementary Western Calculation". At the same time, Hua Hengfang also made outstanding contributions in translation.His translation of "Gold and Stone Identification" introduced modern mineralogy and crystal physics knowledge into China for the first time; Both Lyell's theory of uniform change in geological evolution and Darwin's theory of biological evolution discussed in the book were introduced to China for the first time, and had a positive and profound impact on the Chinese ideological circle; Casuist Mathematics is the first Chinese book on A translation of probability theory.