A Study On The Chinese Translation Of CeHouCongTan Published In The Late Qing Dynasty

CeHouCongTan is the Chinese version in modern times to introduce the meteorology to China in detail, playing an important role in modern history of meteorology and science transmission.It was orally interpreted by an American missionary named Carl.T.Kreyer and written by Chinese famous scholar Hua Hengfang in the Late Qing Dynasty, and first published by Kiangnan Arsenal in Shanghai in 1877 and thereafter republished for several times. Its original version is the in Meteorology in Encyclopedia Britannica,8th ed.,1853—1860, which came from the Treatise of Geography in English written by famous English astronomer John Herschel (1972-1871). As there is no any systematic research on this Chinese version so far, this thesis discusses its' content concerning its essential value. The main points in the thesis are listed in the following:Briefly states the traditional meteorology knowledge of China and the West and theie historical contexts, then introduces the different Chinese versions of CeHouCongTan and the life history of its original anthor and translators.Analyses the content and structure of the version, expounds the meteorology principles, calculation methods, meteorological instruments and their characteristics in the book, and compares the meteorological terms in the versions with the present.By Comparing the content of CeHouCongTan with the other contemporary counterpart works on meteorology, it points out in the thesis that the former is more initiative and has some vital influences on the subsequent meteorology works in Chinese.Probes into the dissemination of CeHouCongTan during Late Qing Dynasty, and make a preliminary analysis of its effect on the meteorology education and meteorological knowledge transmission in China.