The Influence Of Taoism On Scientifie Development During The Period Of Wei, Jin, And Southern And Northern Dynasties

Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties was an era in which splitting and unrest,wars and disputes were filled with,while it was also a period in which scientific and technological innovations and outstanding achievements kept occurring. It inherited from the Qin and Han, revesled the Sui and Tang, was an important period of scientific development of China. The Taoism in Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties experienced a process from born to grown in strength, its doctrine, methords of practice and organization system took shape in this period too, a lot of famous taoists and works appeard, all of these made the Taoism a main religious force. So, how did the relationship of the Taoism and scientific development performance will be a problem worthy of studying.This paper begins with the influence of Chinese ancient science on Taoism in the peroid of Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, analyzes that how did the Taoism influence the science in that peroid, which subjects were infuenced, and in whitch way did the infuence worked. This paper will discuss the problem in two parts: In part one, the background will be provided. The foreword introduction will put forward the contradiction between troublous society and outstanding achievements of science and analyses the influence of science on other religions, such as the Confucianist and the Buddhism. Chapter one explains the main achievements of science and characteristics of Taoism in Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties. In part two, the influence of science on Taoism in that period will be discussed. Chapter two begins witch the relationship between Taoist external alchemy and ancient chemistry, analyses the influence of ancient chemistry on taoists and Taoist works, and tries to find out the reason why did not Taoist external alchemy come into being modern chemisty in ancient china. Chapter three discusses the relationship between Taoism and medical science, analyses the common origin of Taoism and medical science, contributions of taoists,and the important value of Taoist medical science. Chacter four discusses the relationship between Taoism and scientific theory and methods, analyses the contribution of Taoist conception of nature on scientific theory and methods. In yhe final, the last part will sums up the important effect of Taoism on scientific development in Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, comes to the conclusion that the Taoism, by means of external alchemy, medicine practice and works, Taoist conception of nature, and experimental method, had an important and far-reaching affect on traditional chemisty, medical science, scientific theorys and methods. This will make a further supplement for research of Taoist history and ancient scientific history,in especial the scientific history of Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties.