An Introduction to Qi Qi Tu Shuo
Yuanxi Qiqi Tushuo Luzui (Collected Diagrams and Explanations of the Wonderful Machines of the Far West, for short QQTS), which was translated and compiled by Johann Terrenz (Schreck) (1576-1630) and Wang Zheng (1571-1644) in 1627, is the first Chinese translation of Western mechanical knowledge and machines. Terrenz interpreted western texts in spoken Chinese. Wang illustrated Terrenz interpretations and formulated them in written Chinese.
Wang Zheng, also known as Philippe, was born in the Shanxi province of China
on 12 May 1571, and died on 10 April 1644. His father, an accomplished Confucian
theorist and mathematician, aroused his early interest in books. His literary
talent unfolded when he was 15 years old. He passed an imperial examination
at the provincial level in 1594. Influenced by Confucianism, Wang developed
a sense of responsibility for the progress of society. When he was young, he
often reflected on ancient Chinas ingenious machines, which interfered
with his studies of Confucian works. During the winter of 1615 or the spring
of 1616, he became acquainted with a missionary, de Pantoja, and joined the
Jesuits soon afterwards. He became a successful candidate in the highest imperial
examinations of 1622. He read Alenis Zhi Fang Wai Ji (ZFWJ,
Record of the Places outside the Jurisdiction of the Office of Geography, 1623),
which led to his interest in remarkable people and wonderful things, such as
Toledos water-lifting devices and Archimedes inventions. A Jesuit
he met in the Shanxi province, Nicolas Trigault (1577-1628), taught him a little
Latin in 1625.
Around December 1626 or January 1627, Wang Zheng came to Beijing and affiliated
with Niccolo Longobardi (1559-1654), Terrenz, and Adam Schall von Bell (1592-1666).
Wang consulted them in order to improve his understanding of the machines depicted
in ZFWJ. They recommended many European books on machines to him. Although
Wang couldnt read these, the drawings of machines amused him very much.
Consequently he asked Terrenz to help him translate some of them. According
to Wangs record, Terrenz indicated a connection between machines and theoretical
knowledge such as mathematics. With Terrenz help, Wang roughly mastered
the necessary surveying and mathematics, after studying them for only a few
days. They selected many kinds of books on mechanical knowledge and translated
some of them. Wang preferred to translate knowledge about the most important,
simplest, and most ingenious machines to serve the Chinese people. In
February or March 1627, they finally compiled a book called Yuanxi Qiqi Tushuo
Luzui. QQTS and Zhu Qi Tu Shuo (Diagrams and Explanations of A Few
Machines) were first printed in Yangzhou in the summer of 1627, the latter was
written by Wang in 1626. As an official, he impartially handled affairs in Yangzhou
and Shandong. He thought that learning, whether recondite or shallow, Chinese
or Western, should benefit society and not violate God. Wang made use of Western
mechanical knowledge and combined it with traditional Chinese technology to
construct some machines.
QQTS was the first monograph on Western mechanical knowledge in Chinese,
most of which was new for Chinese people in the 17th century. In the guide to
its use (Fanli), the authors stated that before studying the machine, one must
study such disciplines as zhongxue (study of weight), gewu qiongli
zhi xue (a study to investigate things to attain knowledge, especially natural
philosophy), surveying, mathematics, and perspective. They also wrote an introduction
to zhongxue, namely li yi zhi xue (study of the craft of force),
including Biao Xing Yan and Biao De Yan. Biao Xing Yan
discussed the nature of mechanics, while Biao De Yan explained the use
of mechanics.
Following the introduction, there are three chapters that selectively expounded
Western mechanical knowledge and machines from Archimedean time to the early
17th century. The first chapter, which consists of 61 sections, was named Zhong
Jie (explanations of weight). It discussed weight, center of gravity, geometrical
center, specific gravity, buoyancy, and other topics. The second chapter including
92 sections was named Qi Jie (explanations of implements), which discussed
the principles and calculations concerning simple machines such as the balance,
steelyard, lever, pulley, wheel, screw, and others. The third chapter consists
of diagrams and explanations of 54 kinds of Western machines, including devices
to hoist and move heavy objects, water-lifting devices, wind-mills, water-mills,
wood-sawing machines, and so on. His chapter also describes such mechanisms
as the crank, winch, chain wheel, star-wheel, worm wheel, and ratchet wheel.
All operators in the diagrams were changed from European figures to Chinese.
Generally speaking, diagrams and explanations were logically compiled, however,
some errors and confusions still remain.
Most of the books upon which QQTS was based were collected in the Beitang
Library. The authors of some of the books gave them to Terrenz as presents.
The first and second chapters of QQTS are probably derived mainly from
Simon Stevens Hypomnemata Mathematica... Mauritius, Princeps Auraicus,
Comes Nassoviac..., (1608). Much of the second chapter of QQTS is
quite similar to Galileos Le Mecaniche (1600), and the discourses on floating
bodies are similar to Galileos Discuso...intorno alle cose che stanno
in su lacqua (1612). In view of the relationship between them, it
is possible that Terrenz consulted Galileos works. The third chapter of
QQTS is obviously derived from Agostino Ramellis Le Diverse
e Artificiose Machine del Capitano and other European books.
QQTS has been reprinted many times since the 17th century. It was included
in Gujin Tushu Jicheng (GJTSJC, Collection of Ancient Chinese
Books ) which was first printed in 1726. The first and second chapters of QQTS
were deleted by the compilers of GJTSJC. QQTS was also included
in Si Ku Quan Shu (SKQS, Complete Collection in Four Treasuries),
which was compiled during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795A.D.). The
author of the abstract of QQTS in SKQS said:
Both Biao Xing Yan and Biao De Yan exaggerated the magnificence of those methods. [In fact,] most of them are absurd and unrestrained and were not worth cross-examining. But then the machine building in the book is actually the most ingenious in history.
QQTS was reprinted a few times in 19th century. The Shou-sha-ge
series of books included QQTS and changed all Latin letters in its diagrams
to Chinese characters. An edition of QQTS, printed in 1877, changed its
name to Ji Qi Tu Shuo (Diagrams and Explanations of Machines). The images
displayed on this web site represent the edition from 1830.
QQTS aroused the interest of the Chinese in Western machines. However,
it is noteworthy that the book had little influence on traditional Chinese mechanical
knowledge and technology during the 17-19th centuries.