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The Qing scholar Qian Yiji praised her in the preface of "Shu Suan Jian Cun," likening her to Ban Zhao, a prominent female scholar of ancient China. Wang Zhenyi was not only accomplished in natural sciences but also progressive in thought. From a young age, she dedicated every moment to studying and reading extensively, believing that "one's pursuit of learning knows no bounds, and every moment is precious." Her travels with her father broadened her horizons and expanded her mind. However, in the feudal society, women like her, despite their ambitions, had limited opportunities to express themselves. She expressed strong dissatisfaction with the feudal society's denial of education and learning opportunities for women and protested against the societal norm of undervaluing women in academics. She yearned for freedom and hoped that women could harbor the ambition and intellect of men. Unfortunately, many of her scientific works were not recognized by society or even understood by her relatives, some of whom mocked her pursuits. Most of her scientific works have been lost, and only some of her general readership writings remain. Wang Zhenyi was a well-rounded talent with achievements in literature, history, poetry, and lyrics, mainly self-taught. Later scholars described her as versatile in both literary and martial arts, excelling in a wide range of subjects, and unparalleled in her comprehensive expertise, particularly in astronomy and understanding both
Chinese and Western methods.
167:, scholars were disinclined to study natural sciences like calendrical astronomy, fearing its complexity and difficulty. As a result, the study of calendrical astronomy nearly became a "lost art" of the era. Additionally, the restrictions on women learning astronomical calendrics were even more stringent, as it was deemed inappropriate for them to study in their seclusion. However, Wang Zhenyi had a profound understanding of the social significance of astronomical studies. She bravely went against the current, persistently delving into both Chinese and Western astronomical knowledge, and authored several works on the subject. Of her works, only about ten papers, such as "Explanation of Lunar Eclipses" and "Explanation of the Starry Sky," have survived.
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medicine. Her dedication to learning and extensive travels allowed her to gain a broad perspective and deep understanding of various subjects. Despite the challenges she faced as a woman in a feudal society, Wang Zhenyi persisted in her pursuits and expressed her thoughts on gender equality and the importance of education for women. Her poetry and few surviving scientific writings reflect her intellectual depth and progressive thinking. Wang Zhenyi is celebrated as a pioneering figure in
Chinese history, remembered for her contributions to science and literature and as an inspiring example of women's capabilities in scholarly and scientific fields. Her life and work challenged the gender norms of her time and set a precedent for future generations.
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society, the value of education, and her love for scientific inquiry. Her work is notable for its blend of traditional literary forms with progressive ideas, making her a unique voice in Qing
Dynasty literature. Her poetic legacy, though partially preserved, remains a testament to her intellect, empathy, and pioneering spirit as a female scholar in a male-dominated era.
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astronomy and mathematics, most of which were self-taught. At age twenty-five she married Zhan Mei from
Xuancheng in Anhui province. After her marriage, she became better known for her poetry and knowledge in mathematics and astronomy that she once taught to some male students. Wang Zhenyi died at age twenty-nine and had no children.
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Interest in Women's
History and Science: As research into women's history and the contributions of females in science grows, individuals like Wang Zhenyi are receiving the recognition they deserve. Her story and achievements are increasingly cited as inspiring examples of overcoming societal barriers
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During the Qing
Dynasty, it was extremely difficult for women to study, and even more so to excel in natural sciences such as astronomy, mathematics, and medicine, which were considered exceptionally rare fields of study. Young female scientists like Wang Zhenyi were extremely rare in feudal society.
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included placing a round table in a garden pavilion, acting as a globe; she hung a crystal lamp on a cord from the ceiling beams, representing the sun. Then on one side of the table, she had a round mirror like the moon. She moved these three objects as if they were the sun, earth, and moon according
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move and then how to calculate their movement. She wrote many other articles such as "Dispute of
Longitude and Stars" as well as "The Explanation of a Lunar Eclipse." She commented on the number of stars; the revolving direction of the sun, the moon, and the planets Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and
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Wang's works and approach were groundbreaking for her time, blending
Chinese and Western scientific knowledge, advocating for comparative research, and applying innovative methods in both astronomy and mathematics. Her legacy is a testament to her contributions to science and culture in 18th-century
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with her father until she moved back to the capital. She was able to see places like
Shaanxi, Hubei, and Guangdong, broadening her horizons and enriching her experiences. When she was eighteen, she made friends with female scholars in Jiangning through her poetry and began focusing on her studies in
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Wang Zhenyi's legacy is marked by her remarkable achievements as a female scientist, poet, and scholar during the Qing
Dynasty, a period when women's education was highly restricted. She defied societal norms by excelling in fields traditionally dominated by men, such as astronomy, mathematics, and
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and fell seriously ill. During her illness, she and her husband Zhan Quan sorted through her writings, "deleting and burning much, with only about twenty to thirty percent preserved." Before her death, she entrusted her husband to deliver her remaining manuscripts to Lady Kuai, expressing her wish
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Wang Zhenyi died at the age of twenty-nine. There is no exact record of how she died. When she knew she was dying, she gave her works and manuscripts to her best friend, Madam Kuai (1763–1827 A.D.) who eventually passed them on to her nephew, Qian Yiji (1783–1850 A.D.), who was a famous scholar of
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Wang Zhenyi's poetry is renowned for its simplicity, directness, and emotional depth. Her verses often reflect social realities, shedding light on the conditions and sentiments of her time. She utilized poetry as a medium to express her thoughts on various themes, including the status of women in
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These tributes and references highlight Wang Zhenyi's enduring legacy as a trailblazer in science and a symbol of women's intellectual capabilities, particularly in a historical context where such achievements were extraordinary. Her story continues to inspire and be celebrated in various forms,
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commented on Wang’s poetry by saying it, “had the flavor of a great pen, not of a female poet.” Zhenyi’s poetry was known for its lack of flowery words, at the time believed to be common to feminine traits. Her poetry included her understanding of classics and history and experiences during her
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and instead studied medical science and recorded his findings in a four-volume collection called "Yifang Yanchao" (Collection of Medical Prescriptions). Her grandmother's maiden name was Dong. Her grandfather was her first teacher in astronomy; her grandmother was her teacher of poetry; and her
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She was pleased in her marriage, and she believed social feudal values were inappropriate "when talking about learning and sciences, people thought of no women," she said that "women should only do cooking and sewing, and that they should not be bothered about writing articles for publication,
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From the age of 9, she was taught to write poetry and essays, showing a keen sensitivity to social and human conditions, and had unique thoughts and understandings of social realities. After the death of Wang Zhefu, she, along with her grandmother Dong and her father, went to mourn outside the
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Wang Zhenyi's contributions to medicine, although not encapsulated in a specific book, are evident in her prefaces to her father's medical works and her practical medical knowledge. She emphasized diagnostic precision, preventive medicine, and bespoke treatment strategies, showcasing her deep
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Wang Zhenyi's "Explanation of Lunar Eclipses" primarily analyzes the causes of lunar eclipses, with theories consistent with modern astronomical principles. In her work, she summarized various astronomical theories from Yu Xi to Guo Shoujing, and aligned them with Islamic, Western, and modern
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Cultural and Literary Influence: Wang Zhenyi's life and works have influenced modern literature and are often referenced in discussions about women's roles in science and society. Her pioneering spirit and intellect continue to inspire many, particularly in the context of women's historical
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She also depicted the hard lives of commoners, especially those of laboring women in poems like “Woman Breeder of Silkworm” and “Clothes Washing.” In addition, she portrayed corruption and the polar contrast between the lives of the rich and poor in poems like “A Poem of Eight Lines,” which
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and lived in Jilin for four years, where she studied under the Lady of Bu Qianyao. Wang Zhefu died in 1782 and the family traveled to Jiling (close to the Great Wall) for his funeral. They stayed in the region for five years, which is where Zhenyi gained extensive knowledge from reading her
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for Lady Kuai to commemorate her after her passing. Unfortunately, Wang Zhenyi's last wishes were not fully realized. In the fourth year of the Jiaqing era (1799), Wang Zhenyi died at the age of 30. A few years later, her husband Zhan Quan also died unexpectedly, leaving no children.
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for five years. Later, she also traveled with her grandmother and father to various places including Beijing, Shaanxi, Hubei, Guangdong, and Anhui. During these journeys, she visited numerous historical sites, gaining extensive experiences and exposure to various aspects of society.
163:. Not only did she study the research of other astronomers, but she was also able to do her own original research. At that time, there were few successors in the field of new astronomical calendrical knowledge. Moreover, due to the civil service examination system focusing on the
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Crater Naming on Venus: In 1994, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) acknowledged Wang Zhenyi's achievements in astronomy by naming a crater on Venus after her. This honor is bestowed on deceased women who have made outstanding contributions to their fields, especially in
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Wang Zhenyi compared Chinese and Western astronomical knowledge, adopting a comparative approach in her research. She identified both similarities and key differences in Chinese and Western methods, contributing to the integration of these knowledge systems in the 18th century.
186:. She wrote an article called "The Explanation of the Pythagorean Theorem and Trigonometry," where she described a triangle and the relationship between the shorter leg of a right triangle, the long leg, and the triangle's hypotenuse all correctly.
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Despite limited experimental tools, Wang Zhenyi conducted simple experiments, like her innovative approach to understanding lunar eclipses using a lamp, a table, and a mirror. Her observational skills also extended to
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with a round sky, applying astronomical and geographical terms to advocate for the concept of a spherical Earth and revealing the idea of relative spatial positions, a significant advancement over traditional beliefs.
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Wang Zhenyi, a renowned Qing Dynasty female scholar, continues to be remembered and honored in modern times for her contributions to various fields. Some significant instances of her modern remembrance include:
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Her works, including discussions on the movements of stars and planets, addressed complex questions in an accessible manner, significantly correcting misconceptions and promoting astronomical knowledge.
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skills, archery, and martial arts from the wife of a Mongolian general named Aa. At the age of eleven, Wang Zhenyi accompanied her grandmother to Jilin to mourn her grandfather. She lived in Xuanhua
154:. One of her contributions was being able to describe her views of celestial phenomena in her article, "Dispute of the Procession of the Equinoxes." She was able to explain and simply prove how
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Her travel experiences as well as her academic research gave her plenty of ideas and material for her poetry. She left a lasting impression through her literature. She left thirteen volumes of
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calendars. She corrected misunderstandings about the movement of celestial bodies and established the gradual shift of stars over decades, a concept nearly accurate to actual conditions.
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She was able to simplify multiplication and division to make learning mathematics easier for beginners. She was very dedicated in her study of mathematics and wrote a book called
211:
Wang Zhenyi also clarified concepts of calendrical epochs and methods, differentiating between the starting point of calendar creation and the methods of calculation, including
73:, and medicine. She was well known for her contributions in astronomy, mathematics, and poetry. She was an acclaimed scholar: "An extraordinary woman of 18th century China."
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when she was twenty-four. Her studies were difficult and she once said, "There were times that I had to put down my pen and sigh. But I love the subject, I do not give up."
107:. He had a broad and profound intellect with a deep love for reading and had a collection of over seventy-five bookshelves. Her father Wang Xichen failed the
69:. She breached the feudal customs of the time, which hindered women's rights, by working to educate herself in subjects such as astronomy, mathematics,
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to astronomical principles. Her findings and observations were very accurate and recorded in her article, "The Explanation of a Solar Eclipse."
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Wang Zhenyi became a master of this book, rewriting it with simpler language, and made it available to others under the title,
65:; 1768–1797; styled Deqing(德卿), also known as the Jinling and Jiangning Lady Historian(金陵女史)) was a Chinese scientist from the
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In 1994, the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature approved naming
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studying history, composing poetry or doing calligraphy." "are all people, who have the same reason for studying."
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Although she only lived to be twenty-nine, Wang Zhenyi was very accomplished in the academic world. She excelled in
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The Biographies of 700 Noted Personages of the Qing Dynasty, Book Four, the biography of Wang Zhenyi by Cai Guanluo
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Wang Zhenyi believed in equality and equal opportunity for both men and women. She wrote in one of her poems:
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or Simple Principles of Calculation. He described Wang Zhenyi as the "number one female scholar after
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Her family consisted of her grandfather, grandmother, and her father. Her grandfather Wang Zhefu (
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In "Theory of the Earth's Roundness," Wang Zhenyi refuted the thousand-year-old concept of a
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travels, such as sceneries and the lives of commoners with whom she made acquaintances.
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808:"The Preliminary Collection of the Classified Readings of the Dynasty," the 228th vol.
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contributing to a richer understanding of women's roles in science and history.
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In the second year of the Jiaqing era, Wang Zhenyi suffered a relapse of
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province, but her grandfather's family moved to Jiangning or present-day
757:"Badass Ladies: Female Chinese Mathematician and Astronomer Wang Zhenyi"
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733:"The prolific life of Wang Zhenyi, autodidact, astronomer, and poet"
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Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: The Qing Period, 1644–1911
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Notable Women Of China: Shang Dynasty To The Early Twentieth Century
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Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; A.D. Stefanowska. Clara Wing-Chung Ho (ed.).
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805:"The Third Edition of the Biographies, seventh vol., by Zhu Kebao
625:"De feng ting chu ji; De feng ting ji; 德風亭初集; 德風亭集; 13 juan; 13卷"
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Saturn; as well as describing the relationship between lunar and
783:"The Preliminary Collection of Defeng Pavilion" by Wang Zhenyi
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The Supplementary Collection of Biographies on Stone Tablets
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understanding and practical experience in medical sciences.
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He was famous in the early Qing dynasty and wrote the book,
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She admired the mathematician Mei Wending (1633–1721 A.D.).
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At the age of sixteen, Wáng Zhēnyí traveled south of the
708:"Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Wang Zhenyi on Venus"
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father taught her medicine, geography, and mathematics.
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Textual Research into Works by Women Writers in History
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contributions to fields traditionally dominated by men.
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to contribute significantly to science and literature.
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grandfather’s collection of books as well as learning
576:(v. 1 ed.). M.E. Sharpe, Inc. pp. 230–231.
629:Chinese Rare Books - CURIOSity Digital Collections
103:), was a former governor of Fengchen county and
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278:occupying the throat of the mountain
202:The Simple Principles of Calculation
712:Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature
286:The sun sees Yellow river streaming
497:Peterson, Barbara Bennett (2000).
307:Village is empty of cooking smoke,
170:One of her experiments to study a
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863:18th-century Chinese astronomers
787:The History of the Qing Dynasty,
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267:Some examples of her work are:
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377:Daughters can also be heroic?
282:Looking down from the heaven,
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814:, seventh vol., by Hu Wenkai
800:The Biography of Wang Zhenyi
731:Mehta, Devang (2017-11-03).
433:Timeline of women in science
274:So important is the doorway,
86:Wang's ancestral home is in
873:Mathematicians from Jiangsu
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848:18th-century Chinese women
369:Women are the same as Men;
298:The sun bathes in the sea.
294:Clouds overcast the hills,
194:Principles of Calculation.
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838:Chinese women astronomers
552:安徽历史述要 (History of Anhui)
198:The Musts of Calculation.
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290:“Climbing Tai Mountain”
868:Scientists from Nanjing
598:"王贞仪 - 《中国大百科全书》第三版网络版"
392:Wang Zhenyi after her.
270:“Transiting Tong Pass”
373:Are you not convinced,
365:It's made to believe,
142:Academic achievements
82:Early life and family
761:The World of Chinese
689:(in Chinese (China))
525:Shen, Yu Wu (2011).
109:imperial examination
550:Li, Zigang (1982).
184:Pythagorean theorem
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683:"清史稿 - 中国哲学书电子化计划"
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257:Ci (poetry)
237:meteorology
152:mathematics
62:Wáng Zhēnyí
37:Wang Zhenyi
25:family name
822:Categories
766:2023-11-14
742:2023-11-14
717:2020-09-09
693:2023-11-14
651:沈 (2004).
634:2023-11-14
607:2023-11-14
439:References
410:astronomy.
220:flat earth
213:arithmetic
127:Prefecture
123:equestrian
118:Great Wall
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156:equinoxes
148:astronomy
77:Biography
71:geography
427:See also
339:Ban Zhao
261:Yuan Mei
19:In this
346:malaria
247:China.
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251:Poetry
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53:王貞儀
45:王贞仪
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539:.
511:.
39:(
33:.
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