The Scientific And Technological Prosperity In Late Ming Dynasty In Light Of The Concept Of Qi

Qi meant a comprehensive moving entity in terms of philosophy of ancient China beginning from very early times of China to the establishment of Qin Dynasty, and to the later Song and Ming Dynasties. More than an important concept in China's philosophy, Qi has seen its deep influence on every science of ancient China. In light of the concept of Qi, Li Shizhen, Song Yingxing, Fang Yizhi, Jie Xuan, Xu Xiake,Zhu Zaiyu, Xing Yunlu and Xu Guangqi, some late Ming's scientists, expounded the origin, emergence, and evolvement of nature, looking on everything the universe as an organic whole which derives its impetus from the interaction of Yin and Yang lying inherently in Qi. To the writer of this paper, without the concept of Qi, there would not have been the scientific and technological prosperity in late Ming Dynasty, but from the concept of Qi, no modern sciences like those in the west could develop.