Tiangong Kaiwu

The Tiangong Kaiwu (天工開物), or The Exploitation of the Works of Nature was a Chinese encyclopedia compiled by Song Yingxing. It was published in May 1637 with funding provided by Song's patron Tu Shaokui.^[1]^[2]^[3] The Tiangong Kaiwu is an encyclopedia covering a wide range of technical issues, including the use of various gunpowder weapons. Copies of the book were very scarce in China during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) (due to the government's establishment of monopolies over certain industries described in the book), but original copies of the book were preserved in Japan.^[4]

^ Song, Yingxing (1637). "Tiangong Kaiwu" [The Exploitation of the Works of Nature]. World Digital Library (in Chinese). Jiangxi Sheng, China. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
^ Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 36.
^ Song, xiv.
^ Cite error: The named reference needham volume 4 part 2 172 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] Song, Yingxing (1637). "Tiangong Kaiwu" [The Exploitation of the Works of Nature]. World Digital Library (in Chinese). Jiangxi Sheng, China. Retrieved 28 May 2013.

[needham_volume_5_part_7_36-2] Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 36.

[Song-3] Song, xiv.

[needham_volume_4_part_2_172-4] Cite error: The named reference needham volume 4 part 2 172 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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