（原标题：李善兰的天花板——从《几何原本》到《奈端数理》） 文/刘刚 曾国藩为《几何原本》作序 江南制造局除了造船和枪炮外，还译书。 曾国藩以译事为制造业的根本，他说：洋人制器，出于算学，其中奥妙，皆有图说可寻。就因为彼此文 义不通，而生隔碍，故虽 日习其器，还是不能明了用器与制器之所以然。故纳徐寿建议，附设译馆和 印书处于局内。 译馆，位于制造局西北隅，环境幽雅，有重楼杰阁叠起，门外种竹万余竿，共计有楼房、平房8座74 间。译馆内，人各一室，日事撰述。旁为刻书处，自象纬、舆图、格致、器艺、兵法、医术、无不搜罗 必备，诚为中西会通之大观。先后礼聘徐寿、李善兰、华蘅芳、李凤苞、赵元益、徐建寅等以及外国人 傅兰雅、伟烈亚力、玛高温、金楷理、林乐知等为该馆主译人员。所译书籍多与"制造"有关。其译制及 译法就各专门之书，设"提调"一人，"口译"二人，"笔述"三人，"校对画图"四人，形成"班子"。 往京师之前，其馆译之书已有《机器发轫》、《汽机问答》、《运规指约》和《泰西采煤图说》四种， 其奏稿中已经奏明。译馆自开馆以来，刊印书籍已售出31111部，共83454本，地图和海关图共4774张， 泰西之种种实学遂以大明。 ...

在《体用十章》中，嘉约翰作为校订者，在书中加入了一些不属于赫胥黎原著内容的宗教性论述， 将"上帝"凌驾于格致之上，使格致为侍女、为途径，上帝为正主、为指归。作者指出，博济医局所刊译 书有假托"格致"以宣扬基督教义之嫌。而且手段更加隐蔽，明末耶稣会士传教"福音直呈"，晚清美国长 老会采取了更为隐蔽的策略，利用了晚清中国人对西洋"格致"之学的渴求，这种"假托"格致译介以布道 之举，巧妙地将"上帝统御格致"之说寓于科学论述之中。按理说，译著的翻译，很难做出什么新意来， 但是从上面列举的这个例子来看，作者很明显善于由小见大，读出纸背后面的文字，螺蛳壳里做道场， 方寸之间可腾挪。 在西学东渐的浪潮中，民族自尊心的发生与演变是一个核心议题。我本人在《被怀疑的华佗》一文中就 曾经涉及此点，华佗在世期间就已经是医学之另类。在他死后，甚至早从魏晋开始就已经出现了对其外 科术的质疑，视之为神怪传说。这样的负面评价持续一千余年。鸦片战争之后，西医大举进入中国，外 科手术技艺令国人瞠目。这首先使得国人对于华佗外科手术的真实性有了确认，另外一方面，出于民族 自豪感，他们开始在西学中源论的推动之下，将华佗塑造成了所谓外科之鼻祖，认为洋人 ...

Core Insights - The book "The Bestiary of Strange Beasts" uniquely contextualizes various monster images within the framework of Qing Dynasty knowledge acquisition and early modern globalization, revealing the complex processes of cross-cultural exchange and knowledge construction [1][11][15] - It serves as both an academic work and a richly illustrated cultural publication, featuring numerous images of strange animals from both Chinese and foreign natural history texts, thus reintroducing these "sea and land monsters" from the Age of Exploration to the public [1][12][15] Summary by Sections Section 1: Context and Significance - "The Bestiary of Strange Beasts" is based on a Chinese world map from the Kangxi era, created by Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Verbiest, which includes depictions of 32 animals alongside textual descriptions [11][12] - The inclusion of animals in maps reflects a European tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, where maps served not only to convey geographical information but also to incorporate contemporary natural knowledge [12][15] Section 2: Research Developments - Recent scholarship has shifted focus from the geographical aspects of the "Kunyu Quantu" to its animal illustrations, indicating a growing interest in the history of natural history [14][15] - The authors, Cheng Fangyi and Lai Yuzhi, have made significant contributions to the understanding of the sources of these animal images, primarily tracing them back to European natural history texts from the Age of Exploration [12][15] Section 3: Methodological Contributions - The book employs a methodology that emphasizes the analysis of images as historical evidence, aligning with the concept of "series images" to extract latent historical information from subtle differences among similar images [16][17] - This approach is particularly relevant for studying the cross-cultural natural history illustrations from the Age of Exploration, as it acknowledges the complexities of image transmission and adaptation across different cultures [16][17]

Core Viewpoint - The book "博学于文：中外思想学术交汇下的刘师培文论" by Di Xiachen provides a comprehensive study of Liu Shipei's literary thoughts, emphasizing his unique value and significance in the context of the transition from traditional to modern scholarship in China [2][5]. Group 1: Liu Shipei's Academic Background - Liu Shipei (1884-1919) was a prominent figure in modern Chinese academic history, known for his dual influence from traditional Chinese scholarship and Western academic thought [2][5]. - He played a crucial role during a pivotal period in Chinese academia, alongside contemporaries like Zhang Taiyan and Huang Kan, yet his contributions have not received adequate scholarly attention compared to the Zhang-Huang school [2][5]. Group 2: Liu Shipei's Literary Contributions - Liu Shipei's literary achievements are rooted in his academic perspective, which integrates various disciplines such as classical studies, politics, ethics, and geography, highlighting the interconnectedness of literature and scholarship [8][10]. - His literary theory is characterized by a broad and inclusive approach, drawing from both Chinese and Western knowledge, which allowed him to construct a unique literary framework [10][11]. Group 3: Cross-Cultural Influences - The book explores Liu Shipei's engagement with Western theories, particularly how he adapted foreign concepts to Chinese contexts, exemplified by his research on "Chinese racial theories" and their impact on his studies of "楚辞" (Chuci) [7][10]. - Di Xiachen's research emphasizes the importance of cross-cultural dialogue in Liu Shipei's work, showcasing how he bridged Eastern and Western thought [7][10]. Group 4: Historical Context and Peer Interactions - The author analyzes Liu Shipei's interactions with contemporaries through various publications, revealing the dynamics of literary discourse during his time and how these relationships influenced his literary ideology [13][14]. - Liu Shipei's connections with figures like Zhang Taiyan and the Zhou brothers are examined, highlighting their shared interests and the intellectual exchanges that shaped their respective literary views [15][16]. Group 5: Liu Shipei's Legacy - The resurgence of interest in Liu Shipei, particularly among younger generations, is partly attributed to cultural representations in media, such as the drama "Awakening Era," which has sparked renewed scholarly interest [18]. - The book "博学于文" is positioned as a significant academic contribution that aims to deepen the understanding of Liu Shipei's role as a scholar during a transformative period in Chinese history [18].