Shen Kuo (1031-1095), the word Cunzhong, Zhejiang Qiantang (now Hangzhou). In the ninth year of the Northern Song Dynasty, Shen Kuo was born in a lower official family, the family was not rich, Shen Kuo often said that he was "from a humble family". Mother Xu, is a Suzhou Wu County, know the book, well versed in literature and ink; father Shen Zhou, for the official justice, do not advocate harsh punishment and harsh laws, to the Quanzhou office, Shen Kuo to go. At the age of 24, he became the chief bookkeeper of Bingyang. At this time, the ice and water as a plague, the river silted, flooded into a swamp, disasters are frequent, many fields "ripe not grow food, barren not grow grass", the people's life is very difficult, and at that time the Bingyang magistrate, regardless of the people's livelihood, instead of levying exorbitant taxes, had provoked the farmers to rebel. Superiors in order to calm the people's anger, transferred the magistrate, authorized Shen Kuo acting magistrate, governance Bingyang. Because he went deep into the lower level, understand the people's feelings, follow the people's will, revoke the people's opposition to the unreasonable prohibitions, "choose what can be done and then do it", "concentrate on the matter, and work hard on it". He led the people to open "a hundred canals and nine weirs, and got seven dry hectares of fields", once overcame the yearly flooding of the lower reaches of the Bing River, promoted the development of agriculture, and eased the local social conflicts at that time. He this kind of diligence and pragmatic spirit, won the love of the people. Jiayou years, Shen Kuo took the entrance examination, began the upper echelon of the official career. Shenzong when the cumulative official to Prince Zhongyun, Hanlin Academy Bachelor, and finally as a young secretary of the temple of Guanglu.

Shen Kuo's life can be summarized as two aspects of politics and scientific research, to name a few: in the third year of Xining (1070), he participated in Wang Anshi's change of law, and was a key figure in the reformist faction; in the eighth year of Xining (1075), he went on a mission to Liao, "refuting the Liao's unreasonable demands for land, and safeguarding the sovereignty of the Song family; and then defended the state of Yanzhou (present-day Yan'an) and strengthened the military. Yanzhou (present-day Yan'an, Shaanxi Province), strengthened the armed forces, set up defenses against the border sleep, and effectively defended against the Western Xia. He has always attached importance to the construction of water conservancy, supervise the manufacture of weapons, management of finance, hoping to promote the country strong. Shen Kuo in politics at the same time, his life emphasized scientific research and scientific invention records. The scientific research he carried out, can be said to be extensive, such as observation of celestial phenomena, drawing hunyi Jing table, repair "Feng Yuan Calendar" (similar to today's solar calendar); in the mathematical aspect, the creation of the "gap accumulation technology" and "will be rounded"; in the physical aspect, he found that the existence of geomagnetic declination, more than 400 years before Europe, and the existence of the "magnetic field", the "magnetic field", and the "magnetic field". In physics, he discovered the existence of geomagnetic declination more than 400 years before Europe, and also studied the **** vibration law; in geology, he deduced the formation of alluvial plains from the biological remains of rocks, and also proposed the naming of petroleum. In addition, he also studied medicinal plants and medicine. He wrote a lot in his life, and his famous works include Mengxi Bianan, Changxing ji, and Su Shen liangfang. In the "Ziji Tongjian long edition", there is still a part of his writing "yimao into the country to play", "into the country record" and other information on the history of the government.

Yuanfeng five years (1082), because of Xu Xi lost Yongle City, Shen Kuo was involved in the deportation, living in Runzhou, built Mengxi Garden (now the eastern suburbs of Zhenjiang), dedicated to writing, to the Shao Sheng first year to restore the official title, the following year (1095) resigned at the end of the year, 65 years old.

I, Shen Kuo's life

Shen抬(1031～1095)is China's outstanding scientists in the Northern Song Dynasty. 1031, he was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, a feudal bureaucratic family. 1051 winter, Shen Kuo's father died, according to the provisions of the court, "inheritance of his father's shade," he became Jiangsu In the winter of 1051, Shen Kuo's father passed away, and according to the court's regulations, he became the chief bookkeeper of Muyang County in Jiangsu Province. A few years later, he was transferred to be the acting magistrate of Donghai County in 1055 for his achievements in water conservancy, and in 1061 he became the magistrate of Ningguo County in Anwei, and in 1064 he passed the examination for entering the earth. 1066 he entered the capital city of Kaifeng, and worked in the Zhaowenkan of the state as an editor and editor of books. Here there are many difficult to see the collection of books, he took advantage of the convenience of work, night and day to study hard, a few years will make his knowledge and further enrichment. Until 1074, he served in Kyoto as the Secretary for Heavenly Supervision, Military Weapons Supervision, Hanlin Academy, etc. He was progressive, and actively participated in Wang Anshi's movement to change the law, and in 1085, due to political disputes, he left Kyoto to Xiuzhou (present-day Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province), where he was engaged in the work of compiling and drawing the map of the world's prefectures and counties, and then moved to Runzhou (present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province) after finishing the draft in 1087, when he was 58 years old, and bought a garden there, which is said to be the same as the place he dreamed of when he was young. He bought a garden there, which was said to be similar to the place he dreamed of when he was young, and thus named it "Mengxi Garden". In this garden, he spent all his energy in his later years to complete the "Mengxi Bianan", a scientific masterpiece in the history of Chinese science.

Thirty volumes of Mengxi Bianan***, including three volumes of Supplementary Bianan and one volume of Renewal Bianan. The book is an all-encompassing encyclopedic work. The content involves astronomy, calendar, meteorology, geology, mathematics, physics and so on. Shen Kuo at the age of 64 years old, his "Mengxi Bianan" is entering the final revision and finalization stage, his wife unfortunately died, he himself is also sick, his health is not as good as one day. Finally, one day in 1095. The most outstanding scientist in the history of science and technology in China passed away.

Two, Shen Kuo's learning and research methods

Shen Kuo in his childhood, he was diligent and studious, like to read, encountered problems willing to use their brains, since early childhood has developed a pragmatic, comply with the good character of science, in his childhood with his father who was an official has visited sichuan, fujian, henan and jiangsu and so on many places, which makes him open his eyes, and from which he gained a lot of knowledge, shen Kuo in the scientific study of the biggest characteristic is: in addition to his father, he was the most important thing. Shen Kuo in scientific research is characterized by: in addition to his extensive knowledge, he focuses on the collection of life. Emphasize investigation and research, pay attention to observation and practice, personally participate in scientific experiments. Therefore, for us to leave a rich and valuable scientific masterpiece "Mengxi Bianan".

Three, Shen Kuo in the physical aspects of the main contribution

electromagnetism: (1) the first recorded a simple method of artificial magnetization. That is, "with a magnet to sharpen the needle edge", to make a compass. (2) The first in history to point out the existence of magnetic declination of the geomagnetic field. In other words, the magnetic needle points to the east, but not all the way to the south.

Optics: (l) carefully studied the problem of pinhole imaging and spherical mirror imaging. (2) Studied the translucent mirror, a specially made brass mirror.

In acoustics: (1) Used a paper man to show the **** vibration of sound. (2) "virtual energy to sound" is another insight of Shen Kuo in acoustics. Pointed out: put the cow leather arrow bag (vector clothing) on the ground as a pillow, you can hear the sound of horses and men within a few miles.

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