Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 5, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 4, Spagyrical Discovery and Invention: Apparatus, Theories and Gifts

Front Cover
Cambridge University Press, Sep 25, 1980 - Science - 804 pages
The fifth volume of Dr Needham's immense undertaking, like the fourth, is subdivided into parts for ease of assimilation and presentation, each part bound and published separately. The volume as a whole covers the subjects of alchemy, early chemistry, and chemical technology (which includes military invention, especially gunpowder and rockets; paper and printing; textiles; mining and metallurgy; the salt industry; and ceramics).
 

Selected pages

Contents

List of Illustrations
xiii
List of Tables
xxiii
List of Abbreviations
xxv
Acknowledgements
xxix
Authors Note
xxxi
ALCHEMY AND CHEMISTRY continued f Laboratory apparatus and equipment p
1
1 The laboratory bench p
10
2 The stoves lu and tsao p
11
i The Salernitan quintessence p
122
ii Ming naturalists p
132
iii Thang burntwine p
141
iv Liang frozenout wine p
151
v From icy mountain to torrid still p
155
vi Oils in stills the rose and the flamethrower p
158
9 Laboratory instruments and accessory equipment p
162
g Reactions in aqueous medium p
167

3 The reactionvessels ting tripod container cauldron and kuei box casing container aludel p
16
4 The sealed reactionvessels shen shih aludel lit magical reaction chamber and yao fu chemical pyx p
22
5 Steaming apparatus waterbaths cooling jackets condenser tubes and temperature stabilisers p
26
6 Sublimation apparatus p
44
7 Distillation and extraction apparatus p
55
ii The distillation of seawater p
60
iii East Asian types of still p
62
iv The stills of the Chinese alchemists p
68
v The evolution of the still p
80
vi The geographical distribution of still types p
103
8 The coming of Ardent Water p
121
h The theoretical background of elixir alchemy with Nathan Sivin p
210
2 The spectrum of alchemy p
220
4 The alchemist as accelerator of cosmic process p
242
5 Cosmic correspondences embodied in apparatus p
279
6 Protochemical anticipations p
298
i Comparative macrobiotics p
323
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
510
GENERAL INDEX
693
Table of Chinese Dynasties
761
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

alchemists alchemy already ancient apparatus appears Arabic Berthelot called century Chang chemical chemistry Chen Chhi Chih Chin China Chinese Ching Chiu Chou cinnabar collection connection containing discussed distillation earlier early earth elements elixir example fire Five further give given gold Greek heat History hsiao Huang idea important interesting kind known late later lead material means medicine mentioned mercury metals method mineral Ming natural occurs origin passage Pên Tshao perhaps period Persian possible preparation present probably reference seems Shen Shih silver similar substances Sung Taoist term Thang theory things thought Thung tradition translation unknown vessel Wang West wine Writer Yellow Yuan

References to this book

Bibliographic information

TitleScience and Civilisation in China: Volume 5, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 4, Spagyrical Discovery and Invention: Apparatus, Theories and Gifts
Science and Civilisation in China
AuthorsJoseph Needham, Ho Ping-Yu, Lu Gwei-Djen, Nathan Sivin
Editionillustrated
PublisherCambridge University Press, 1980
ISBN052108573X, 9780521085731
Length804 pages
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Science / History
Technology & Engineering / History
  
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