Shen Kua’s Meng Hsi Pi T’an (c. 1095 CE): China’s first notebook encyclopaedia as a science communication text

This chapter analyses, explores, and discusses China’s oldest notebook encyclopaedia Meng Hsi Pi T’an 梦溪笔谈 (Brush Talks from Dream Brook) written by Shen Kua during the 11th century, corresponding to the Northern Sung period of ancient China. The chapter’s main argument is that current studies of science communication, including its histories, should pay greater attention to non-Western communication practices. Most recent science communication research is Eurocentric, narrowly focused on the communication of Western science, and ignores non-Western knowledge and cultures. This is counterproductive to the aim of building global and genuinely inclusive science communication networks and is not beneficial to the field’s development. Shen’s book contains hundreds of short entries or ‘jottings’ that introduced, revealed, and criticised technologies and discussed numerous phenomena, including in knowledge domains such as mathematics, astronomy, and geology. It made science and technology topics relevant for diverse readers of Shen’s time such as artisans and farmers, not just for elite intellectuals. The text also debated the relative merits of different sources of expertise, including books, artisanal skills, and lived experience. Due to these traits and the book’s use of plain language to communicate knowledge, this chapter argues that the book has resonances with current global science communication interests as well as many differences that merit its incorporation into science communication histories. This chapter concludes by encouraging further research into other non-Western communication practices from a science communication perspective to build richer understandings of science communication histories in China and elsewhere. This could in turn enrich and meaningfully diversify science communication practice in multiple domains including museum exhibits.