A Study On The Chinese Version Of Dixue Qianshi In Late Qing Dynasty

Dixue Qianshi is the first geology works which was translated and brought the geology knowledge into Chinese, and also the first geology textbooks introduced into China from the West in the Qing Dynasty. This book is an important geology works dictated by Hua Hengfang and translated by American missionary Daniel Jerome Macgowan. The original source of this book is the Elements of Geology written by Lyell, which was published in 1871 by the Imperial Government Arsenal.After the second Western learning spreading to the East, facing the increasing decline of the Qing government, for the purpose of "enriching" through Westernization Movement, the Imperial Government Arsenal was built. Imperial Government Arsenal translated a number of western scientific works. In order to develop mining, the vein is needed to be found firstly. At the same time, it is unable to examine the context of the stone, so the Jishi Shibie and Dixue Qianshi were translated by Jiangnan manufacturing Bureau.This paper firstly analyzes the translation background of Dixue Qianshi, andcombines the existing geological knowledge in China before the introduction of Dixue Qianshi, and also explores the identification of Hua Hengfang as the translator. The version of Dixue Qianshi and the structure and content of the book were studied. Then,the original author Lyell's life and the background of this book were introduced, and the version and spread was also briefly combined.By comparing the master copy and translation, it has been determined that the sub-catlogs of Dixue Qianshi was added by the translator after referencing the keywords (phrase) and related content. After the analysis and comparison, the 8th,14th,27th,28th chapters are chosen as typical examples to explore the methods of adding the sub-catlogs. The deletion of the original source background and examples, and the original source summarization were combined. The rewriting in the translation process were analyzed.At last, after the arrangement of the terms of Dixue Qianshi, the spread and translation characteristic were analysed. Dixue Qianshi was the first systematic geology works which was introduced to China from the west, and this work later was spread to Japan that influenced the development of Japanese geology. Dixue Qianshi as the first geology textbook occupies an important position in the history of Chinese geological education; At the same time, Dixue Qianshi introduced the "narrative evolutionary thought" which greatly affects the change of Chinese thought.From the study in transmission of Dixue Qianshi,the spread and acceptance of ancient geology in china can be understood.