(1031 – 1095)

Shen Kuo was versatile and profoundly prolific. Like all polymaths, he embraced a wide variety of interests. From mathematics to astronomy, and from biology to geology, he explored all avenues. Despite serving full-time as a bureaucrat in various capacities, he found enough time to research and publish. Evidence showed that he expanded his quests into: pharmacology, optics, magnetism, hydraulics and agriculture. One of his treatises is the earliest known publication which describe magnetic compass: an improvement on the south-pointing chariot which Ma Jun and Zu Chongzhi described. Other treatises touched non-scientific topics like literature, music, philosophy and governance. Kuo’s foundations in geometry were detailed and outstanding. His applications of geometry to the problems of astronomy helped improve trigonometry. For instance, Guo Shoujing used Kuo’s works on the lengths of arcs of circles as the basis for revamping spherical trigonometry nearly two centuries after Kuo’s death. Regarding pharmacology, Kuo detailed both the preparations and the administrations of various drugs: with respective information on their contraindications. He also championed advances in the geological evaluations of landscapes: paying attention to rock-types and fossilized sediments. His documentations on how to exploit predatory arthropods as pest-controllers consolidate his biological and agricultural insights. An outstanding polymath who spared no academic field which existed during his era, his triumphs — just like Su Song’s — played key roles in advancing Asian arts and sciences. In recognition, several items (including the 2027 Shen Guo asteroid) were named after him. But like Song’s, most of his publications (including maps) did not survive.

 

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