张资珙与李约瑟的科技史交谊——基于多封珍贵信件的考察

Friendship in History of Science and Technology between Zhang Zigong and Joseph Needham:Several Rare Letters

张资珙是中国现代化学与教育的奠基人,也是中国科学技术史的研究先驱。早在20世纪40年代初,他即与世界著名生物化学家李约瑟一起开启了中国科技史研究最早期的探索。英国剑桥李约瑟研究所藏有张资珙致李约瑟的多封信件,内容展现了2位化学家就中国古代化学、医学以及科学思想等领域的对话与交流的诸多片段,特别是张资珙提供的研究文献与建议,为李约瑟策划并写作《中国科学技术史》的工作给予了重要的启示和帮助。此外,2人因科技史研究而结缘,因学术而神往的历史往事,展现出了令人赞叹与感动的学者情谊。

Zhang Zigong is one of the eminent pioneers of modern chemistry and education,as well as a trailblazer in the history of science and technology in China.Dating back to the early 1940s,he and Joseph Needham have been conducting the earliest exploration in this field.Several letters from Zhang Zigong to Joseph Needham had been collected in the Needham Research Institute,which demonstrates numerous fragments of historical discussions and exchanges between the two chemists on the fields of the ancient Chinese chemistry,medicine and scientific thoughts,especially that the documents and proposals provided by Zhang has given Needham vital inspiration and assistance on conducting the works of Science and Civilisation in China.In addition,the bonding between them due to the history of science and their academic fascination reveals an admirable and touching scholarly friendship.