Tàixī shuǐ fǎ 泰西水法
Hydraulic Methods of the Greater West by 西洋熊三拔 (Sabatino de Ursis, 1575–1620, 明) — with 徐光啟 (Xú Guāngqǐ, 1562–1633) as Chinese co-author / translator
(Note: the catalog title 秦西水法 has 秦 — a typographical slip for 泰. The correct title 泰西水法 “Hydraulic Methods of the Greater West / Europe” is the standard. Both 秦西 and 泰西 occur in Late-Míng Chinese usage referring to Europe; here the SKQS tíyào form would clarify, but the standard form is 泰西.)
About the work
A 6-juan Late-Míng work translating and adapting European hydraulic-engineering and irrigation methods, jointly composed by the Italian Jesuit Sabatino de Ursis and the Chinese Christian shìdàfū Xú Guāngqǐ in Wànlì 40 (1612). The work introduces European water-lifting devices (lóng wěi chē 龍尾車 — Archimedes screw; yù héng chē 玉衡車 — pumps), aqueduct construction, and irrigation theory. The frontmatter brackets to 1612.
Abstract
The Tàixī shuǐ fǎ is one of the principal works of Late-Míng Chinese-Western technical encounter, alongside the Ricci-Xú Jǐhé yuán běn (Euclid translation). The work is incorporated into Xú Guāngqǐ’s later Nóng zhèng quán shū (KR3d0007). The bibliographic record: Míng shǐ yìwén zhì; SKQS Zǐbù — Nóngjiā lèi.
Translations and research
- Joseph Needham, Science and Civilisation in China vol. 4.II (Mechanical Engineering) — extensive use.
- Catherine Jami’s writings on Late-Míng Chinese-Jesuit science.
- Standard modern Chinese editions.
Links
- Nóng zhèng quán shū (KR3d0007) — incorporates this work.
- Kyoto Zinbun, Sìkù quánshū zǒngmù tíyào
- Wikipedia
- Wikidata