• DOI:10.1086/349663
• Corpus ID: 144136313

China's Opposition to Western Science during Late Ming and Early Ch'ing

@article{Wong1963ChinasOT,
  title={China's Opposition to Western Science during Late Ming and Early Ch'ing},
  author={George H. C. Wong},
  journal={Isis},
  year={1963},
  volume={54},
  pages={29 - 49}
}

• George H. C. Wong
• Published 1 March 1963
• Education
• Isis

discussions on human nature instead of an practical knowledge, this subject began to become weak.... Consequently, Western [mathematics] came to take its place. . . . Although it is permissible to say that Ming mathematicians were not like the Westerners, it cannot be said that ancient people were all unlike the Westerners [regarding mathematics]. ... If scholars would only examine systematically one by one the works on mathematics handed down through the last two thousand years, then they would come to realize the refinement and skill of the Chinese methods which, in comparison, are superior to those of the Westerners. They do not read ancient texts and hence erroneously say that the Western methods are superior to those of the Chinese. Accordingly, they only know of the Western ways; how would they know of the so-called ancient [Chinese] methods? 57 3. OPPOSITION TO WESTERN TECHNOLOGY--THE DECISIVE FACTORS Due to military necessity and the fascination with certain Western objects, such as alarm-clocks, harpsichords, telescopes and eyeglasses, a movement arose which led to the manufacture of firearms and other articles using Western models. Scientific treatises were also compiled.58 Yet, at the same time, another hidden movement developed, which aimed to free Chinese society from the possibility of complete Western technological domination. In this action the Chinese origin of Western armament and technology