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Shen Kuo [a] (Chinese: 沈括; 1031–1095) or Shen Gua [b], courtesy name Cunzhong (存中) and pseudonym Mengqi (now usually given as Mengxi) Weng (夢溪翁), [1] was a Chinese polymath, scientist, and statesman of the Song dynasty (960–1279). Shen was a master in many fields of study including mathematics, optics, and horology.
In terms of geology, Shen Kuo is one of the first naturalists to have formulated a theory of geomorphology. This was based on his observations of sedimentary uplift, soil erosion , deposition of silt , and marine fossils found in the Taihang Mountains , located hundreds of miles from the Pacific Ocean .
Even before Shen Kuo and Zhu Yu had described the mariner's magnetic needle compass, the earlier military treatise of the Wujing Zongyao in 1044 had also described a thermoremanence compass. [77] This was a simple iron or steel needle that was heated, cooled, and placed in a bowl of water, producing the effect of weak magnetization, although ...
Shen Kuo was a polymathic Chinese scientist and statesman of the Song Dynasty. Excelling in many fields of study and statecraft, he was an astronomer , meteorologist , geologist , zoologist , botanist , archaeologist , ethnographer , and cartographer , among other professions and specialties.
Shen Kuo (Chinese, 1031–1095) – discovered magnetic declination; Robert E. Sheriff (American, 1922–2014) – exploration geophysics; Maurice Ewing Medal (SEG) John Sherwood (British) – exploration geophysics ; Maurice Ewing Medal (SEG) [14] Eugene Merle Shoemaker (American, 1928–1997) – planetary science; awarded William Bowie Medal
Shen Kuo was a renowned government official and military general during the Northern Song period of China. However, he was impeached from office by chancellor Cai Que (蔡確; 1036–1093), who wrongly held him responsible for a Song Chinese military defeat by the Tangut-led Western Xia dynasty in 1081 during the Song–Xia wars. [6]
The geology of China (or the geological structure of the People's Republic of China) ... It was also observed in the 11th century, by Chinese scholar Shen Kuo, ...
In addition, Shen's description of sedimentary deposition predated that of James Hutton, who wrote his groundbreaking work in 1802 (considered the foundation of modern geology). [12] The influential philosopher Zhu Xi (1130–1200) wrote of this curious natural phenomena of fossils as well, and was known to have read the works of Shen Kuo. [25]