Xu Shou

Xu Shou

Xu shou (February 26, 1818 to September 24, 1884), born in Xuecun, Jiangsu Province, was a famous scientist in the late Qing Dynasty, an enlightener of modern Chinese chemistry and a pioneer of modern Chinese shipbuilding industry.

In China, the systematic introduction of the basic knowledge of modern chemistry began in the 1860s. In this respect, Xu Shou has done important work, and many experts in the history of science have recommended Xu Shou as the enlightener of modern Chinese chemistry. When he was a teenager, Xu Shou studied the classics and history, studied a hundred schools of thought, and often expressed some original opinions, which were praised by many people. However, he did not succeed in the entrance examination for the student who was qualified as a scholar. After reflection, he felt that learning eight part essay was really useless, and resolutely gave up his plan to become an official through the imperial examination. Since then, he began to dabble in astronomy, calendar, arithmetic and other books, preparing to learn some science and technology to serve the country and the people.

Life of the characters

Early times

He was born in shegangli, Wuxi County, Jiangsu Province on February 22, 1818. Xu's family lived in Wuxi. He was a poor peasant family. Xu Shou's grandfather worked as a peddler as well as a farmer, and his family became increasingly wealthy. Xu Shou's father Wen Biao was probably the first scholar in the Xu family. Unfortunately, he died prematurely at the age of 26. Xu Shou was only 4 years old. His mother, the Song family, took pains to raise him and his two younger sisters. At the age of 17, his mother also died. Before that, he had married and had a son.

In his early years, Xu Shou also learned to take ziye as an example. He thought that it was useless and practical, so he abandoned it. Obviously, the eight part poems can not solve the livelihood problem of his family. In order to support his family, he had to work in agriculture and business at the same time, trafficking grain to Shanghai. It is commendable that Xu Shou did not give up his pursuit of knowledge. The hardships of life and the practical experience of farming and business made him feel that poetry was useless. Therefore, he turned to the study of practical application when he was very young. At that time, it was the eve of the Opium War, the Qing Dynasty had been on the decline, and social contradictions were becoming increasingly prominent. Young Xu Shou set up the motto of "no ambiguity, no nonsense, no sincerity" and "no nonsense, no careless words, no star fate, no geomancy, no wizard prophecy". He adhered to the purpose of serving the world and began to study the useful knowledge in the classics. When he studied the book of songs, Yugong and other classics, he listed the mountains, rivers and products recorded in the books as a table. When he studied the historical and geographical works such as Chunqiu, Hanshu and shuijingzhu, he paid attention to the evolution of ancient and modern geography. He likes everything that is useful.

Wuxi, Xu Shou's hometown, is a famous land of fish and rice, as well as a well-known handicraft town. There are many craftsmen there. This kind of atmosphere also influenced Xu Shou. Since he was a child, he has been fond of craft making. "He is less interested in attacking gold and has a lot of hand-made instruments.". Probably because of this love, he gradually turned from extensive reading to scientific and technological research. Xu Shou has a wide range of interests in science and technology, such as mathematics, astronomy, calendar, physics, temperament, medicine, mining and so on. He not only devoted himself to the study of ancient Chinese scientific and technological books, but also studied the western scientific and technological works translated from Europe in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. He thinks that technological manufacturing is based on scientific knowledge, and the scientific principles are reflected by technological manufacturing, so he always "studies physics, deduces and studies Gezhi". As a result, not only his scientific accomplishment has been greatly improved, but also his level of making technical instruments has been gradually improved.

Research instruments

In Xu Shou's youth, there were no schools or institutions specialized in scientific research in China. He said that "Gezhi's management of fiber and micro, not by the system can not show its use.". Xu Shou's method of learning modern scientific knowledge is self-study. To insist on self-study requires perseverance, which Xu Shou has because he has a sincere pursuit of knowledge and science. In self-study, his fellow countryman Hua Juifang (a famous scientist in modern times, good at mathematics, 15 years younger than Xu Shou) is his fellow student. They often discuss difficult problems together and inspire each other.

In learning methods, Xu Shou pays great attention to the combination of theory and practice. In 1853, Xu Shou and Hua Hongfang went to Shanghai together to seek new knowledge. They went to mohai library, which was founded by missionaries of London church, and met Li Shanlan, who was well-known in Western learning and mathematics at that time. Li Shanlan is working in the Mohai Library in Shanghai to translate modern western physics, animals and plants, mineralogy and other books. Li Shanlan was impressed by their open-minded attitude of seeking advice and serious study. When they returned from Shanghai, they bought books and instruments for physics experiments. After returning home, Xu Shou carried out a series of physical experiments according to the tips in the book. In order to study optics, he could not buy triangular glass, so he ground his crystal stamp into a triangle to observe the seven color spectrum of light. He studied physics in combination with experiments, and quickly mastered a lot of modern physics knowledge. Once, he gave a physical experiment demonstration to several children, including Hua Shifang, Hua's younger brother. First fold a small paper man, and then use the rubbed round glass rod to command the paper man to dance. The children were surprised and amused. Through this demonstration, he passed on the knowledge of electricity generation by friction to others.

In 1856, Xu Shou went to Shanghai again and read the Chinese translation of the new edition of natural history, which was just published by mohai library and edited by British doctor Hexin. The first episode of this book introduces modern chemical knowledge such as oxygen, nitrogen and other chemicals, as well as some chemical experiments. These knowledge and experiments aroused his great interest. In accordance with the method of learning physics, he bought some experimental instruments and drugs, and according to the records in the book, he read while experimenting, which deepened his understanding of chemical knowledge and improved his skills in chemical experiments. Xu Shou even designed some experiments to show his creativity. His unremitting self-study and the combination of experiment and theory eventually made him a famous scholar who mastered modern scientific knowledge.

The humiliation of the failure of the Opium War promoted the upsurge of Westernization in the ruling group of the Qing Dynasty. The so-called Westernization refers to dealing with the diplomatic activities of western countries, buying foreign guns, guns, warships, building factories, developing mines, building railways and running schools. However, as feudal bureaucrats, most of the Westernization groups did not understand these foreign knowledge. In order to set up a Westernization Movement, in addition to employing some foreign teachers, it is also necessary to recruit and train some Chinese talents who understand western learning. Li Hongzhang, the leader of the Westernization Movement, wrote that in addition to the eight part essay examination, he should also cultivate technical personnel and set up a special subject to select talents. In this case, the erudite Xu Shou attracted the attention of the Westernization school, and Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang and Zhang Zhidong all appreciated him. In 1861, Zeng Guofan set up an ordnance research institute in Anqing. He recruited Xu Shou, his son Xu Jianyin, and some other scholars, including Hua Hengfang, with the recommendation of studying the number of fine weapons and being knowledgeable.

Modern shipbuilding

In March 1862, Xu Shou and Hua juofang entered the Anqing internal ordnance institute founded by Zeng Guofan. At that time, they were very indignant to see foreign ships crashing in China's inland rivers. They worked together and were determined to make steam engines for China. However, there are no drawings and no data. I only saw a sketch of the steam engine from the book new edition of natural history, and then I went to a foreign small ship moored at the edge of the Yangtze River in Anqing to observe for a day. After repeated research and careful design, it took three months to finally make China's first steam engine in July 1862, which was the beginning of modern Chinese industry. After the successful trial production of the steam engine, they started trial production of the steam ship. In 1863, Xu Shou, Hua Juifang and Xu Jianyin, Xu Shou's second son (only 17 years old at that time), started the trial production of steam powered ships at Anqing Nei ordnance Institute. At that time, the navy of the Qing army used sailboats and oars, which were not only slow, but also affected by the wind direction, wind and tide, far behind the steam powered ships owned by western capitalist countries. A group of advanced Chinese, such as Wei Yuan and Zheng Fuguang, saw this huge gap and called on the Chinese to build their own steam ships in order to compete with the invaders on the river and sea. In order to attack the Taiping army, Zeng Guofan, the leader of Hunan army at that time, adopted the suggestion of making steam ships and appointed Xu, Hua and others to make preparations.

In 1864, anqingnei ordnance Institute moved to Nanjing, where they continued to engage in manufacturing research. In April 1866, under the leadership of Xu Shou and Hua juofang, Nanjing Jinling machinery manufacturing Bureau (today's Chenguang Machinery Factory) manufactured the first steam powered ship of the Chinese Navy, Huanghu. One day in April, banners were displayed at Xiaguan Wharf in Nanjing. The first voyage of "Huanghu" was held here. "Huanghu" is 55 feet long, with a displacement of 45 tons and a wooden shell. The main engine is inclined horizontal double steam engine, which is feasible for about 12.8 kilometers per hour and consumes more than 8000 liang of silver. Zeng Guofan and Zeng Jize attended the ceremony. In explaining the meaning of the ship's name, Zeng Guofan said: "according to the ancient books, Huang Hu, a big bird, is the one who flies thousands of miles." The first steamship of the Chinese army, China's modern shipbuilding industry, set sail from here.

At the end of 1866, Li Hongzhang and Zeng Guofan wanted to build Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Bureau in Shanghai, which was mainly engaged in military production. Because of his outstanding talent, Xu Shou was sent to Shanghai to run Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing General Office

Chinese PinYin : Xu Shou