Nóng shū 農書 (Wáng Zhēn)
The Agricultural Book by 王禎 (Wáng Zhēn, zì Bóshàn 伯善, fl. 1295–1330s, 元)
About the work
A 22-juan Yuán-period agricultural encyclopedia by Wáng Zhēn, the major work of pre-modern Chinese agricultural literature alongside the Qí mín yào shù (KR3d0001). Completed in Huángqìng 2 (1313). The work has three major parts: (i) Nóngsāng tōng jué 農桑通訣 (general agricultural-sericultural principles); (ii) Bǎigǔ pǔ 百穀譜 (catalog of crops); (iii) Nóng qì tú pǔ 農器圖譜 (illustrated catalog of agricultural implements — the most extensive pre-modern Chinese illustrated technical reference for agricultural tools). Distinguished from Chén Fū’s earlier Nóng shū (KR3d0002) by its much greater scope and its substantial illustrations. Companion to Wáng Zhēn’s celebrated Zào huó zì yìn shū fǎ — one of the earliest pre-modern Chinese descriptions of wooden movable-type printing technology. The frontmatter brackets to ca. 1295–1313.
Abstract
The Wáng Zhēn Nóng shū is the principal Yuán-period agricultural encyclopedia and one of the most consequential pre-modern Chinese technical works. The bibliographic record: Yuán shǐ yìwén zhì; SKQS Zǐbù — Nóngjiā lèi.
Translations and research
- Joseph Needham, Science and Civilisation in China vol. 6.II (Agriculture, 1984) — extensive use.
- Tsien Tsuen-hsuin, Paper and Printing (Science and Civilisation in China vol. 5.I, 1985) — for the printing-method portion.
- Standard modern Chinese editions integrate Wáng Yú-hú 王毓瑚 et al.