西方生物学的传入与中国近代生物学的萌芽

The Introduction of Western Biology and the Bud of Modern Biology in China

16世纪末,欧洲耶稣会传教士在中国传教的同时,附带传入了一些西方近代科学技术。西方生物学知识最初见于中文著作中的是《无极天主正教真传实录》,其中第5至第7章介绍了各地草木、禽兽等生物学内容。虽然传教士本身并没有带入多少生物学知识,但是这一工作却意味着中西科学技术合流的开端,它促使中国与世界生物学汇成一体。鸦片战争后,面对日益严重的民族危机,先进的知识分子产生了向西方学习的思想,同时,大批传教士纷至沓来,也夹带了一些包括生物学在内的西方近代科学知识。洋务派,奏设江南制造局,附设翻译馆,聘请西方人士大量翻译出版科技书籍。

There were rich knowledge of biology in ancient China. The western biology was introduced by missionaries until 17th century. By historical investigation, author of this paper has pointed out that anatomical physiology was introduced by medical books to which Benjamin Hobson had made great contribution, botany mainly was introduced through books translated by Li Shanlan and others, the theory of evolution and genet- ics, however, almost were introduced into this country by Chinese themselves. In the end of 1910's, Chinese scientists had also made some preliminary modern biological studies. Especially, the author has indicated that, together with the ideological trend of national awakening, introduction of the theory of evolution had exerted a great in- fluence in the Chinese history of ideas.