The stable and prosperous society of the Ming Dynasty provided the conditions necessary for great achievements in science and technology. Among the renowned scientists of the time were Li Shizhen, Song Yingxing, Xu Xiake, and Xu Guangqi.

Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), by Li Shizhen , is one of the great medical works of classical China.

Tiangong Kaiwu (Exploitation of the Works of Nature), by Song Yingxing, is a work of unprecedented scope, containing detailed records of the technology and methods used in Chinese agriculture and handicrafts.

Over 200 valuable illustrations exhaustively portray the workings of a wide range of machinery and equipment.

Xu Xiake Youji (The Travels of Xu Xiake) took its author, geographer Xu Xiake, thirty years to complete. This 600,000 character treatise on the physical features of China is one of the great works of classical Chinese science, and has been invaluable to the development of Chinese geography.

Nongzheng Quanshu (Complete Treatise on Agricultural Management), by Xu Guangqi, records the author's lifetime of agricultural experiments and research. This comprehensive compilation of agricultural data discusses a wide range of subjects, including government agricultural policies and systems; soil and water conservancy; fertilizers and food processing; and handicrafts and textile production.

Numerous illustrations add to the great value of this volume, one of the most important works of classical Chinese agricultural science.

(ChinaCulture.org June 17, 2005)