Research On History, Philosophy And Expression Of Hou Kuangchun’s Academic Thought

As systematic human rational cognition, academic thought is the intrinsic reflection of elite undertaking academic research activities in a specific era, which often bears the greatest information that has exceeded the era. Therefore, to explore the academic activities and academic thought of a certain master or elite is an important way to review and outlook the development of the subject area in the era from the perspective of academic history. Hou Kuangchun (1905～1996), also known as Hou Yiru, is an academician of Academy of China (former faculty member), British Royal Society Fellow and an professor at the national level. He is considered as one of the pioneers and founders of soil science in China. Hou Kuangchun’s academic career spanned half a century, his academic achievements and noble character have already been on everybody’s lips. To explore and sublimation Hou Kuangchun’s academic life and thought has the important theoretical significance, academic value and practical care. It is helpful of us to promote the development of modern agriculture soil science, heritage Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought and strengthen good academic atmosphere. At present, the research on Hou Kuangchun’s agricultural soil theory and documentary or commemorative research provide a rich historical data, profound theoretical learning and practical guidance. But on the whole, a comprehensive and system research on Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought has not yet started, the current study showed relatively weak and fragmented features, lack of in-depth demonstration and mining, which is disproportionate to his position in the history of the development of agricultural soil science. Therefore, the thesis systematically summarizes Hou Kuangchun’s life and academic history to track the origin and source of his academic study, analyzes Hou Kuangchun’s academic values, research methods, academic ideas and style, then discusses Hou Kuangchun’s specific aspects of agricultural soil theory, technology of natural No-Tillage in paddy field and agroecosystems. On this basis, the thesis look into the future of Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought.1. The origin and source of Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought(1) Hou Kuangchun’s academic career spanned70years (1927to1996). The start time of academic career and modern soil science is nearly the same, and both the development process of them close link with a high degree of overlap. Hou Kuangchun’s academic life can be broadly divided into seven phases as junior school life, budding, struggling, ambitious exhibition, downturn, glory days and continuity of thought. Each phase was shown different content characteristics.(2) On the basis of fully absorbing the advanced research concepts, methods and techniques of European and American soil science and Soviet Union soil science, Hou Kuangchun founded the soil science with Chinese characteristics according to the actual conditions in china. The so-called "Chinese characteristics", specifically includes the research concept, research methods and research findings. The research concept mainly means that soil science should give service to the agriculture production that Hou Kuangchun had build up during the period of1930s. The research methods mainly mean summary and distillation of peasant production experience that Hou Kuangchun advocated. The research findings mainly mean the physiologic of agricultural soil, bio-thermodynamic theory of soil fertility and technology of natural No-Tillage that suited to China’s national conditions.(3) Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought is affected by Various factors as social environment, family environment, mentor teachings and his qualities and so on. Under the influence of series of factors, Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought begins to take shape, and undergoes a course of progressive development which is from immature to mature, more fragment to system.2. Philosophical perspective view of Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought(1) Great care to three agriculture reflects the Hou Kuangchun’s academic values. First, serving agriculture:soil science should give service to the agriculture production. In the early days, soil and agricultural production were separated from each other. Hou Kuangchun insisted that Chinese soil science research should take a road with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to distinguish from American research road that production practice is completely divorced from scientific research, but also Unlike the traditional way lack of basic scientific theory and methods to solve specific production problems. Second, rooted in rural areas:heart of field and the earth. Hou Kuangchun believed that only rooted in the rural areas is the "bright future", and this is also for himself "a very fortunate change". Third, respect for farmers:"I am a farmer’s son.’ Hou Kuangchun was born in the farmhouse, he frequently contacted farmers from his childhood. So Hou Kuangchun had "a simple class feelings" for farmers. With the deepening of soil science, his attitude towards the farmers transformed from the initial sympathy into sincere admiration, praise, respect the farmers’produce practical wisdom.(2)"Bowed practice for true knowledge" is the basic feature of Hou Kuangchun’s scientific method. First, the study way to long-term stay in the rural areas. The so-called extended stay, is the basis by means of rural research platform for innovative research on science theory and technology. Not only that, Hou Kuangchun expanded its capabilities to promote new technologies and new varieties, training and education. Second, the methods of farmers experience and field experiments combining. Hou Kuangchun extremely focused on learning, reviewing, validating and refining the experience of the farmers production. But as soil science is an experimental science to some extent, he also attached great importance to the field observation and experimental analysis. Third, dialogue and integration:study abroad, visit exchanges and cooperation. Hou Kuangchun fame and foothold in the field of soil science which is inextricably linked with studying abroad, visiting exchanges and cooperating.(3) Innovation is the core content of Hou Kuangchun’s academic ideas and style. First, dialectical materialism. The formation and development of Hou Kuangchun’s dialectical materialism has gone through a long period of time. As an early simple spontaneous dialectical materialist, Hou Kuangchun was gradually transformed into a dialectical materialist, using dialectical materialism in his research practice. Second, realistic and innovative spirit of scientific research. Hou Kuangchun dared to challenge tradition and authority, to uphold and demonstrate his views. The continuous exploration and innovation is the essence of the spirit of his research. Third, the ideas of unity of days, ground, human and objects. The view of unity of days (climate), ground (topography, geology, hydrology, etc.), human (anthropogenic activities, especially farming measures) and objects (farming materials and other vegetation) has obvious dialectical materialism thought. It is the combination of soil science and philosophy. Fourth, the concept of interdisciplinary and integration. Hou Kuangchun started from trends of the natural sciences to analyze the phenomenon in agricultural science, out of which leads to multi-disciplinary branch of soil science and integration problems and their solutions.3. Study on Hou Kuangchun’s theory of agricultural soil(1) As China’s first generation of soil scientists, Hou Kuangchun is pioneer and founder of China’s agricultural soil science. In terms of the creation of agricultural soil science, he not only analyzed the fundamental flaw of the past soil science and their causes, but also defined the theoretical connotation, research object and content of agricultural soil science, and then revealed deficiencies in the process of development of agricultural soil science and their ways. When the importance of agricultural soil science in the production practice began to be recognized, Hou Kuangchun for the first time clearly stated that agricultural soil science has a distinct production practicality and gave a detailed explanation.(2) The bio-thermodynamic theory of soil fertility that Hou Kuangchun founded, on the basis of summarizing and sublimating practical experience from the farmers, is a major theoretical discovery. Based on the existing thesis that agricultural soil is a natural body of history", he put forward that the soil is a natural body of history that is living. Until Beckmann proposed that soil is organism and natural body with complex structure and evolution in1984, it is indicated that Hou Kuangchun’s view leads the world more than20years. Hou Kuangchun first proposed the definition and basic laws of concept of physiologic of soil, marking soil research ideas gradually be integrated. On this basis, he re-interpretated the definition and nature of soil fertility. The soil fertility and improvement measures such as "little three" and "junior three" that Hou Kuangchun proposed have played an important role in agricultural production practice activities.(3) Hou Kuangchun proposed the physiological-based classification methods of agricultural soil, different from the traditional methods. In1935, he for the first time raised paddy soil as a separate type, being the beginning of study on paddy soil in China. Under the guidance of the physiologic of soil and bio-thermodynamic theory of soil fertility, he discussed the physiological types and classification system of paddy soil, getting rid of the traditional research perspective. For the classification system of purple soil, he advocated genesis classification and agricultural soil type in order to build national classification system of agricultural soil. (4) Based on the experience and lessons in practical work, Hou Kuangchun explored and sublimated issues in soil survey, planning and agricultural zoning. In his view, it is necessary to figure out some theories in the work of soil survey, such as major diagnostic project in the soil survey planning. For soil agricultural zoning, Hou Kuangchun started from hydrothermal conditions to divide soil agricultural zoning into region, soil area, soil and soil-piece sets and other five.4. Study on Hou Kuangchun’s theory of agroecosystem(1) Soil and water conservation is one of the main contents of Hou Kuangchun later years of academic research. Under the guidance of his theory of the bio-thermodynamic of soil fertility and agroecosystem, Hou Kuangchun systematically summarized the experience and lessons of work of Soil and water conservation in American, explored the standard and system of the soil and water conservation zoning, and put forward specific measures to address erosion problems that currently exist. Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought can provides a theoretical reference and suggestions for work of soil and water conservation in China.(2) Hou Kuangchun believed that ecological agriculture was basic means of a high-yield, high quality and efficient agriculture. It is dialectical analysis of internal contradictions and harmonize methods of ecosystems as the main feature. From the perspective of ecological fertility of soil, Hou Kuangchun gave the ecological agriculture and technical countermeasures a new interpretation, think that the establishment of different types of ecological agriculture base was necessary. At the same time, he proposed the close link between developing ecological agriculture and curing Yangtze flooding disasters.(3) As an agricultural soil scientist, Hou Kuangchun began to focus on the actual situation on the domestic agricultural sector fertilization as early as the1920s, and later on the basis of summing up and distillating experience of the peasant masses, extract the fertilizing principle in the "Three Views" Experience of farmers. During the test, Hou Kuangchun gave a detailed discussion for techniques of organic fertilizer fertilization and outlined the basic content of rational use of fertilizer. Overall, Hou Kuangchun provided a general direction content and scope for future research.5. Study on Hou Kuangchun’s technology of natural No-Tillage in paddy fields(1) About the relationship between no-tillage and precision farming, Hou Kuangchun proposed that no-tillage and precision fanning are reconcilable. The two share a common vision, that is "to ensure the soil structure, making coordination and stability of water, heat, gas and fertilizer. About the distinction between natural no-tillage and American no-tillage, Hou Kuangchun researched through trial and error, verified the nature no-tillage relative superiority of American style, and had been internationally recognized. On the real meaning of natural no-tillage technology, Hou Kuangchun emphatically affirmed the economic and scientific aspects, proved natural no-tillage technology should be a fully integrated body of theory and practice.(2) As a new farming technology, the technology of natural no-tillage in paddy fields has an extremely strict and complex technologies and mechanisms, including semi-dry no-tillage cultivation of rice and wheat and no-tillage utilization of paddy fields. Hou Kuangchun pointed out the main features of technology of natural No-Tillage in paddy fields, that is through ridge rather than conventional flat, immersing rather than basin irrigation and other ways to change the field surface micro-topography, promoting physiological harmonization in a permanent state between soil and plants. Further, he summed the mechanism of technology of natural no-tillage in paddy fields for "four consecutive, four do not" and that is a unity.(3) The technology of natural no-tillage in paddy fields is a groundbreaking study of international advanced level, both in production has been widely applied in practice, or in-depth follow-up study continues, it will show a huge comprehensive benefits, and has broad prospects for development. Hou Kuangchun had an extremely rigorous scientific approach, demonstrated comprehensive benefits and prospects for technology of natural no-tillage in paddy fields. This is not only for his many years of rigorous academic research and meticulous, it is the peasant masses seriously.In general, different from the previous article to commemorate or documentary, the thesis focuses on academic research to tap Hou Kuangchun’s academic achievements and their implication in the idea. In future work, the following studies may be strengthened:philosophical foundation and meaning of Hou Kuangchun’s academic thought; the inheritance and development of Hou Kuangchun’s academic research results and ideas inherent.