薛凤祚时代的学术文化背景

薛凤祚其人及其在科学传播和天文历算方面的贡献引起很多科学家和历史学家的兴趣。有关薛凤祚的研究涉及当时的人文环境,以及数学、天文学及历法、历算等学科知识。薛凤祚生活在中国科学文化的断层时代,他的科学研究水平注定要受到限制。当前的薛凤祚研究缺少更广阔的视野。对历史人物分析不能只陷于其著作和史志上的直接历史资料,而应当将历史人物放在各种线索发展的交叉点上,才可以得出更为客观的研究结论。

The Academic and Cultural Background of Xue Fengzuo Era

The research about Xue Fengzuo covers the then humanities environment, and knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, calendar, arithmetic, etc. The methods and level of his scientific research were unavoidably limited, be- cause Xue Fengzuo lived at a time when the development of science and culture was discontinued. The present re search on Xue Fengzuo is handicapped by a narrow horizon. The analysis on historic figures should be placed at a crossing point of various clues rather than confined to direct historical data such as his literature and local chronicles. Such practice will ensure a more objective conclusion.