The New Exploration Of The Understanding Of Optics In Ancient China

Knowledge of optics in ancient China is an important part of Chinese physical knowledge of that time, upon which many a research has been done among the academic community. However, some problems are still worthy of further exploration. For example, how people in ancient times understand illumination, shadowing, and mirror imaging is a typical case. Based on the huge collection of relevant historical data as well as the combination with the work of predecessors, the thesis comprehensively concludes people’s understanding of the illumination, shadowing, and mirror imaging in ancient times. Through analysis and discussion, the thesis has made some breakthroughs in the breadth of the historical exploration and the depth of the knowledge interpretation.The thesis mainly discuss the contains following three aspects:First, people’s understanding of the illumination in ancient times. People in ancient China have observed illumination phenomena in their daily life for a long time, therefore, a rich fund of knowledge about illumination has been accumulated. According to the historical data in ancient literature, the thesis explores the understanding of ancients in the perspectives of the relationships between illumination and the source of light, space, distance and external circumstances and finds that a clear understanding of the relevant factors that have effects on illumination strength and change regularity has been had. These understandings play a vital role in guiding ancients’ everyday life and helping them engage in related activities.Second, people’s understanding of the shadowing in ancient times. The thesis further explores the knowledge of ancient shadowing in the aspects of ancients understanding of the definition of shadow, the necessary conditions for shadows to form as well as the awareness of the relationships between light, shape, and shadow. The conclusion is that detailed observation and correct understanding towards shadowing have already been had. As we can see, the definition of shadow made by ancients is fairly clear; their understanding of the conditions for shadow to form is comparatively comprehensive. Moreover, they have a certain understanding of the relationships between light, shape, and shadow, but there is still a lot to be improved. It is not until the introduction of western learning that overall discussions about the relationships between light, shape, and shadow have been made by people in Ming and Qing dynasties under the influence of missionaries. In addition, ancients have also made discussions about multiple shadowing, direct shadowing, and inverted shadowing.Third, people’s understanding of the flat mirror images in ancient times. Ancients’understanding of the flat mirror images comprises of the following aspects: mirror reflection; mirror imaging and its characteristics; the imaging of the combination of mirror; the use of the flat mirror images in ancient life. Through the observation and discussion of the flat mirror images, ancients have summed up some experience. That is, they have learned the relationships between image, shape and imaging. Moreover, due to the needs of regional activities, Taoists and Buddhists in ancient times attached great importance to the use of the flat mirror images. In this way, they have deepened the understanding of the flat mirror images, and endowed it with religious connotations to a certain degree. Relevant laws have not been summarized even though ancients have put the flat mirror images into long-term use and made many a study.