PGR: The Discovery of Folk Weather Knowledge in Republican China

The New Culture Movement promoted science as the proper way to understand the world. The active participants in the Movement who championed science and attacked Chinese traditions were often not scientists themselves. Was it possible to incorporate traditional natural knowledge into modern scientific practice?

This presentation will explore how scientists viewed and utilized historical sources by examining the weather proverbs collecting activities in Republican China. The history of meteorology has provided insight into how traditional meteorological ideas shaped the development of meteorology in China. Current literature tends to assume that scientists naturally recognized and acknowledged the scientific value of historical sources.

In contrast, I argue that social context played an important role in shaping such awareness. It was the iconoclasm in the New Culture Movement that raised the visibility of weather proverbs among meteorologists. More importantly, the development of weather forecasting in China, rather than dismissing weather proverbs, prompted meteorologists to draw on the folk wisdom. Therefore, by adding the perspective of scientists, this presentation shows a more complicated interaction between tradition and modern science in republican China. 

Xinyue Li is a PhD candidate at the Centre for the History of Science and Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester. Her dissertation explores the meteorological knowledge transformation in China from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century, with an emphasis on the lingering vitality of traditional weather knowledge in modern China. Her research interests include the history of science and environmental history in modern China, particularly from cultural and social perspectives. 

MCI’s PGR workshops are lunchtime seminars held in person at the Manchester China Institute. They seek to bring together students, faculty, and staff who can best provide feedback as postgraduate researchers develop their ideas. Free lunch will be provided.

The MCI is a listed building and therefore does not have any lifts. Please note that you must use the stairs in order to access the venue and the toilets.

The organisers will be taking photos during this event. If you prefer not to be included in any photos, kindly inform the organisers before the event starts.

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