The Collection And Interpretation Of Useful Knowledge Related To China In The 19th Century In Britain

The Penny Cyclopaedia of The Society for The Diffusion of Useful Knowledge(hereinafter referred to as The Penny Cyclopaedia)(1833-1858)is a series of encyclopedias published in the 19 th century under the supervision of The Society for The Diffusion of Useful Knowledge under the background of British overseas expansion and scientific investigation.This book was not to weave a knowledge system,but to convey some practical knowledge to readers as a reference book.This paper takes the articles about Chinese knowledge in The Penny Cyclopaedia as the research objects,to investigates the British interest in Chinese relevant useful knowledge in the 19 th century and they collect and interpret Chinese useful knowledge in The Penny Cyclopaedia.This paper is divided into six chapters.The first chapter is the introduction.The second chapter introduces the general situation of The Society for The Diffusion of Useful Knowledge and The Penny Cyclopaedia,including the purpose of the establishment of The Society for The Diffusion of Useful Knowledge,the influence of some publications published under the supervision of the Society on readers around the world,as well as the influence of The Penny Cyclopaedia on readers around the world,the men involved in the source of Chinese knowledge in this book.Chapter three,chapter four and chapter five respectively select the Chinese related terms in The Penny Cyclopaedia for case study.In chapter three,selects the terms related to Chinese plant knowledge to study,more than 70 entries,with the focus on "tea" as an example.In chapter four,selects the terms related to Chinese geography to study.In chapter five,selects the terms related to Chinese technology to study.The sixth chapter is the conclusion part,which summarizes the main contents of this study,and analyzes the writing styles of the popularization of science and the writing methods of Encyclopedia for ordinary people in The Penny Cyclopaedia.This paper mainly solves two problems,which are also the key research contents of this paper.It is divided into the following:The first question is to analyze the sources of knowledge about the contents of Chinese terms in The Penny Cyclopaedia,and to discuss how the writers interpret knowledge according to these sources.By sorting out the contents of Chinese plant,geography and technical knowledge mentioned in The Penny Cyclopaedia,found that in the 19 th century,the British collection of Chinese plant,geography and technical knowledge was mainly some documents and notes from travelers,businessmen,missionaries and scholars who came to China,as well as the literature with the theme of "China" published by sinologists in Europe.In chapter three,analyzes the explanation of Chinese plant knowledge from a macro perspective,and finds that the article writers not only introduce the shape,habits,transplantation and cultivation of plants,but also pay attention to the useful knowledge of plants with regional characteristics,such as the local cultivation and medicinal effect of plants.Then,takes "Thea" article as an example to analyze the collection and interpretation of Chinese tea knowledge from the micro perspective.From the macroscopic and microcosmic research,the article writers pay attention to the content of local useful knowledge when explaining Chinese knowledge.In chapter four,the author found that the article writers mainly explained the history of European understanding of Chinese geography and the situation of Chinese natural geography and human geography.In entries of natural geography,it is involved that the topography,climate,natural disasters,ecological environment and products of China.In the aspect of human geography,it is involved that the layout and trade of coastal cities and Beijing.It can be seen that the explanation of Chinese geographical knowledge in The Penny Cyclopaedia is inclined to useful geographical knowledge related to trade.Inchapter five,in the study of technical knowledge,the author finds that the writers of the articles think that Chinese technology is mostly practical inventions and creations,such as the invention of printing,gunpowder,compass,etc.,so in the process of explaining technical knowledge,the writers of the articles explain and analyze more practical technologies.The second problem: analyze the main interest of Britain in useful knowledge related to China in the 19 th century,and then study the reasons for this interest.In the third,fourth and fifth chapters,The author finds that the Chinese useful knowledge presented to the readers by the article writers also reflects their interest in Chinese knowledge.Article writers are concerned about the diversity of plant species and culture(cultural diversity is reflected in local knowledge).Pay attention to China's geographical environment and rich products,weather and disasters,transportation channels and shipping capacity,and trade between coastal cities and the capital.Pay attention to the most practical technical means of Chinese invention.It can be seen from this that its concern is closely related to the British overseas expansion and trade in the19 th century.It can be said that the British exploration of useful knowledge of Chinese plants,geography and technology is to prepare for further overseas expansion and trade.The study of this paper is helpful to understand the British interest in Chinese knowledge under the background of British Industrial Revolution and overseas expansion in the 19 th century.At the same time,At the same time,it can also explain what Chinese useful knowledge is from the Western perspective.