The Herbalist’s Legacy
In ancient China, the term “scientist” did not exist, yet this did not mean science was absent. During the late Ming Dynasty, four great figures emerged, comparable to any in the world at the time. While the “Four Masters of Painting” (Shen Zhou, Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying) were celebrated for their art, these scientific giants left a different, equally profound legacy.
The first was Li Shizhen, born in Qizhou, Hubei, during the Jiajing era. Born into a family of physicians, he was pressured by his father to pursue the Imperial Examinations for officialdom. However, Li had no interest in politics; his passion lay in medicine and herbs. He eventually persuaded his father to let him practice medicine. While treating villagers, he studied medical texts and noticed numerous errors and omissions regarding medicinal properties. This sparked an ambition to compile a comprehensive pharmacopoeia.
His reputation grew, leading to appointments at the Chu Prince’s manor and later as an imperial physician in Beijing. Finding the court life stifling and trivial compared to treating complex illnesses among the people, he resigned after a few years. Returning home in his forties, he dedicated himself to his magnum opus. Traveling through several provinces with his son and disciples, he climbed mountains to collect specimens and verified ancient records. After decades of toil, he completed the Compendium of Materia Medica. Containing 1,892 distinct drugs, over 11,000 prescriptions, and 1,100 illustrations, it was not only a masterpiece of traditional Chinese medicine but also a seminal work in botany, zoology, and mineralogy that impressed Western scientists upon its translation.
The Encyclopedia of Industry
Song Yingxing, from Fengxin, Jiangxi, shared Li Shizhen’s pragmatic spirit. Although he obtained the rank ofJuren (provincial graduate) and served as an official, his true interest lay in technology and craftsmanship, influenced by his family’s background in construction. He believed that human well-being depended on practical skills and hard work.
During his travels as an official, Song meticulously observed local technologies and production methods. He compiled these observations into a massive volume titledTiangong Kaiwu (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature). The book covered a staggering array of subjects: grain cultivation, oil extraction, textiles, dyes, salt, sugar, ceramics, metallurgy, shipbuilding, vehicle manufacturing, coal mining, paper making, weaponry, gunpowder, pigments, fermentation, and jewelry. Illustrated with detailed diagrams, it stands as the definitive summary of ancient Chinese agricultural and handicraft technology, containing many techniques that were globally advanced. While some scholar-officials dismissed these subjects as “trivial tricks,” Song recognized that civilization could not exist without them.
The Great Wanderer
Perhaps the most physically adventurous of the group was Xu Xiake (born Xu Hongzu) from Jiangyin, Jiangsu. Never an official, Xu lived for travel and geographical exploration. Fascinated by the Yangtze River and the classicClassic of Mountains and Seas, he wondered about the true sources of rivers and the reality behind mythological geographies.
At age twenty-two, after mourning his father, he wished to travel but hesitated due to his aging mother. His mother, Lady Wang, however, encouraged him, stating that a man’s ambition lies in the four directions and he should not be cooped up like a barnyard fowl. She fashioned a “Far-Travel Hat” for him and asked only that he return safely with stories of his journeys. For over thirty years, Xu braved storms, climbed precipices, explored caves, and survived bandit attacks. Despite his long absences, he always returned to care for his family, finding his mother managing the household and farming with remarkable resilience.
When his mother reached her seventies, she insisted on traveling with him. They visited the limestone caves of Yixing (Shanjuan and Zhanggong Caves), where the elderly woman walked ahead of her son, delighted by the “fairyland” scenery. After her death in her eighties, Xu dedicated himself to writing his findings to honor her memory. The resulting Xu Xiake Travel Diaries are not only literary masterpieces but also contain pioneering geological insights, particularly regarding karst topography, unmatched by any contemporary in the world.
Bridging East and West
Unlike the others, Xu Guangqi of Shanghai rose to the highest echelons of power, becoming a Grand Secretary (Senior Grand Tutor) with the rank of First Grade. Yet, he remained grounded in science. Growing up in a farming family, he maintained a lifelong interest in agriculture, experimenting with crop rotation and introducing southern rice strains to the north.
His intellectual horizon expanded when he encountered European Jesuit missionaries who arrived during the Wanli era. He befriended Matteo Ricci, an Italian polymath proficient in astronomy, mathematics, and geography. Xu converted to Catholicism and collaborated with Ricci to translate Western scientific works, most notably Euclid’s Elements (Jihe Yuanben). Later, under Emperor Ming Sizong, Xu proposed revising the imperial calendar. He recruited German missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell, Portuguese missionary Giacomo Rho, and Italian Nicolas Longobardi to assist. This collaboration resulted in the Chongzhen Calendar, which integrated Western astronomical knowledge.
Despite his high office, Xu never abandoned agriculture. In his twilight years, he led a team to compile the Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration, covering land management, production techniques, and state policy. It remains one of the most famous agricultural books in Chinese history. Tragically, Xu died at seventy-two before seeing its publication.
A Legacy Amidst Collapse
Emperor Ming Sizong held Xu Guangqi in high regard, posthumously promoting him to Taibao and granting him the honorific title “Wending.” When presented with Xu’s manuscript, the Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration, the Emperor approved its printing. However, the chaotic state of the empire prevented him from focusing on such scholarly pursuits. With the Jin army pressing in Liaodong and peasant rebellions erupting in Shaanxi – threatening to overthrow the very dynasty that had risen from similar uprisings – the Emperor was overwhelmed, leaving the scientific legacies of these four men to endure long after the Ming dust had settled.
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