Science of Ancient China was applied in nature. Mathematics has made great strides. In the II century. BC. a treatise "Mathematics in nine books" was compiled - a kind of guide for surveyors, astronomers, officials, etc. In addition to purely scientific knowledge, the book also presented everyday information: prices for various goods, indicators of agricultural crop yields, etc. Significant achievements of the ancient Chinese in the field of astronomy are associated with the development of mathematics. The solar-lunar calendar of the ancient Chinese was adapted to the needs of agricultural production.
The Chinese improved the plow, created a mechanical engine that uses the power of falling water (water-lifting pump). IN early writings contained descriptions of bed crops, a system of variable fields and rotation of crops, various methods of fertilizing the soil and pre-sowing impregnation of seeds were given, there were special guidelines for irrigation and melioration. The pinnacle of ancient Chinese scientific knowledge in the field of biology was the cultivation of silkworms and the creation of sericulture technology.
Medicine has developed significantly. Ancient Chinese doctors in the IV-III centuries. BC. began to use acupuncture and moxibustion, developed a guide to dietetics and therapeutic exercises, compiled a collection of various recipes, which contained 280 prescriptions for the treatment of 52 diseases. Among the recommended remedies, along with medicines, some magic tricks are mentioned. However, in later writings, magical methods of treatment are not found. By the 3rd century BC. the use of local anesthesia by the famous doctor Hua Tuo for abdominal operations.
The achievements and discoveries of ancient China far outstripped the scientific thought of the West. Many researchers believe that the key to such success is the special view of its inhabitants on nature. The scientific thought of the East was looking for a harmonious synthesis of the activity of man and nature, which was expressed in a special, highly moral perception of the surrounding world.
China has priority in many technical discoveries and inventions, improvement of technical processes. For example, the technology of smelting copper ore, non-ferrous metal ores (obtaining alloys - for example, bronze) has reached a high level. Already in the IV century. BC. the Chinese made special furnaces for smelting iron ore and were able to produce cast iron; they approached the smelting of steel earlier than other peoples of the world. Shipbuilding has reached a high level: the Chinese rightfully belong to the most developed maritime peoples of antiquity; they sailed their ships in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Considerable attention was paid in China to the construction of an irrigation system. An outstanding hydraulic structure is the Great Chinese Canal, built in the Qin era (III-II centuries BC). This canal reached 32 kilometers and connected the Huang He and Yangtze rivers. Thanks to him, year-round navigation was carried out along inland waterways with a total length of more than 2000 kilometers.
The achievements of the ancient Chinese in architecture are evidence of advanced construction techniques. The Great Wall of China was built in the 3rd century. BC. on the site of ancient fortifications that existed from the 5th century BC. BC. The wall was made of clay mixed with wicker and faced with stone. During its construction, 300,000 people (convicts and soldiers) worked simultaneously. In 10 years, 750 kilometers of the wall were built. In the future, its length exceeded 4000 kilometers. The Great Wall of China was 8 meters high and 10 meters wide. Towers rose every 100 meters and there were passages with gates. The wall was supposed to protect against barbarian nomads, hostile spirits, and also from the desert (steppe) approaching the cultivated lands of China. She demonstrated the greatness of the Chinese empire. In addition, the wall served as a unique communication system connecting the coastal provinces of China with Tibet. State mail (imperial decrees) was delivered through it, troops were transferred.
A feature of Chinese construction technology was the frame method of buildings: pillars were erected, or columns that formed the base, longitudinal beams were placed on them, and then a gable roof was installed. In the IV century. BC. a bracket was invented that made it possible to make roofs with curved corners: this was how a new type of architectural structure was created - the pagoda. The roof of the pagoda created an ideal air exchange in the dwelling, and also provided the best drainage of rainwater. Road construction is an important indicator of the development of Chinese civilization. During the Qin era, 8,000 kilometers of roads were built. Most of them led to the capital, which was considered the mystical center of the country. The miracle of ancient Chinese engineering was the use of oil and natural gas. Wooden tanks were built to store hydrocarbon raw materials, bamboo gas pipelines were made. There were gas lamps in the cities. Gas heating of dwellings was used. No less surprising is the familiarity of the ancient Chinese with pyrotechnics, various explosive and powder mixtures that were used to make fireworks. Pyrotechnics were used even more widely in ritual practice, in sacred ceremonies, sacrifices, etc.
Technical sciences in ancient China reached unprecedented heights, back in the 1st century BC, the Chinese knew how to process iron, had knowledge in the technology of smelting metals and copper, obtained an alloy from bronze, and earlier than other peoples of the world approached the processing and smelting of steel. And from the 4th century BC, they began to make special furnaces for remelting iron ore and received cast iron.
Ancient Chinese bronze cannot be confused with the products of other nations, due to the fact that it was very unusual in its shape, size and patterns. From bronze, the ancient Chinese made massive and heavy vessels, which were intended for sacrifice to the spirits of nature and ancestors. The Chinese skillfully decorated these vessels with geometric ornaments, over which they then applied bas-relief images of a dragon, a ram, a bird, a snake, and a bull. It happened that the vessels themselves took the form of birds and animals protecting people, for example, an owl, a tapir or a tiger. Over time, with the creation of books and the development of writing, the ritual and magical significance of bronze products began to become a thing of the past and then vessels began to be made of clay, and then porcelain was invented.
Masterful skill with bronze, ore, metals and clay contributed to construction and shipbuilding. The Chinese have reached a very high level in shipbuilding, and thus we can safely say that they rightfully own the title of the most developed maritime people of antiquity. Vasiliev L.S. History of China: Textbook. - M.: Onyx, 2007
In ancient China, special importance was attached to the construction of an irrigation system. The most outstanding hydraulic structure is the Great Chinese Canal, which has been under construction for two thousand years and is still in operation, being the most important inland water artery of the Chinese People's Republic to this day. This canal reaches a length of 32 kilometers and connects the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. With the help of it, navigation was carried out along the inland waterways of China all year round.
The Chinese reached impressive heights in architecture, which is a consequence of highly developed construction technology. It certainly refers to the Great Wall of China. Its construction began in the 3rd century BC. during the reign of Emperor Shi Huangdi. It amazes everyone and everyone with its scale and grandeur. knowledge of technology china
The wall was built to protect against the attacks of the Mongols nomads from the north, and also, apparently, as a symbol of the greatness and power of the emperor. Stone slabs were used for its construction. They were laid tightly to each other in layers of compressed earth. Similar stone structures were often erected in the East, where stone was not available, a large mound was erected. Later, parts of the Wall were faced with stone and brick. The wall stretches for 6700 km., 5.5 meters wide, which made it possible to create ranks of five people. There are about a hundred crossings and more than 10,000 military and observation towers along the entire wall.
The whole architecture of China is interesting and unusual. For example, already from the first century BC, the Chinese built two-, three-, and more storey buildings with multi-tiered roofs. Buildings were built on special platforms; they were built from beams and posts; clay walls were erected, and from the 2nd century BC, the walls were built of brick.
Decorative discs with various wishes for wealth and happiness adorned the tiled roofs of Chinese houses. Palace buildings were the highest. They were scattered throughout the city, but were connected by hanging galleries and passages. Palaces were built of red brick, and administrative buildings were already built of yellow brick.
The features of Chinese construction technology include the frame method: columns, or pillars, were erected to create a frame; longitudinal beams were installed on them, and a gable roof was already being built on them.
In the 4th century BC, a bracket was invented, thanks to which roofs began to be made with curved corners. This feature of Chinese construction has found its application in a new type of architectural structure - the pagoda. The roof of the pagoda provided a wonderful drainage of rainwater and created an effective air exchange in the room.
Another technique of ancient China was the use of natural gas and oil. Drilling work was carried out to search for and produce gas using a drill with a cast-iron head. The gas was used to heat houses. Wooden tanks were built to store hydrocarbon raw materials, and bamboo gas pipelines and gas lamps were also created. In addition, already in those days, the Chinese mined coal and built coal mines that reached a depth of fifty meters. Coal was used in workshops and forges.
It is impossible not to mention that the discovery of gunpowder belongs to the ancient Chinese. The discovery of gunpowder is one of the most important achievements of mankind. His discovery is comparable to the creation of such things as ink, compass, paper, silk. His appearance contributed to the development of many areas of human knowledge, despite the problems and troubles that he brought to people. It is used in the military, ballistics, mining, industry, natural sciences, blacksmithing, chemistry, mechanical engineering and rocket technology. Inventions of Ancient China [Electronic resource] // Access address: http://china.web-3.ru/chigeninfo/chiculture/?act=full&id_article=2331
The Chinese discovered gunpowder in the 7th century, but began to use it as a remedy. And only then they noticed that this substance burns very well. It began to be used for explosive and incendiary projectiles, which were called "ho pao" (burning ball). It was set on fire and thrown using special throwing machines.
The Chinese invented fireworks. They filled a bamboo pipe with gunpowder, lit it - and a fiery arc lit up the sky. The Chinese were familiar with many of the powder and explosive mixtures they used for fireworks. Pyrotechnics were also used in various rituals, sacrifices, sacred ceremonies, and so on.
Mathematics has been developing in China since ancient times. It is known that in the 2nd century BC a treatise was written called "Mathematics in nine books." This is something like a universal guide for officials, astronomers, land surveyors, and so on. In the book, in addition to pure scientific knowledge, prices for various goods, yield indicators, and so on were written.
By 2000 BC, the mathematicians of ancient China could solve equations, linear equations and systems of equations, as well as equations of the second degree. They knew irrational and negative numbers. There could be no abbreviations in the algebra of ancient China, since in Chinese writing each sign has its own meaning. At the end of the thirteenth century, Chinese mathematicians knew the law of obtaining binomial coefficients, known as "Pascal's triangle." Two hundred and fifty years later, this law was discovered in Europe.
Such a science as astronomy is continuously connected with the development of mathematics. The astronomers of ancient China knew exactly the length of the year - 365 days and created a calendar.
Already from the 12th century BC, the first observatories in China began to be built. Even earlier, Chinese astronomers began to record lunar eclipses, flying comets, which they called "broom stars", as well as new stars and meteor showers.
Another achievement of ancient Chinese astronomy is the correct explanation of the lunar and solar eclipses, the discovery that the motion of the Moon is uneven, the measurement of the sidereal period for Jupiter (twelve years), and from the 3rd century BC - and with good accuracy for all other planets, both synodic and sidereal.
In agriculture and handicrafts, the Chinese improved the plow, created mechanical engines that work using the power of falling water, and a little later they created a water-lifting pump. The Chinese tried soil fertilizers, and also created special guidelines for land reclamation and irrigation Development of science in ancient China // Scientific and information journal Biofile [Electronic resource] // Access address: http://biofile.ru/his/4701.html .
One of the peaks of science in ancient China was the breeding of silkworms and the invention of silk manufacturing technology. A little later, later, the Chinese invented paper, which was made from the waste of silk cocoons.
Medicine received the most significant development in ancient China. One of the most important achievements of Chinese doctors was the creation of drugs that were widely used in medicine. The first medical works consist of 35 treatises on various diseases. In the second century, a method for diagnosing diseases by pulse was developed, and the first attempts were made to treat epidemic diseases.
“In the 10th century, the concept of vaccination appeared when doctors began to practice inoculation against smallpox. Chinese monks described a huge number of medicinal plants, in the process of searching for the elixir of "immortality". Doctors of ancient China in the 4th - 3rd centuries BC began to practice the method of cauterization, acupuncture, developed manuals on therapeutic exercises and dietology, a collection of various recommendations, which contained about three hundred prescriptions for the treatment of many diseases. In the 3rd century, the famous Chinese doctor Hua Tuo began to use local anesthesia during abdominal operations. Ancient Chinese scientists had knowledge of alchemy [Electronic resource] // Access address: http://monoblog.su/?p=14058
Last release date: 11/11/2013.
In addition to all of the above, from the technical inventions of ancient China, it is worth noting the magnetic device dating back to the 3rd century BC and which is the forerunner of the modern compass. As well as a seismograph and a water mill, widely used in our time - all this was discovered in ancient times in China.
Few people know that the Chinese are also the first in the discovery of toilet paper, a kite, a bristle toothbrush, a bell, a drum, a gas cylinder and playing cards.
Religion and Culture of China during the Han Dynasties
The development of natural science and exact sciences
The unified Han Empire contributed to the flourishing of the culture of ancient China. This is evidenced by significant successes in the field of natural and exact sciences and philosophy. Further development was received by writing, literature and fine arts.
Large-scale hydrotechnical works, the construction of palaces, temples and huge underground tombs testify to the significant development of mathematical knowledge in Han China. Ancient Chinese mathematicians paid the greatest attention to computational problems related to the needs of economic life. In the 1st century n. e. The treatise "Mathematics in Nine Chapters" was created, summing up the achievements of mathematical knowledge over several centuries and testifying to the great success of the Chinese in this area. In this treatise, for the first time in the history of mathematical science, negative numbers are encountered and rules for operations on them are given. "Mathematics in Nine Chapters" included many problems and examples from the field of arithmetic, geometry and algebra, designed for practical application.
At this time, a number of precision instruments and mechanisms were created. We have accumulated rich experience in geography, agronomy, and medicine. Astronomy has achieved the greatest success.
During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese determined the position of many heavenly bodies and constellations and made a map of the starry sky. Han astronomers divided the sky into 28 constellations, placing them around polar star. According to them, in each of the four countries of the world there were seven constellations. In 27 BC. e. Han astronomers recorded the first observation of sunspots.
In the 1st century n. e. in China lived the largest astronomer of antiquity, a talented thinker Zhang Heng (78 - 139), who made many discoveries and inventions. Zhang Heng created the world's first celestial globe, which reproduced the movement celestial bodies. Systematically engaged in astronomical observations, he counted the fixed stars, determining their number at 2500 luminaries.
Zhang Heng also invented the world's first seismograph. The frequent earthquakes in China caused a desire to find a way to learn about these terrible natural disasters as soon as possible. After many years of searching, Zhang Heng created an instrument that, according to sources, accurately indicated a large earthquake in Gansu. Zhang Heng's device consisted of a hollow spherical copper vessel, inside of which a pendulum was placed vertically. The pendulum was touched by 8 lever springs brought out. Attached to the outer end of each lever was a metal head of a dragon, in the mouth of which was a copper ball. The deviation of the pendulum to the side under the action of the earthquake caused pressure on one of the levers, which consequently changed its position. The head of the dragon attached to this lever mechanically opened its mouth and a ball fell out of it, falling into the mouth of one of the 8 toads placed at the base of the vessel. According to which of the dragons spat out the ball, they learned in which of the eight directions the earthquake occurred.
Seismograph by Zhang Heng.
Wooden model made from Zhang Heng's biography
Advances in agricultural technology were marked by the appearance at that time of a number of treatises, dedicated to crop farming, where various methods of cultivating crops have been developed. The agronomic writings of that time reflected the introduction of bed crops into agriculture, the rotation of crops, various methods of fertilizing fields and pre-sowing soaking of seeds with a fertilizer composition, as well as other achievements. Exact dates for plowing the land, sowing and harvesting were established for many grain and garden crops.
By the 1st century n. e. The Chinese established the dependence of yields on soil quality and classified soils into nine categories according to which of them are most favorable for each crop. The well-known Han agronomist Fan Shen-chih compiled a detailed study on the methods of farming, summarizing the agronomic knowledge accumulated by his time. He described the methods of alternating crops and methods of using irrigation, described in detail the bed system for processing fields.
High level knowledge of medicine allowed the ancient Chinese to compile in the 1st century. n. e. catalog of medical books, which lists 36 treatises giving information on various diseases. The first Chinese treatise on pharmacology, Ben Cao, was also created.
Over its more than three thousand years of history, the Chinese people have made a significant contribution to the development of science and technology. Many important discoveries and inventions were made in China several centuries earlier than in other countries, incl. European (the invention of the compass, seismoscope, speedometer, paper, gunpowder, printing, etc.). The era of the formation of sciences in ancient China VI-III centuries. BC is extremely interesting for researchers of the cultural history of this country.
Introduction
1. The development of science in ancient China
2. The development of technology in ancient China
The work contains 1 file
Introduction
1. The development of science in ancient China
2. The development of technology in ancient China
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Introduction.
Over its more than three thousand years of history, the Chinese people have contributed
significant contribution to the development of science and technology. Many important discoveries and
inventions were made in China several centuries earlier than in
other countries, incl. European (the invention of the compass, seismoscope,
speedometer, paper, gunpowder, typography, etc.). Age of Formation
Sciences in Ancient China VI-III centuries. BC is exceptionally interesting for
researchers of the cultural history of this country. Wealth of philosophical
thought apparently affected the development of any branch of knowledge, you can
trace their influence both in astronomy and mathematics. Doctrine
Confucius, who created the cult of knowledge and education, who revered
harmony and music, in mathematics was reflected in the fact that
calculations of the musical scale, which demanded from scientists a good
mastering the numerical area within rational number. Doctrine of the Tao
stimulated to know the nature of abstract concepts used in
mathematics, and the pragmatism of the Legalists directed the path of applied science,
improvement of computing techniques, which, in turn, allowed
it is better to advance in the theoretical field of knowledge. Logic from the school of Mo
Zi and sophists (Gongsun Lun, Zhuang Zi, etc.) encouraged to comprehend
subtle and controversial places in studies of the concepts of a new nature, such as
squaring a circle, infinite fractions, calculating the volume of a pyramid, a ball,
which were associated with the concept of infinity. Natural Philosophical Quest
explanations of movement, changes in the nature of things were used in
development of number-theoretic problems: the doctrine of even and odd,
positive and negative numbers, circle and rectangle, etc.
It should be assumed that in other sciences: alchemy, medicine, astronomy and
botany, similar interactions took place.
The relevance of the work. Many inventions of ancient China
are used even today. And it is possible that the fruits of some scientific
and cultural discoveries that could be used now,
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undeservedly remained in the shadows, and it is possible that they are still unknown. That's why
the study of ancient Chinese achievements in the field of science is relevant as
today as well as in the future.
The purpose of the work is the study of science and technology of ancient China.
1. The development of science in ancient China. In ancient times, when
canonical Chinese texts, writing already played an important role
(classic
literature
Always
needed
at
preparing
intellectual elite), but mathematics has not yet become that section
knowledge to which separate works are devoted. However, he played his
role in the emergence of a phenomenon called "rational divination".
At first, the predictions associated with divination on a turtle shell,
bones of various animals and yarrow, were based on the interpretation
varied natural phenomena especially meteorological and
astronomical (rainbows, winds, meteorites, eclipses, sunspots,
the location of the stars, etc.). However, this abundance of signs did not interfere
apply purely rational methods of studying the world:
soothsayers, not without success, used their observations in
compiling numerical and arithmetic tables, with the help of which
only the events of the past were recorded, but it was also predicted
repetition of some of them in the future. certain prophecies,
associated with regularly repeating celestial phenomena,
were confirmed: this is how the calendar and astronomy appeared, based on
on mathematics. As a result, a whole staff of courtiers was formed.
"keepers of time", who played the role of both historians and chroniclers, and
astrologers who spent a lot of time searching for methods
predictions of celestial phenomena (approach of celestial bodies, eclipses
sun and moon, etc.).
During the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), a new
branch of mathematics. Special guidelines have been drawn up
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outlined the tasks and ways to solve them, grouped into chapters in
depending on the possible practical application. Moreover, the actual
the accuracy and reality of the situations presented in them are so great that
the content of the tasks, you can recreate the whole picture of the social and
economic life of China of a particular era. Not one is forgotten
practical detail, whether it is tax collection, labor management
force, land and water transportation, policing and supplying troops. On
such collections were studied by many generations of officials-mathematicians,
required by the imperial bureaucracy. In the era
Three Kingdoms (220-265) the greatest Chinese mathematician Liu Hui
developed a method of rigorous mathematical proofs.
Despite the difference in civilizations, the laws of mathematics and
natural-scientific thinking are basically the same, which explains
parallelism and the possibility of borrowing. For example, Chinese zero,
first appearing in astronomical tables around 1200 as
a small circle (so it has survived to this day), perhaps has
Indian origin. Math Games both ancient and
medieval - Greek, Indian, Arabic, European and Chinese,
often strikingly similar. Many similar mathematical methods
existed in parallel in Greece and China: after Euclid, the volume
pyramids were counted by Liu Hui (3rd century), who also followed Archimedes
calculated the volume of the body formed at the intersection of two orthogonal
cylinders. And there are many such examples.
Along with astronomy and mathematics, significant developments have been made in
China geographical knowledge and medicine. So, for several centuries BC.
the Chinese went to the marginal seas Pacific Ocean swam in the area and
made a number of geographical discoveries. Zhang Qian's travels in 138–126
gg. BC. to Central Asia marked the beginning of the study by the Chinese of the countries and
peoples living west of China, and the emergence of caravan trade
between China and Central Asia along the so-called Great Silk
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way. In 629, the traveler and philosopher Xuanzang traveled
to the mouth of the Ganges, south of India
The history of medicine in China has about 3 thousand years. Observations
physicians summarized (presumably) by the physician Bian Cao in the most ancient
world medical book "Neijing" (VI century BC), played an important role in
development of Chinese medicine. Medicine has made great strides in
period of the Second Han Dynasty (25-220). At the end of this period, the doctor
Rong Feng wrote the world's first "Pharmacology" (" ben cao»).
Significant were the achievements of surgery: in the Han period already
operations were performed with the use of sedatives (general
anesthesia). In the medical books of the Song period, instructions appeared on the method
treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion ( zhen ju therapy).
Chinese pharmacology differed from European breadth of use
medicinal agents.
In the field of philosophy, the attention of European scholars was attracted by
first
queue
Confucianism.
Confucius
I bought
reputation
enlightened sage, creator of ethical and political doctrine.
2. The development of technology in ancient China. Chinese civilization has contributed
significant contribution to the world treasury of scientific and technical
knowledge and their great inventions in the field of technology.
It was in China that the properties of magnetic
the arrows turn in a certain direction of the world. Apparently, in the VI century.
BC. The Chinese became aware of the phenomenon of attraction of iron and iron ore
naturally magnetized pieces of magnetite. Later they turned
attention to the ability of natural magnets to orientate, erroneously
attributing it to the influence of the stars. From these observations, techniques have grown
divination on a special device. It consisted of an iron plate on which
could slide freely due to its spherical surface
"Spoon" from a natural magnet. The signs of the Zodiac are on the plate.
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The handle of the "spoon" was oriented in a magnetic field. In the I-III centuries. this device
began to be used as compass and was called the "pointer to the south." By the 3rd century
refers to the description of a magnetized figurine mounted on a wagon
Chinese inventor Ma Jun. Then the Chinese began to use
"south sign" on ships. Later, a compass appeared with a floating in oil or
rotating on the tip of a wooden fish or turtle with a built-in
them a natural magnet. Empirically, an elongated
form - an arrow appeared.
Other important achievement was an invention in the III century. device for
distance traveled measurement speedometer as
carts. Zhang Heng (2nd century) invented the world's first seismoscope- device,
pointing to the epicenter.
About development in China practical chemistry testifies to the fact that
The Chinese were the first in the world to learn how to use a mixture of saltpeter and sulfur to
production gunpowder. Experiments on the study of these substances led to the fact that in
6th century workshops for the manufacture of small gunpowder appeared in China
rockets for fireworks and other pyrotechnic purposes.
Invention paper(II century) was the largest contribution of the Chinese
people into world civilization. In the IV century. paper completely supplanted earlier
bamboo plates and silk used for writing. paper out
China was brought (through Korea) to Japan, as well as to Central Asia and
Persia. As a result of the crusades, the art kept secret
papermaking became known in Western.
Story typography in China dates back to the 5th-6th centuries. Initially
the text of the book was carved on stone and then reprinted on paper. This
process led to the development lithographs. Later, gradually
switch to printing from engraved boards ( woodcut), which received
distribution in the ninth century.
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List of used literature
1. V.V. Petrik, Chinese Culture: tutorial; Tomsk
politechnical University. - Tomsk: Tomsk Publishing House
Polytechnic University, 2010. - 156 p.
The most ancient period of Chinese civilization is the era of the existence of the Shang state, which is located in the valley of the Yellow River. The city of Shan became its capital. In the Shang era, ideographic writing was discovered, which later turned into hieroglyphic calligraphy. In the early era of China's development, the compass, the seismograph, and later printing and gunpowder were already invented, the mechanical clock was invented, and the technique of silk weaving was created. Since the ancient Chinese society was agrarian, the centralized bureaucracy had to solve complex technical issues related to the use and protection of water resources, so astronomy, mathematics, physics and hydraulic engineering reached a high level of development. Chinese builders became famous for their grandiose structures - the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canal. A characteristic feature of ancient Chinese civilization was the cult of education and literacy. The main directions of the philosophical and theoretical thinking of ancient China attached exceptional importance to the humanitarian factor, recognized man as the crown of nature and put him on a par with heaven and earth; in this cosmic triad, man, as a link, determined the unity of the world. The most important place in this direction is occupied by Confucianism - the ethical and political doctrine of the idealist philosopher Confucius. His ideal is a highly moral person (the doctrine of the original goodness of human nature), based on the traditions of wise ancestors. In opposition to Confucianism was Taoism. The ancient Taoists recognized the objectivity of the world, opposed the deification of the sky, taught that the sky, like the earth, is part of nature. However, they did not deny the existence of the gods, considering them a product of the Tao. The world, in the view of the Taoists, consists of the smallest indivisible material particles of qi and is in a state of constant change. The emergence of materialistic and anti-religious ideas in ancient China is closely connected with the development of science, especially astronomy. The periodicity of the movement of the luminaries established by astronomers played an important role in putting forward the idea of an objective regularity - Tao, which controls everything that happens in nature. Already in the XI century. BC e. in China, the position was put forward: “A higher being cannot exist! The world is formed from five primary elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Materialistic and anti-religious ideas are developed by Sun Tzu (III century BC), who denied the existence of a god or any other supernatural force. The philosopher Wang Chong (1st century AD) proclaims that the world is eternal, its basis is formed by the substance (qi), from which all things arise and into which they turn. The universe has no purpose. Things arise by themselves, they are not the creation of some spirit. Everything happens according to a natural law, in accordance with which everything that arises sooner or later perishes. At the center of philosophy is Yang Zhu (440-334). stands the naive-materialist doctrine of man. He believed that nature and man as her component subject to the necessity inherent in the things themselves. In objectively existing world everything happens by itself, so everything should be left to the natural flow. A person must comprehend the Tao (ecological law of nature) and not act contrary to it. Considering man as an element of nature, Yang Zhu fundamentally does not distinguish him from other creatures. Man consists of the same five elements as the whole of nature, differing from other living organisms only in mind.
The progress of science in ancient China was determined by its applied nature, in contrast to ancient Greece, where science was opposed to technology. Mathematics achieved great success, so in the II century. BC e. The treatise Mathematics in Nine Books was compiled. This is a kind of guide for land surveyors, astronomers, officials, etc. In addition to purely scientific knowledge, the book presented prices for various goods, indicators of agricultural crop yields, etc. Significant achievements of the ancient Chinese in areas of astronomy and calendar. The solar-lunar calendar of the ancient Chinese was adapted to the needs of agricultural production. In craft and agriculture, the plow was improved, mechanical engines were created that use the power of falling water, and a water-lifting pump was created. Early writings contain descriptions of field crops, a system of variable fields and rotation of crops, various methods of soil fertilization and pre-sowing seed impregnation, and there were special guidelines for irrigation and melioration. The pinnacle of ancient Chinese scientific knowledge in the field of biology was the cultivation of silkworms and the creation of sericulture techniques. On the basis of which, paper was invented (from the waste of silk cocoons), which subsequently led to its creation from wood fiber. Medicine has received a very significant development in ancient China. Ancient Chinese doctors in the IV-III centuries. BC e. began to use acupuncture, the method of cauterization, developed manuals on dietology and therapeutic exercises, a manual on treatment by cauterization, a collection of various recipes, which contained 280 prescriptions for the treatment of 52 diseases. Among the recommended remedies, along with medicines, some magic tricks are mentioned. However, in later writings, magical methods of treatment were completely absent. By the 3rd century the use of local anesthesia by the famous doctor Hua Tuo for abdominal operations. Scientific knowledge, achievements and discoveries ancient east far ahead of the scientific thought of the West. The key to such success, many teachings consider a special view of nature, the scientific thought of the East was looking for a harmonious synthesis of human activity and nature, which was expressed in a special, highly moral perception of the world around.
