(China Geo University, Beijing)

The hometown of modern geological science is neither in the East nor in China. However, the early 20th century is a memorable period in China's scientific history. Because, under the social background of world turbulence, surging social thoughts and rapid development of science and technology, China geological science came into being. Moreover, in less than 20 years, China's geological cause has entered the first golden age, and China's geological development has also entered the ranks of international geological science development.

In just 20 years, China's geological science has developed from scratch, from germination to development, and many factors have contributed to the realization of this process. For example, the spread and development of science and technology in the world; The unyielding national spirit of the Chinese nation plays a supporting role in resisting foreign aggression and rejuvenating China. The lofty belief of outstanding intellectuals in rejuvenating the country through science and education; The establishment of geological institutions in China and the development of geological education, and so on. There is no doubt that in this process, Ding Wenjiang is one of the most representative typical figures.

Apply what you have learned, and learn from nature.

Taking Ding Wenjiang as the forerunner of geological survey in China means that at the beginning of the 20th century, there were few China scholars who used scientific methods to carry out geological survey in China. Before Ding Wenjiang, another founder of China Geology, Zhang Zeng, made a regional geological survey on the topic of "Geology of Hangzhou and its Adjacent Areas in China", becoming the first person for China scholars to investigate the regional geology of China and write a paper. Before Zhang and Ding, in the words of Mr. Huang, "China geologists who walked in front of Zhang, Ding and Weng had Kuang Rongguang, Zhang, Wang Chongyou and Gu Lang. Before the founding of the Republic of China, they all wrote some articles about geology or did some geological work, but the period was short and the impact was not great. " Ding Wenjiang returned to China on 19 1 1 with a diploma in zoology and geology from Glasgow University. When the ship arrived at Haiphong, Ding Wenjiang abandoned the ship and started his first geological survey trip in China, passing through Yunnan, Guizhou and Hunan provinces, and inspected the geological geography and customs along the way. His reason for doing this is simple-anyone interested in geological science must take nature as the research object, visit it in person and worship it as a teacher. At the same time, Ding Wenjiang took this investigation as his personal experience in the future geological science, so as to test his will and perseverance in science. Starting from this investigation, Ding Wenjiang traveled all over the mountains and rivers in his later geological career, which proved his scientific spirit of seeking truth and being pragmatic, integrating theory with practice and his scientific attitude of matching words with deeds time and time again.

Ding Wenjiang conducted many field geological surveys in his life. In addition to his geological survey results, Ding Wenjiang showed his rigorous scientific cognitive attitude and resolute scientific struggle spirit as a geologist to people who are interested in devoting themselves to science. 19 13 Ding Wenjiang, sorge and Wang Xibin carried out geological survey along the Zheng Tai railway for more than one month. Later, the survey results were officially published, which became the first regional geological report and map published by geologists in China. 19 14 Ding Wenjiang went to Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan alone to carry out geological survey, which lasted 10 months and achieved fruitful results. It should be mentioned that Ding Wenjiang's research on Xu Xiake and the compilation process of Xu Xiake's Travels were completely carried out with the scientific attitude of scientists. He not only carefully read Xu Xiake's travel notes, but also took the road of Xu Xiake's investigation and corrected the right and wrong of his predecessors' achievements with his own practice, which is admirable. Therefore, Xu Xiake, who was called the 20th century by later generations, was well deserved by Ding Wenjiang.

With his scientific attitude, Ding Wenjiang followed the code of conduct of "short cut, no long road, flat road, no mountain road" in geological survey, and even advocated the practical exploration spirit of "climbing to the top, moving to walk". This code of conduct of respecting practice and learning from nature has become an integral part of his excellent quality as an excellent geologist.

Use and think purposefully.

As a pioneer of geological survey in China, Ding Wenjiang's down-to-earth practice, walking through the ravines of Lin Mang and trudging between rivers and streams, shows his realistic spirit. The purpose of scientific practice shows his thinking mode and practical attitude of thinking, seeking knowledge and asking questions.

In China at the beginning of the 20th century, what should China do? How to save China? This became a problem for intellectuals at that time. So is Ding Wenjiang. Ding Wenjiang studied abroad for 9 years, and was deeply influenced by western ideas of scientific progress. He knows that the survival of the fittest in Darwin's theory of evolution is the law of natural development, and thinks that the development of human society is also the same. Therefore, in the semi-feudal and semi-colonial old China society, Ding Wenjiang chose and practiced the road of saving the country scientifically. This choice is formed by his constant thinking, understanding and comparison of science, thought and culture between the East and the West, and his scientific attitude of seeking truth and being pragmatic. Just like when Ding Wenjiang returned from studying abroad, he didn't go straight to his home, but chose to travel across the sea and go to an expensive place. In Ding Wenjiang's life blueprint, he has integrated into the cause of saving the country and devoted himself to science. Ding Wenjiang has a clear mind and is firm in doing things. During the geological survey, he took off his suit, put on a fake braid, put on a robe and mandarin jacket, grew a moustache and put on a melon skin cap, just like civilians. However, it is such an ordinary person who has already made a grand plan for China's geological career before he started his geological journey, and has taken firm steps with his own perseverance.

Regarding this investigation, Wu Xiangxiang said in the article "Ding Wenjiang travels around the country to find treasures": "Ding Wenjiang's trip to the mainland can be said to be the first performance of the spirit of seeking truth from facts, giving full play to his perseverance, courage and observation. ..... Since Pingyi, Ding has measured sketches with compasses and heights with barometer. Unexpectedly, I found that the map of Wuchang Geographical Society, the latest map of China by the Commercial Press, and the map of Britain, France and Japan1:1100,000,000 were all based on the maps measured by Catholic priests during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. " Through investigation, Ding Wenjiang found that the current map is actually the data of more than 200 years ago. To this end, Ding Wenjiang lamented that compared with the West, China is geographically stagnant and has actually fallen behind advanced countries for more than 200 years. It is this feeling that inspires his passion of being unwilling to lag behind as a scientist. 1934 co-edited and published the first complete modern atlas of China-the new map of the Republic of China with Weng and Ceng Shiying. The map was published to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the publication of Shenbao, which shocked the earth science community and was called "the first sound of map reform in China". Compared with the advanced maps in the world at that time, this map has no shame and is called "V.K. Ding Wenjiang Atlas" abroad.

In the geological survey along 19 13 Zheng Tai railway, Ding Wenjiang corrected the statement of German scholar Richthofen that "Shanxi is indeed the place with the richest coal and iron in the world. According to the current world sales, Shanxi can supply the world for thousands of years." Nonsense. Ding Wenjiang pointed out in "Report on Investigation of Geology and Minerals near Zheng Tai Railway": "If it is found on the ground, it is not suitable for mining in the west, and the distribution of overlying minerals is about regular. The thickest mine seen by Wenjiang and sorge is less than two feet." During the inspection, Ding Wenjiang found that there is a lot of coal in Shanxi, but not as much iron as Richthofen said. To this end, he wrote an article "Shanxi Iron Mine in name only-Comparison between the old and new mining and metallurgy industries" to correct Richthofen's misunderstanding and misleading.

When we say that Ding Wenjiang is the forerunner of geological survey in China, we only talk about his geological science career. When we talk about Ding Wenjiang's scientific thought and targeted pragmatic spirit, it has a deeper meaning. Because it is the need of social development that Ding Wenjiang advocated science and engaged in scientific research with a scientific attitude. Ding Wenjiang's words and deeds are the best proof of this social demand. As a scholar said, "Science needs the promotion of professional scientists to take root in China, and Ding Wenjiang's special position in China's modern cultural history is precisely because he is an outstanding scientist and a sower of science." Perhaps this is Ding Wenjiang's scientific thinking, which is thoughtful and targeted, and gives an inspiration to future generations!

Thinking and understanding the true meaning of science

Ding Wenjiang/KLOC-went abroad to study at the age of 0/5, and returned to China after 9 years. His boyhood and youth were almost influenced by western cultural traditions, so that his living habits were westernized. However, under the mutual influence of Chinese and Western cultures, Ding Wenjiang's thought has produced a world outlook and scientific outlook of advocating science, dedicating himself to the nation and science. This can't ignore Ding Wenjiang's ideological realm and broad mind of putting science first and nation first. Mr. Huang commented on Ding Wenjiang, saying, "Ding Wenjiang is knowledgeable and knows both Chinese and Western cultures. Because he is studious and hardworking, he makes friends with western countries and China scholars, and has a deep understanding of western culture and China culture. He is not only a respected geologist and geographer, but also an anthropologist, zoologist, archaeologist and historian. He advocates natural science, especially Darwinism, but he also shows great interest in humanities. Mr Ding Wenjiang has been dead for more than 70 years. Since his death, the study of Ding Wenjiang has been uninterrupted. His contribution and enlightenment to the development of geological science in China and science in China have had a long-term positive impact. Ding Wenjiang's life is only a short 49 years. If his life is prolonged, Ding Wenjiang's role will have a greater impact on the modern history of China. Although this is a beautiful speculation, it is impossible to come true, but in this regret, Ding Wenjiang has become an outstanding historical figure recognized by the geological circles in China and the scientific circles in China. As Mr. Li Ji said when evaluating Ding Wenjiang: In many ways, he is an epoch-making man. It can be regarded as the first good achievement since China advocated science ... He is the person who initiated this ethos and made it a reality. "

Ding Wenjiang was able to achieve his career and ideal, besides applying what he had learned and aiming at his goal, he also mentioned his ideological realm of active thinking and broad vision, which made him deeply understand the true meaning of science. With these three points, Ding Wenjiang is a man who has the motherland in his heart, bears national hopes, and devotes himself to science for the purpose of promoting science. He can do one thing with his feet on the ground, or he can plan and do several things in an orderly way. Although he left prematurely, he left us with Ding Wenjiang's immortal spirit, which is beneficial to the development of geological science in China, inspiring the scientific community in China and an invisible spur to future generations.

Regarding Mr. Ding Wenjiang's contribution to China's geological science, Mr. Huang sorted out several firsts of China's geology:

Ding Wenjiang-the first pioneer scholar;

The first person in charge of the geological teaching institution, that is, the director of the Geological Research Institute of Beijing Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce;

The first scholar to publish a geological and mineral survey report with a regional geological map;

The first scholar to explore the frontier;

The first scholar to publish a paper on mineral resources in China;

The first scholar who studied coal geology in detail and suggested planned drilling to obtain economic benefits;

The first scholar to publish a paper on engineering geology;

The first scholar to study paleontology by statistical methods;

The first scholar who presided over railway survey as a geologist;

The first scholar to publish Mining Minutes (co-authored with Weng).