2023年10月21日举办的“中国近现代工程史”学术研讨会期间;中国科学院大学李伯聪教授、北京社会科学院历史研究所钟少华研究员、清华大学戴吾三教授、天津大学陈印政副研究员与中国科学院大学王大明教授等与会学者阐述了对于学科当前研究的思考;提出了一系列亟待研究的学术问题;并对学科未来的发展方向进行问诊把脉。由此可见;中国近现代工程史的研究还有巨大的发展潜力;希望这组笔谈能够为未来的研究提供新方向、新思路;进而推动中国近现代工程史的研究向更为深入、全面的层次迈进。

Editor's note: During the academic seminar on "Modern Chinese Engineering History" held on October 21, 2023, Professor Li  Bocong (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences), Researcher Zhong Shaohua (Institute of History, Beijing Academy of  Social Sciences), Professor Dai Wusan (Tsinghua University), Associate Researcher Chen Yingzheng (Tianjin University), Professor Wang Daming (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences), and other participating scholars elaborated on their  thoughts about the current research of the discipline, put forward a large number of urgent academic issues to be studied, and  diagnosed the future development direction of the discipline. This is an eager expectation for the development of the discipline, and also an encouragement and spur to young scholars. It can also be seen that the research on modern Chinese engineering  history still has huge development potential. It is hoped that the new issues, new perspectives, and new historical materials  proposed in this paper can provide new directions, new ideas, and new viewpoints for future research, thereby promoting the  research on the modern Chinese engineering history together.

Three Problems in the Study of Modern Chinese Engineering History 

In recent years, as China has become a major engineering country in the world, the study of Modern Chinese engineering history  has received increasing attention. The research in this field aims to summarize engineering development experience and provide  historical references for current and future engineering practices. This article discusses three core issues in the study of engineering  history, showing the rich connotations and complex challenges of the study of engineering history. Firstly, the issue of internal and external history in the study of engineering history was raised, emphasizing the importance of  distinguishing between internal and external history in the research process. Internal history research focuses on the development  process of engineering itself, while external history research focuses more on the interaction between engineering and external  factors such as society, politics and culture. Especially in terms of engineering decision-making, public opinion and political factors  often have a profound impact on the final implementation of engineering, reflecting the close connection between the study of  engineering history and social reality. Secondly, this article discusses the hierarchical division and historical clues of engineering history research. The study of  engineering history should be divided into three levels: micro, meso, and macro. It should comprehensively examine the individual  projects, industry or regional development, and the overall structure of engineering from the national to the global level. At the same  time, the sorting of historical clues also requires attention to multiple aspects such as engineering technology, engineering  community, and engineering system to reveal the complexity and diversity of engineering development. Finally, this article emphasizes the construction of the discipline of Chinese engineering history. Although the discipline of  Chinese engineering history has entered the right track, it still needs to further strengthen cross-disciplinary research with the fields  of history of science, history of technology, and history of economics, and promote academic exchanges and cooperation. At the  same time, it is suggested to institutionalize academic conferences on engineering history, actively carry out international academic  exchanges, and promote the development of the discipline of Chinese engineering history to a higher level. In summary, this article analyzes the key issues and challenges in the study of engineering history, providing an important  theoretical framework and practical guidance for the study of modern Chinese engineering history. In the future, with the continuous  deepening of research, the discipline of Chinese engineering history will surely usher in broader development prospects. 

The Evidence and Evolution of the History of the Chinese Concept of "Engineering" 

This article explores the historical evolution of the Chinese concept of "engineering" and its development trajectory in the global  context. It begins with a clear definition of the core concept of engineering - a system of products that humans use natural resources  to achieve established goals through labor and continuous management. It then analyzes the scarcity of ancient engineering-related  literature and the shift in understanding of the concept of engineering in modern China. The full text is divided into several core parts. Firstly, it traces the origin and evolution of the word "engineering" in ancient China, explains its multiple meanings in ancient Chinese, and reveals the process of the gradual clarification of the concept of  "engineering" in the late Qing Dynasty. Secondly, it discusses the introduction of the Western concept of "engineering" and its role in  promoting modern Chinese industrialization process, with a particular focus on the establishment of the "Jiangnan Manufacturing  Bureau" and the translation and publication of engineering and technology books. Next, the article elaborates on the evolution of the Chinese engineers' understanding of engineering concepts. Especially during  the period of the Reform Movement and the New Deal in the late Qing Dynasty, with the introduction and construction of new  factories, the importance of engineering knowledge became increasingly prominent. Among them, the outstanding contributions of  the first generation of engineers such as Zhan Tianyou have attracted much attention. They not only constantly explored in practice, but also actively promoted the construction of engineering disciplines and the cultivation of engineering talents in China. In addition, the article also mentioned the establishment of engineering societies and the founding of the magazine "Engineering", which played a crucial role in promoting and deepening the concept of engineering. By analyzing the practice and theoretical  development of modern Chinese engineering, it showed the trajectory of the concept of "engineering" in modern Chinese society and  its profound impact on social development. This article provides us with a unique perspective to interpret the social changes in modern China through a detailed textual  research on the history of the concept of "engineering" in Chinese and an in-depth reflection on the industrialization and  technological development in modern China. 

Engineering Compendium: A Rich Mine of Research on Chinese Technological and Engineering History

The compilation of Engineering as an important collection of literature provides rich resources for the study of Chinese  technological and engineering history. Firstly, the compilation details key documents on Chinese industrial standardization and  reform of measurement and weight systems, providing important support for related research. Secondly, the history of the  development of the power industry can also be traced back in the compilation, which is of great significance for understanding early  Chinese industrialization and urban modernization. Furthermore, the survey report of railway factories provides a new perspective  for the study of railway history, complementing the missing parts of traditional railway history research. In addition, the book  reviews and advertisements in the compilation also show us the styles and technical characteristics of industrial products at that time, as well as the dynamics of the spread of Western technology to China. Overall, the compilation of Engineering not only has a  profound impact on the study of Chinese technological and engineering history, but also provides important reference value for the  study of technological social history, industrial heritage research and other fields. 

Some Thoughts on the Research of the Chinese Institute of Engineers

This article deeply explores the development process of the Chinese Institute of Engineers and its important role in modern  Chinese engineering industry. Since the establishment of the Chinese Institute of Engineers (中华工程师学会) in 1912, to the  formation of the Chinese Institute of Engineers (中国工程师学会) in 1931, this group has made indelible contributions to the  engineering community in China. The article points out that although the research of the Chinese Institute of Engineers has not  received enough attention in the academic community, its rich historical materials provide valuable resources for academic research. The article analyzes in detail the contributions of the Chinese Institute of Engineers in promoting the unification of engineering  terms, the development of engineering standards, the professional development of engineers, and the interaction between  engineering and society. It particularly emphasizes specific cases of the Institute's contributions to the management of the Yellow  River and Huaihe River, engineering construction during the War of Resistance Against Japan, and enhancing the professional honor  of engineers. In addition, the article also points out the lack of in-depth research on important engineering figures, and calls on the  academic community to strengthen the importance of research on the Chinese Institute of Engineers, in order to promote in-depth  research on modern Chinese engineering history.