We speak to the author, Dr Zhaoyuan Wan, to find out more about him and his recently published Notes and Records article.
Please can you introduce your study and tell us what it's about?
My study, "Gravity's Eastern Voyage", traces the complex journey of Newtonian mechanics in imperial China from 1727 to 1912. It examines how Newtonian ideas were introduced, translated, and adapted within the Chinese context over nearly two centuries.
The paper begins with the initial introduction of Newtonian lunar theory by Jesuit missionaries for calendrical reforms in 1727. It then follows the gradual dissemination of Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation after the Opium Wars, through various channels, including Protestant missionary publications, Chinese-Western collaborative translations, and eventually, integration into the national curriculum in the early 1900s. The paper also explores how Newtonian mechanics transcended its scientific realm, influencing broader intellectual and political discourse in late Qing China. Reformist thinkers, for instance, appropriated mechanical terminology to advocate for sociopolitical change.
A key aspect of this study is analyzing how the reception and interpretation of Newtonian ideas were shaped by the interplay of science, religion, and politics in late imperial China. It highlights the agency of Chinese scholars in adopting and reinterpreting Newtonian concepts to align with indigenous traditions and pragmatic needs.
By challenging Eurocentric narratives, this study contributes to a more inclusive history of Newtonian science, offering a nuanced perspective on global scientific circulation.
How did the idea for the paper come about?
The idea for this paper emerged from my longstanding interest in the transmission and reception of Newtonian science in China. As the Chinese translator of "Newton: A Very Short Introduction" (by Rob Iliffe, Oxford, 2007) and author of a 2018 article on Chinese translations of Newton's Principia, I realized there was a need for a more comprehensive account of how Newtonian mechanics as a whole was introduced and assimilated in China.
My doctoral research at Oxford, which focused on science and religion in late 19th and early 20th century China, provided me with a broader context to understand the complex interactions between Western scientific ideas and Chinese intellectual traditions. This background, combined with my expertise in translation studies, equipped me to examine the linguistic and cultural challenges involved in transmitting Newtonian concepts across vastly different knowledge systems.
The paper can be seen as a natural progression of my research trajectory, bridging my earlier work on Principia translations with my more recent explorations of science-religion interactions in the Chinese context.
Who is your inspiration and why?
My primary inspiration has been Professor Rob Iliffe, a leading Newton scholar under whom I conducted my doctoral research at Oxford. His work on Newton's life and thought, which I had the privilege of translating into Chinese, opened my eyes to the richness and complexity of Newton's ideas beyond the popular image of the "scientific genius."
Professor Iliffe's approach to integrating the history of science with broader intellectual and cultural history has profoundly influenced my own research methodology. His emphasis on understanding scientific ideas within their historical contexts has been crucial in shaping my analysis of how Newtonian mechanics was received and interpreted in China.
I'm also inspired by scholars who have pioneered the study of science in non-Western contexts, challenging Eurocentric narratives and highlighting the agency of local actors in the global circulation of knowledge. Their work has motivated me to contribute to a more inclusive and nuanced global history of science.
How was your experience publishing with Notes and Records?
Publishing with Notes and Records has been a rewarding experience. As a journal of the Royal Society, an institution once presided over by Newton himself, it felt particularly fitting to submit my work on the transmission of Newtonian ideas to China here.
The review process was swift, rigorous, and constructive. The feedback I received was invaluable, helping me refine my arguments and enhance the overall readability of the paper. Throughout the process, the editorial team was exceptionally supportive and efficient, consistently responding to my inquiries within just a couple of days.
I appreciate that Notes and Records recognizes the importance of cross-cultural studies in the history of science. Publishing in this prestigious journal will help bring attention to the global dimensions of Newtonian science and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of its impact beyond Europe.
What are the future directions for your work?
This study has laid a foundation for several exciting future research directions:
Firstly, I plan to expand my investigation of Newtonian mechanics in China to include the Republican period (1912-1949). This will allow me to examine how the reception and interpretation of Newton and Newtonian ideas evolved in the context of China's modernization efforts and changing political landscape.
Secondly, I'm interested in exploring the broader East Asian context of Newtonian science transmission. Comparative studies of how Newtonian mechanics was introduced and assimilated in Japan and Korea, for instance, could yield valuable insights into the regional dynamics of scientific knowledge circulation.
Thirdly, I aim to delve deeper into the philosophical and methodological aspects of Newton's work and their reception in China. My current project, "The Newtonian Method", funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, focuses on translating and analyzing key primary sources related to Newton's scientific methodology.
Lastly, I hope to continue bridging my research on Newton with my work on science and religion in China. Examining how Newtonian ideas intersected with traditional Chinese cosmology and newly introduced religious concepts could provide a fascinating lens through which to view the complex negotiations between science, religion, and modernity in early 20th century China.
Through these future directions, I aim to contribute to a more nuanced and globally-informed history of Newtonian science, while also shedding light on the broader processes of cross-cultural knowledge transmission and adaptation.
Notes and Records is an international journal which publishes original research in the history of science, technology and medicine. Find out more information about submitting to Notes and Records.
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Figure captions:
Image 1: Michel Benoist's Kunyu quantu 坤輿全圖, hand-drawn on silk, is currently housed in the First Historical Archives of China. Photograph by Xu Gang
Image 2: Prop. 17, Principia, Li--Wylie translation in Chinese, MS 45220 (ff 53b & 54a), Courtesy of SOAS Library
Image 3: A portrait of Isaac Newton drawn by the author's daughter, Wan He, a fine arts major. This drawing hangs in Dr. Wan's office as daily inspiration.
