Agriculture Wang Zhen (inventor)

a modern disc harrow.

the main focus of nong shu written wang realm of chinese agriculture. book listed , described enormous catalogue of agricultural tools , implements used in past , in own day. furthermore, wang incorporated systematic usage of illustrated pictures in book accompany every piece of farming equipment described. wang created agricultural calendrical diagram in form of circle, included heavenly stems, earthly branches, 4 seasons, twelve months, twenty-four solar terms, seventy-two five-day periods, each sequence of agricultural tasks , natural phenomena signal necessity, stellar configurations, phenology, , sequence of agricultural production.

amongst various contemporary agricultural practices mentioned in nong shu, wang listed , described use of ploughing, sowing, irrigation, cultivation of mulberries, etc. listed , described many of various foodstuffs , products of many regions of china. book outlined use of not agricultural tools, food-processing, irrigation equipment, different types of fields, ceremonial vessels, various types of grain storage, carts, boats, mechanical devices, , textile machinery used in many applications. example, 1 of many devices described , illustrated in drawing large mechanical milling plant operated motive power of oxen, enormous rotating geared wheel engaging toothed gears of 8 different mills surrounding it. of great interest sinologist historians, wang outlined difference between agricultural technology of northern china , of southern china. main characteristic of agricultural technology of north technical applications fit predominantly dryland cultivation, while intensified irrigation cultivation more suitable southern china. furthermore, wang used treatise means spread knowledge in support of agricultural practices or technologies found exclusively in either south or north benefit other, if more known, such southern hand-harrow used weeding in south, yet virtually unknown in north.

nong shu chapters

chapters 1–6

comprehensive prescriptions agriculture , sericulture

chapters 7–10

treatise on hundred grains

cereals (including legumes, hemp, , sesame)
cucurbits , green vegetables
fruits
bamboos , miscellaneous (including ramie, cotton, tea, dye plants, etc.)

chapters 11–22

illustrated treatise on agricultural implements

field systems
agricultural tools
wicker , basket ware
food-processing equipment , grain storage
ceremonial vessels, transport
irrigation equipment, water-powered mills, etc.
special implements wheat
sericulture , textile production






^ needham, volume 6, part 2, 75.
^ needham, volume 6, part 2, 92.
^ needham, volume 6, part 2, 53-55.
^ cite error: named reference needham volume 6 part 2 60 invoked never defined (see page).
^ needham, volume 4, part 2, 195-196.
^ needham, volume 6, part 2, 61.
^ needham, volume 6, part 2, 61-62.