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Studies in the History of Natural Sciences  2019, Vol. 38 Issue (2): 230-247    DOI:
ARTICLES     
The Zi-Ka-Wei Observatory in La Nature: A Case of Science as a Benefit for People and to Honour One's Country
WU Yan
Institute for History of Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, China
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Abstract  The Zi-Ka-Wei Observatory was founded by French Jesuits in Shanghai in 1873, and was one of the important scientific institutions established overseas by westerners at that time. The popular French science magazine La Nature published some articles introducing this observatory and the research being carried out there. These articles emphasized how the benefits of science were being spread all over the world by their work and that of similar institutions, that the work was intended to benefit local people and their country as well as bring honor to France. This attitude was typical among western journals at the time and also reflected the current understanding of science. Based on the same understanding of science, the attitude towards the Zi-Ka-Wei Observatory among Chinese scientific researchers was ambivalent. They really admired the scientific work being carried out by the Jesuits there, however, considering the importance of the work, its confidential nature and the dignity of their own country, they thought it should be being done by Chinese scientists, not foreigners.

Key words： La Nature      Gaston Tissandier      Zi-Ka-Wei Observatory      Western scientific institutions in China     
Received: 07 December 2018      Published: 18 June 2022
ZTFLH:  N09  
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WU Yan. The Zi-Ka-Wei Observatory in La Nature: A Case of Science as a Benefit for People and to Honour One's Country. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2019, 38(2): 230-247.

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http://www.shns.ac.cn/     OR     http://www.shns.ac.cn/Y2019/V38/I2/230

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