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Document Details : Title: From Celestial Mathematician to Tortured Genius Subtitle: Newton's Metamorphosis in Chinese Cultural Reception, 1742-2022 Author(s): WAN, Zhaoyuan , SCHILT, Cornelis J. Journal: Lias Volume: 50 Issue: 2 Date: 2023-2024 Pages: 217-242 DOI: 10.2143/LIAS.50.2.3294629 Abstract : While Newton’s changing images in Western contexts have been extensively studied, his perception in non-European settings, particularly China, remains understudied. This paper examines Newton’s metamorphosis in Chinese cultural reception from 1742 to 2022, demonstrating how representations of this scientific icon reflected broader transformations in Chinese intellectual, cultural, and political landscapes while illuminating patterns of global knowledge transmission. Drawing on primary sources spanning nearly three centuries, we trace Newton’s evolution in Chinese discourse: from Western calendrical astronomer to champion of heliocentrism, from preeminent mathematician-physicist to pious natural philosopher, from mechanistic atheist to victim of religion, and ultimately to a nuanced figure embodying both scientific genius and spiritual inclinations. This transformation reveals not only China’s changing engagement with Western science but also how societies reshape scientific figures to reflect their cultural values and intellectual needs. By situating China’s reception of Newton within global knowledge networks and comparing it with Western interpretations, this study contributes to our understanding of cross-cultural scientific transmission and the complex dynamics of global knowledge production. |
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