original text
Fang Jiayi magnet
Shen Kuo [Song Dynasty]
Fang Jia uses a magnet to grind the front end of the needle, which can be guided; However, it is often slightly to the east, not all to the south. The water floats more and more. Finger claws and bowl lips can be used for it. It runs very fast, but it is strong, slippery and easy to drop. It is best not to hang up. Its method: Take a single cocoon from a new cocoon, decorate the waist of the needle with mustard seed and wax, and hang it in a windless place to guide the needle. The grinding refers to the north. Home guides, all in the north. The guidance of a magnet, especially the west, is unreasonable.
translate
The needle tip can be guided by grinding with a magnet, but it is often slightly to the east, not all in the south, and often vibrates and swings on the water. Nails or bowls can run fast, but they are easy to slip on hard and smooth surfaces, but hanging is the best way. This method is to take a silk from the newly made silk floss, use a little wax the size of mustard seed, stick the silk on the waist of the needle and hang it in a windless place, so the needle often points south. Some of them point north. My family's (compass) guide refers to all the ones in the north. Magnets point to the south, just as cypress branches point to the west, so we can't infer the reason.
To annotate ...
Fang Jia: People with special skills.
All south: due south. In the south, nouns as verbs point to the south.
Floating on water: the magnetic needle floats on the water through the grass lamp.
Fingers and claws: nails.
Bowl lip: bowl mouth.
Hanging: hanging with a wire.
Ama: New silk.
Single cocoon: a silk.
Mustard: The seed of mustard. This shows that wax the size of mustard seed sticks to the waist of the needle.
Stick: to connect tightly and stick on.
Originality: Push originality and explore the root of things.
Working background
Shen Kuo's Fang Jiayi Magnets in Song Dynasty is a famous paper by Shen Kuo, and its creative background is closely related to his research and practice on magnets and compasses.
In the Song Dynasty, magnets were widely used in navigation and direction guidance. Shen Kuo himself made an in-depth study of magnets and compasses, and recorded his own observation and experimental results in his works.
Shen Kuo lived in the period of frequent Liao-Jin wars among nomadic people in the north, and the use of navigation and compass was of great significance to the military and navigation. Therefore, Shen Kuo's research and application of magnetic compass is particularly critical.
Through research and practice, Shen Kuo deeply discussed the properties of magnets and the methods of making and using compasses, and systematically summarized and expounded his discoveries and experiences in Fang Jiayi magnets.
Shen Kuo's "Fang Jiayi Magnets" became an important document for later generations to study magnets and compasses, which played a positive role in promoting the development of ancient science and technology in China and the popularization and application of compasses. This paper also won wide acclaim and knowledge for Shen Kuo.
Brief introduction of the author
Shen Kuo (A.D. 103 1 ~ 1095) was born in Qiantang County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in the Northern Song Dynasty, and was of Han nationality. Scientists and politicians in the Northern Song Dynasty. Injong Jiayou was a scholar and later served as a bachelor of Hanlin. In his later years, he wrote Meng Qian Bi Tan in Meng Xi Park, Zhenjiang. One of the most outstanding scientists in the history of China. Proficient in astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology, geography, agriculture and medicine, engineers and diplomats.