Song Dynasty during the Intellectual Revolution in China

1. What is the intellectual revolution about?

The Song Dynasty culminated the revolution and innovation of science and
technology in China. During this period, important advances were made in
astronomy, agriculture, industry, medicine, and military technologies. Some of
these advancements include improvements in agriculture, development of
moveable type, uses for gunpowder, invention of a mechanical clock, superior
shipbuilding, the use of paper money, compass navigation, and porcelain
production. Technological advancements, domestic and international trade, and
effective government influenced and advanced Chinese society, resulting in a
population explosion during the Song dynasty.

2. Who are the key figures in the revolution?

Shen Kuo was a Chinese polymathic scientist and diplomat of the Song
dynasty. Excelling in many fields of study and statecraft, he was a
mathematician, astronomer, meteorologist, geologist, and many more.

In his Dream Pool Essays or Dream Torrent Essays of 1088, Shen was
the first to describe the magnetic needle compass, which would be used for
navigation (first described in Europe by Alexander Neckam in 1187). Shen
discovered the concept of true north in terms of magnetic declination towards the
north pole, with experimentation of suspended magnetic needles and the
improved meridian determined by Shen's astronomical measurement of the
distance between the pole star and true north. This was the decisive step in
human history to make compasses more useful for navigation, and may have
been a concept unknown in Europe for another four hundred years.

Su Song was also a Chinese polymathic scientist and diplomat. He was

accomplished in mathematics, astronomy, cartography, geography, mechanical
engineering, hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, invention, philosophy, and
many more during the Song Dynasty.

Su Song was the engineer for a hydro-mechanical astronomical clock

tower in medieval Kaifeng, which employed the use of an early escapement
mechanism. The escapement mechanism of Su's clock tower had been invented
by Buddhist monk Yi Xing and government official Liang Lingzan in 725 AD to
operate a water-powered armillary sphere, although Su's armillary sphere was
the first to be provided with a mechanical clock drive. Su's clock tower also
featured the oldest known endless power-transmitting chain drive, called the tian
ti, or "celestial ladder", as depicted in his horological treatise. The clock tower
had 133 different clock jacks to indicate and sound the hours.
3. How did the revolution advance modern science and scientific thinking at the
time?

The revolution of the Song Dynasty allowed China to have technological

advancements that were significant and helped change the entire country, and
also influenced the science and technology of the world. The reorganization of
China under the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE) set the stage for economic growth
that propelled China into becoming the richest country in the world during the
early part of the eleventh century.

4. What controversies did the revolution meet?

The Song military was weak, thus Political corruption and invasions from
external tribes, and civilian uprisings greatly weakened the Northern Song
Dynasty. Due to weak military strength the Northern Song were not able to
withstand the invasion from the Jin Dynasty. In 1127 the Jin army captured the
Northern Song capital of Kaifeng, ending the Northern Song Dynasty.