雙語科技百科(物理) 第37期:中國傳入西方的機械技術

Chinese Mechanical Inventions that Contributed to the World

中國傳入西方的機械技術

A common stereotype is that the Chinese have traditionally lacked scientif-ic and technological ability,despite the four great revolutionary inven-tions of paper making, printing, gunpowder, and compass that have essentially changed the world. However, Chinese people have made a lot of other significant mechanicalinventions besides the famous four, providing the source of many of the prerequisite technologies of modernity. From the 6th to the 15th century, China was the world’s most technologically advanced society.

在很多人心目中，傳統的中華文化似乎缺乏對科學技術的應用，可事實並非如此。除了對人類社會發展產生了巨大影響的四大發明之外，中國古代在科學技術方面也取得了輝煌的成就。中國古代的很多機械發明爲人類社會的現代化提供了必要的條件。從公元6世紀到15世紀，中國一直是世界上科學技術最爲發達的國家。從中國傳往世界各地的技術發明中，最爲顯赫的還是活字印刷術、火藥、指南針。

Here are some of the most celebrated mechanical inventions from China that have exerted profound influences on the development of other societies, especially when they were passed to the West:

以下是一些由中國傳人其他國家的重要機械技術，它們一經進入了西方，便對西方社會的發展，乃至人類歷史的進程都產生了巨大的影響：

Cast iron

鑄鐵

The double-acting piston bellows

活塞風箱

The crank handle ( used for starting an engine)

手搖曲柄

The gimbals ( as in the ancient Chinese Incense Burner)

平衡環（被中香爐）

Manufacture of steel from cast iron

皮帶傳送

The belt drive ( or driving-belt)

水力應用

Water power

方板鏈泵

The chain pump

蒸氣機基本原理

Essentials of the steam engine

鏈條傳動

The chain drive (in which an endless wheel transmits power from an engine)

獨輪車

The wheelbarrow

滑動測徑儀

Sliding calipers ( a kind of compass used for measuring diameters)

機械鐘錶裝置

The fishing reel

永明燈

The umbrella

紡車

The mechanical clock

輪式碾磨機

“Permanent”lamps

船尾舵

The spinning wheel

航海磁羅盤

Rudder