The Genius of China: 3,000 Years of Science, Discovery and Invention

by Robert K. G. Temple (Author)

37 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-1853752926

ISBN-10: 1853752924

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It is one of the ironies of history that the Chinese, who had all the ingredients for modern science long before the Renaissance, failed to build on their immense knowledge. Today, very few people are aware of the vast body of Chinese invention. The suspension bridge, the fishing reel, the stirrup, the parachute, paper money, playing cards, the decimal system, the seismograph, negative numbers, brandy, rudders, cranks, movable type, matches, steroids as drugs, propellers, biological pest control—all these and many more were Chinese inventions. This volume traces the stunning achievements of ancient and medieval China.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

It is one of the ironies of history that the Chinese, who had all the ingredients for modern science long before the Renaissance, failed to build on their immense knowledge. Today, very few people are aware of the vast body of Chinese invention. The suspension bridge, the fishing reel, the stirrup, the parachute, paper money, playing cards, the decimal system, the seismograph, negative numbers, brandy, rudders, cranks, movable type, matches, steroids as drugs, propellers, biological pest control—all these and many more were Chinese inventions. Based on the peerless scholarship of Dr. Joseph Needham, the world’s foremost authority on Chinese science, this volume traces the stunning achievements of ancient and medieval China.

Paperback: 254 pages
Publisher: Prion (June 1, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1853752924
ISBN-13: 978-1853752926
Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.8 x 9.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
Average Customer Review: 37 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,454,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #434 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Asia > China
- #630 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Chinese
- #2247 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Asia

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Ken Mitchell

interesting but not definitive

December 22, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I was searching for a definitive book on creativity in Asia. This was not that book.This has some interesting facts, but most I had already had gleamed from reading articles and other books like "On Paper" that did an amazing job going into the depth and influences on the evolution of paper versus the cursory one found in The Genius of China. Furthermore, the fact that many pages have reversed out type made this very difficult to read. That said, If you want to know about the wealth of ideas that originated out of China, this is a helpful overview of the topic

2 people found this helpful

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July 18, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The work is basically a catalog of innovations and dates. The trivial (e.g.toys) are mixed with the significant (e.g. coal-fired smelting of iron) in no particular order. The innovations are described without any discussion of their contemporary significance, economic or otherwise. The reasons for the subsequent abandonment of seemingly promising developments are not addressed. Diffusion to the West is largely assumed on basis of dates and range from the obvious (e.g. gunpowder) to the doubtful (e.g. water clock escapement mechanisms and western horology) to the fantastic (admittedly, only implied) connection between man-carrying kites and Rogallo-wing type hang gliders! There is a definite need for a work of synthesis for the lay reader of the enormous and inaccessible Needham-directed opus, but this volume is not it, unfortunately.

4 people found this helpful

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John Heron

The next step after Winchester

December 2, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

If you have read Simon Winchester's The Man Who Loved China which tells the story of Joseph Needham's discovery and passion for Chinese science, then Robert Temple's book, The Genius of China, is an excellent next step. You can see what you've been reading about. Temple has collected from Needham's multi-volume study many of the inventions which are illustrated with often excellent photos.

Perhaps it is inevitable that discovering what China had developed so very early in history would prompt comparisons with European development, but we really don't need to go there. Simply seeing what was done in China over 3000 years, which is what this book is about, is amazing.

There is evidence that Chinese got around to inventing umbrellas in the 4th century CE. It rains a lot in China. What took them so long? In contrast, in the first century BCE Chinese were drilling for brine and converting it to salt by heating it with the natural gas they found in the same drill holes. Temple takes several pages to describe the drilling process--done with bamboo cables--and the transportation of methane gas in air tight, jointed bamboo tubes for miles to towns and villages. They were not casual in the drilling. The average well depth was about 3000 feet.

Well, if a civilization has at least fifteen major discoveries each century for some 2500 years you will have time for the magnetic compass (1st c.), seimographs (130 CE), the kite (5th c. BCE), the rudder (1st c.), the flame thrower (10th c.), the iron plough (6th c. BCE), the chain drive (10th c.), playing cards (9th c.), brandy (7th c.), and the circulation of blood (6th c. BCE).

If Robert Temple's 300 pages are not serious enough for you, you can key into Amazon's search engine Colin A. Ronan's The Shorter Science & Civilization in China. Some of the used volumes are available at less than $15. And if that doesn't do it for you, try Cambridge University Press for Needham's original volumes, but heavy lifting is required here. Volume 1 is a princely £139 (that's British pounds if your computer doesn't deliver the right character) plus shipping.

Despite the heavy, glossy paper, Temple's book is beautifully bound. It lies flat as you read it. There are four pages of a chart showing invention or discovery with the dates of first use. I wish the publisher had not chosen to print the table of contents in black ink on dark red paper...even though it looks nice. And the striking illustrations are probably the reason it isn't available on the Kindle. Frankly, there are some books that I wouldn't want to read it on my Kindle. This is one of them. For eighteen bucks it's a heck of a deal.

10 people found this helpful

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Dr Sockmonkee

Mind altering information and easy to understand

October 20, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

If you have an interest in science and wonder where lots of the innovations we all take for granted, but are not an academic this book supplies all of the information you could want.
The graphics are outstanding. I bought the hardback and it is now part of my library. Very much worth the cost.

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January 11, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Good book on China Histories.

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February 22, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Beautiful book, great illustrations. full of astonishing information. arrived very fast.

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william marotta

Seventeen volumes of knowledge condensed into a small book

June 20, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Joseph Needhan has written a short book about thousands of years of Chinese history, science, discovery, and invention that parallels, and surpasses,in most cases, Western thinking up until about the 17th century, with facts, pictures, and Western authenticity. His book also explains now the West benefited from China transfer of knowledge. Powerfull medicine in one small book.

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James K. Hoffman

Ancient Chinese Technology

April 20, 2004

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Wow. This is an incredible book! Like many readers of popular modern science, I constantly underestimate the inventiveness and technology of ancient man. This book really highlights that. Also, it's an amazing inventory of creativity and inventiveness that the current China seems to be regaining. Imagine very modern inventions like glow-in-the-dark paint and natural gas mining being invented before the First Century AD!
I read this as a way to get familiar with the technology of one of the most inventive people and times in history so that I could use it in conworld creation. I was NOT disappointed! The idea that they had movable type and spill-proof lanterns were revelations to me. Not to mention the quality of their ceramics and lacquer.
However, you've really got to want this information to read this book. I found the author's style to be quite dry and academic. In some cases, it even seemed rather biased in favor of the Chinese, but, as my wife pointed out, that's to be expected considering the subject matter.
All in all, though, the author's writing skills are not enough to keep me from heartily recommending this book to anyone interested in the technology of the ancient world.

14 people found this helpful

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