晚清汇编丛书对力学知识的传播

Dissemination of the mechanical knowledge in compilatory series in the late Qing Dynasty

目的探讨3种汇编丛书《西学通考》,《续西学大成》,《时务通考》传播的力学知识,为理解晚清力学知识传播与接受的程度提供实证依据。方法原始文献分析法。结果 3种丛书不同程度地传播了西方力学知识。在知识内容方面,机械知识传播最广泛、完整。文本方面,《重学浅说》传播最广。知识体系的传播欠缺。结论 3种丛书中《时务通考》传播的知识难度最大,知识较为完整,且自成体系。但是3种丛书传播的知识都只是概念层面,基本原理及其应用涉及得非常少,特别是原理与应用之间的关系少有体现。这说明晚清知识分子对力学的理解与接受主要在基本的知识层面,力学的理论体系还没有建立起来。

Aim In order to provide positive evidence for understanding the degree of dissemination of the mechan- ics knowledge in the late Qing Dynasty, this article discusses the situation that the mechanics knowledge was trans- mitted in three compilatory series Xixue Tongkao（ General Surveys of Western Science）, Xu Xixue Dacheng （Col- lected Edition of Western Science Continued）, Shiwu Tongkao （ General Surveys of Current Affairs）. Methods The original textual analysis method. Results The dissemination of machinery knowledge is the most extensive and integrated; the text of Popular Treatise on Mechanics is the most popular. But the knowledge system in three kinds of series is insufficient. Conclusion The knowledge in Shiwu Tongkao is more difficult, more extensive and more integrated than others. But the knowledge in three series is just on the level of conception instead of mechanics the- ory and its application, especially the relation between theory and its application is not reflected. It indicates that mechanics understood by the scholars of the late Qing Dynasty was merely on the level of knowledge, and its theory system was not established yet.