It is commonly believed that most European clocks that reached China before the nineteenth century were sent to the emperor as diplomatic presents from European rulers,or were given to Chinese officials by European me...It is commonly believed that most European clocks that reached China before the nineteenth century were sent to the emperor as diplomatic presents from European rulers,or were given to Chinese officials by European merchants in attempts to improve trading conditions.Although such presents had been given in earlier times,British records show that,by the eighteenth century when the export of clocks to China reached its height,most clocks,including the finest,reached China as private trade goods.Once in Canton(Guangzhou),the best clocks were bought by local Chinese officials for inclusion in their annual tribute to the emperor and senior members of the government in Beijing,where many of these clocks survive in the former imperial collection.展开更多
This study presents a scheme for delimiting the meiyu period in the Lower Changjiang (Yangtze) region. This scheme was applied to the Clear and Rain Records of Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou to reconstruct the 1723-1800...This study presents a scheme for delimiting the meiyu period in the Lower Changjiang (Yangtze) region. This scheme was applied to the Clear and Rain Records of Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou to reconstruct the 1723-1800 meiyu climate series. The beginning and ending dates, length, precipitation, and the intensity grades of meiyu were determined. The years of early, heavy, light, and empty meiyu were also given. Statistical analyses of the 18th century meiyu series indicate the existence of the quasi-periodicities of 2-3, 4-5, and 9 years. Many basic characteristics of the modern meiyu also existed in the 18th century. Some characteristics of the Northwest Pacific Subtropical High in the 18th century in typical meiyu years were inferred from the historical meiyu series.展开更多
In this study the Qing weather records 'Clear and Rain Records' were used to reconstruct the 18th century summer (June-August) precipitation and monthly precipitation series of May, June, July, and August. The...In this study the Qing weather records 'Clear and Rain Records' were used to reconstruct the 18th century summer (June-August) precipitation and monthly precipitation series of May, June, July, and August. The nature of these records and the techniquc of transforming them into numerical codes are described. The procedure of converting these descriptive records into quantitative monthly precipitation and its scientific basis are given in detail. The reliability of the obtaind precipitation series is also ex- amined.展开更多
Focusing on The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes(1765),John Newbery's longest and most famous work of children's fiction,this article offers a corrective to previous scholarship that has routinely overlooked ...Focusing on The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes(1765),John Newbery's longest and most famous work of children's fiction,this article offers a corrective to previous scholarship that has routinely overlooked the significance of woodcut illustrations to characterization and narrative construction in early children's fiction.Unlike most eighteenth-century fiction,illustration was integral to Newbery's children's books,conceived at the onset,not added as embellishment to later editions.Routinely described as too small to be important or reduced to discussions of didacticism and ideology only,the cheap woodcuts contained in eighteenth-century children's fiction enabled reader-viewers of differing literacy levels to comprehend and imaginatively take part in narratives.In Goody Two-Shoes,illustrations elaborate,specify,and extend characterizations of Margery,while also engendering a means of maintaining a child-centric tale for young audiences in the face of an ever-aging protagonist.This article demonstrates how woodcuts enable the reader-viewer to construct a narrative that extends beyond what is written.展开更多
文摘It is commonly believed that most European clocks that reached China before the nineteenth century were sent to the emperor as diplomatic presents from European rulers,or were given to Chinese officials by European merchants in attempts to improve trading conditions.Although such presents had been given in earlier times,British records show that,by the eighteenth century when the export of clocks to China reached its height,most clocks,including the finest,reached China as private trade goods.Once in Canton(Guangzhou),the best clocks were bought by local Chinese officials for inclusion in their annual tribute to the emperor and senior members of the government in Beijing,where many of these clocks survive in the former imperial collection.
基金This work was performed under the partial support of the U.S. National Science Foundation grant ATM-8511905. It is part of U.S.-PRC cooperative research project on historical climate. The latter part of this study was also partially supported by Xi'an Lo
文摘This study presents a scheme for delimiting the meiyu period in the Lower Changjiang (Yangtze) region. This scheme was applied to the Clear and Rain Records of Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou to reconstruct the 1723-1800 meiyu climate series. The beginning and ending dates, length, precipitation, and the intensity grades of meiyu were determined. The years of early, heavy, light, and empty meiyu were also given. Statistical analyses of the 18th century meiyu series indicate the existence of the quasi-periodicities of 2-3, 4-5, and 9 years. Many basic characteristics of the modern meiyu also existed in the 18th century. Some characteristics of the Northwest Pacific Subtropical High in the 18th century in typical meiyu years were inferred from the historical meiyu series.
基金supported by the U.S.National Science Foundation Climate Dynamics Section Grant ATM-8511905.
文摘In this study the Qing weather records 'Clear and Rain Records' were used to reconstruct the 18th century summer (June-August) precipitation and monthly precipitation series of May, June, July, and August. The nature of these records and the techniquc of transforming them into numerical codes are described. The procedure of converting these descriptive records into quantitative monthly precipitation and its scientific basis are given in detail. The reliability of the obtaind precipitation series is also ex- amined.
文摘Focusing on The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes(1765),John Newbery's longest and most famous work of children's fiction,this article offers a corrective to previous scholarship that has routinely overlooked the significance of woodcut illustrations to characterization and narrative construction in early children's fiction.Unlike most eighteenth-century fiction,illustration was integral to Newbery's children's books,conceived at the onset,not added as embellishment to later editions.Routinely described as too small to be important or reduced to discussions of didacticism and ideology only,the cheap woodcuts contained in eighteenth-century children's fiction enabled reader-viewers of differing literacy levels to comprehend and imaginatively take part in narratives.In Goody Two-Shoes,illustrations elaborate,specify,and extend characterizations of Margery,while also engendering a means of maintaining a child-centric tale for young audiences in the face of an ever-aging protagonist.This article demonstrates how woodcuts enable the reader-viewer to construct a narrative that extends beyond what is written.
