Shen Kuo

Shen Kuo was born in the year 1031 in Hangzhou, China. His family was not powerful, but they valued learning. His mother encouraged his studies. As a child, Shen moved around a lot because of his father's government work. He grew curious about the land and people around him. He also became interested in medicine after an illness.

When his father died, Shen followed the tradition at the time of mourning for three years. After that, he began his own career in government. One of his first big projects was turning swamps into farmland using smart water gates. This showed his early skills in planning and design. Shen worked hard to rise through the ranks, passing difficult exams and earning his place in public service.

Shen Kuo had a very impressive career as a scholar, scientist, and government official during the Song Dynasty. He served in many important roles, including finance minister, military commander, and head of astronomy. In 1072, he was put in charge of the Bureau of Astronomy and worked to improve the Chinese calendar with his partner, Wei Pu. He also helped design better tools for stargazing, like sighting tubes and new water clocks.

Shen studied how the planets and Moon move, planning to track their positions three times a night for five years to fix mistakes in older star charts by Yi Xing. He also built on earlier Chinese ideas about eclipses and believed that the Moon and Sun were spherical, not flat, based on the changes in the Moon's shape. Shen disagreed with the idea at the time that the Moon emits its own light and explained that it only reflects sunlight.

One of Shen's biggest discoveries was the magnetic compass needle, which he wrote about in his book 'Dream Pool Essays' in 1088. He realised the needle pointed north due to a magnetic pull. This was a major breakthrough for navigation and came long before similar ideas reached Europe.

Shen also worked as an ambassador to other kingdoms and fixed border problems. He helped improve canals and checked on grain storage and taxes across China. He even caught the famous poet Su Shi speaking ill of the emperor, which led to a major trial.

He studied topics like printing, astronomy, climate change, and geology. For example, he found sea shells far inland and guessed that land could rise over time. He wrote about bamboo fossils in dry places and suggested that climates can change slowly.

Shen Kuo left a huge mark on science, technology, and Chinese history. His book, Dream Pool Essays, is one of the most important science books from ancient China. It recorded ideas that were hundreds of years ahead of their time. His notes on the compass helped future explorers and sailors find their way.

Shen also preserved knowledge about inventions like movable type printing, helping later generations understand these technologies. He wrote about early clocks, tools for measuring stars, and landforms shaped by nature.  

Today, Shen Kuo is remembered as a great thinker. An asteroid and a garden were named in his honour. His old home has a museum showing his tools, models, and a statue of him.

Shen Kuo wasn't just a scientist; he was curious about many things. He enjoyed playing music, painting, writing poems, and drinking tea with friends. He studied ancient Chinese philosophy and practised meditation.