Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 284 Yin and Yang officials are not ordinary people
"Your grandpa, the emperor, pushed against all opinions and implemented the strategy of cruising the sea, which led to a large number of industries. In particular, the prosperity of the navigation and shipbuilding industries promoted the progress of science and technology."

Zhu Gaoxu added: "As you know, science refers to learning by subject, and studying various knowledge through detailed classification to form a gradually complete knowledge system. The so-called technology is the art of technique."

"There are both close connections and important differences between the two. In summary, science solves theoretical problems and technology solves practical problems."

"My son knows."

Zhu Zhanyu said respectfully: "My son has probably read the book "Science and Technology" that took my father three years to complete at least ten times. It is because of the illustrations in this book that my ninth brother became interested in steam engines. There was a lot of interest.”

At this point, he recited a sentence from the book explaining science and technology, saying: "The problem that science needs to solve is to discover the relationship between the solid facts and phenomena between heaven and earth, and to establish theories to connect the facts and phenomena. The task of technology is to apply scientific results to practical problems."

Zhu Gaoxu was thinking about taking the college entrance examination and asked: "What is technology?"

Zhu Zhanyu replied: "People are accustomed to linking science and technology, collectively called science and technology, or science and technology for short. Therefore, the essence of science and technology is to discover or invent the connection between things, through which various substances form specific system to achieve a specific function.”

"For example, the principle of the Sinan used in navigation is to use the attraction of the magnetic fields of the south and north poles of the earth to indicate the south and north directions. Its principle is a science. And the Sinan itself is a technology."

Zhu Gaoxu stroked his beard and said, "Tell me more carefully."

Zhu Zhanyu said slowly: "About ten years ago, I read a book called "The Principles of Sinan's Guide". The author is Lin Guihe. Mr. Lin believes that Sinan always points to the south, which is in harmony with the earth. Magnetic fields are inextricably linked."

After Zheng He led his fleet to complete the great feat of sailing around the earth, within a few years, the people of the Ming Dynasty knew that the earth they lived on was spherical.

Subsequently, knowledge stemming from the fact that the earth is spherical sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.

Because the earth under people's feet was named "Earth" by His Majesty Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, these studies were collectively called earth science by the scholars of the Ming Dynasty.

There were many civil officials who followed Zheng He in completing his circumnavigation of the earth, including a special group of civil officials called Yin Yang officials.

Now that we have mentioned Yin and Yang officials, we must say a few more words.

It is generally believed that traditional Chinese arithmetic mainly consists of four disciplines: medicine, divination, astrology, and fortune-telling.

Historically, the Ming Dynasty had local teaching officials for Confucianism, Yin-Yang and medicine. Among them, Confucian professors were responsible for the formal education of the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, while medical officials were responsible for traditional medical education. As for Yin-Yang academic officials, they were in charge of divination, astrology and fortune-telling. educate.

Confucianism professors have mentioned it before and will not repeat it here.

Medical officers were established in the 17th year of Hongwu's reign, but no additional salary was provided. There was one ninth-grade regular medical officer in the government, one non-grade canonical medical officer in the state, and one non-grade training medical officer in the county.

The Yin-Yang academic officer is equivalent to a teacher who masters astronomy and geography. His teaching content is astrology, astronomy, and geography. There is one Yin-Yang Zhengshu officer from the ninth grade in the government, one non-grade Yin-Yang canonical officer in the state, and one non-grade Yin-Yang training officer in the county. A magic officer only has an official position but no salary.

In ancient Yin-Yang geography and astronomy, the most important thing to pay attention to was the Qintianjian, and no external transmission was allowed.

Since ancient times, most of the highest-level astronomy and geography masters have been in Qin Tianjian, and a few have served as yin and yang academic officials in various places.

All dynasties and dynasties have explicitly prohibited the private practice of astronomy and geography. Especially at the beginning of the founding of the country, the prohibition was even stricter.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, once issued a ban: "The personnel of Qin Tian Jian are never allowed to move. Their descendants can only study astronomy and calculus, and are not allowed to study other professions. If they do not study as scholars, they will be sent to the South China Sea to serve as soldiers."

Most folk yin and yang Kanyu gentlemen are better at fabricating lies and making up stories. Since ancient times, few people have been able to enter the court in civilian clothes. At most, they are only ordered to give advice to the emperor's staff, and even the majority of opinions will not be adopted, so there will be no There are rewards.

As for the yin-yang trainer of Ningdu County who once worked in politics (Note 1), he is one of the few truly talented people in Chinese history who entered the imperial court from the bottom.

Even if the time traveler Zhu Gaoxu changed history, because the Yin and Yang officials were officials proficient in astronomy and geography, during Zheng He's voyages to the West, a department similar to the imperial court's "Qintian Supervisor" still had to be set up to control weather changes and ensure that the Ming Dynasty The fleet can sail safely on the sea.

This department is called the Yin and Yang Division, and the officials who serve in it are collectively called Yin and Yang officials.

The Yin and Yang officials took turns on duty day and night, observing the sky and ocean currents, and recorded every change one by one.

When Zheng He went out to sea for the second time and completed the feat of sailing around the earth, there was an Yin and Yang official who made great contributions. This person was Lin Guihe, the author of "The Principles of Sinan's Guide".At that time, the Fujian Capital Command set up three shipyards on the left, right and center in Fuzhou, the capital city, to build ships for Zheng He to go to sea.

In addition, shipyards in Changle and Fuqing counties have also undertaken shipbuilding tasks.

Since the residents along the southeast coast were good at sailing, Zheng He personally went to Fujian to select generals (i.e. translators), fire chiefs, sailors and other entourage before his first voyage to the West.

Zheng He heard that there was a Yin Yang Kanyu named Lin Guihe in Fuqing County. He knew everything about astronomy and geography, and his hexagrams were very effective. So he went to visit him in person and invited Lin Guihe to be the Yin Yang official. Go to sea together.

Lin Guihe was hesitant at first, fearing that his body would not be able to bear the long-term turbulence at sea.

But when he heard that Zheng He's move was based on the will of the Emperor of Heaven, his heart was moved.

After repeated persuasion by Zheng He, Lin Guihe finally agreed to follow Zheng He on his voyages to the West, and became responsible for the sun, moon and stars, climate observations, and provided meteorological assistance to the fleet.

After his first voyage to the West, Zheng He went to sea for the second time and specially invited Zhu Gaoxu to establish the Yin and Yang Department, with Lin Guihe as the director.

Lin Guihe led many yin and yang officials to study, analyze, calculate and verify the continuous changes in celestial phenomena at sea, combined with coastal folk proverbs, and finally made predictive conclusions. The workload was quite huge.

In addition, he also has to predict and judge the islands, reefs, dangerous shoals, air currents, water potential, water color, stars, needle paths, etc. during the voyage.

Zheng He's fleet sailed in the vast sea, with dangerous waves and unpredictable weather.

Lin Guihe and many Yin and Yang officials relied on their rich theories and practices to make indelible contributions to Zheng He's second voyage around the earth.

In the tenth year of Yongle, Zheng He led his fleet back to the Ming Dynasty and completed the feat of sailing around the earth.

This was Lin Guihe's second trip to sea with Zheng He.

In the summer of the 11th year of Yongle, Lin Guihe accompanied Zheng He on his third voyage.

This time they were responsible for opening up a new route from the Whale Sea to the Northern Ocean, and then from the Northern Ocean to the East Ocean to reach Wozhou.

In the summer and June of the 14th year of Yongle, Zheng He led his fleet back and successfully opened a new route from Daming to Wozhou across the Northeastern Ocean.

In the autumn and October of the same year, Lin Guihe wrote a book called "Sinan's Guide Principles" based on his personal understanding of the earth's magnetism and combined with ancient classics.

"Mr. Lin pointed out in the book that the earth has a south pole and a north pole. It is also a large magnet with two magnetic poles, one is called the geomagnetic north pole and the other is called the geomagnetic south pole."

Zhu Zhanyu said unhurriedly: "He calls the magnetic pole close to the north pole of the earth the magnetic south pole, and the magnetic pole close to the south pole of the earth called the magnetic north pole. The pointer of Simon is equivalent to a magnet, and it can also be divided into south pole and north pole."

"The tip of the pointer is the South Pole, and the other end of the pointer is the North Pole. The South Pole of the earth is the magnetic North Pole. According to the magnetic principle of 'same sexes repel and opposite sexes attract', the Sinan pointer will always point south."

Having said this, he concluded: "Therefore, Erchen believes that Sinan is the application of the principle of magnetism and is a guidance technology."

Zhu Gaoxu said with a look of relief on his face: "You have such insight, which shows that you have put real effort into the word 'technology'."

He paused and suddenly asked: "I often say that technology will change the world. Why do you think this is?"

"Er Chen feels that the steam engine is a technological product. If someone really builds a smaller and more powerful steam engine in the future, then the whole world will definitely undergo earth-shaking changes!"

Zhu Zhanyu did not answer directly, but gave a very appropriate example.

Note 1: He once worked in politics, with the nickname Shaotan, and was a member of the Three Liaochaos of the Ming Dynasty. Together with Liao Junqing, he served in the Ming Dynasty Tombs and the Forbidden City in Beijing. He was awarded the Doctor of Qin Tianjian, promoted to the fifth rank of Lingtai Lang, and returned home on leave. The plaque reads "Famous Teacher of the Founding of the People's Republic of China", and later the emperor bestowed the title "Shrewd Geography" on the plaque.

(End of this chapter)