Shen Kuo [a] (Chinese: 沈括; 1031–1095) or Shen Gua [b], courtesy name Cunzhong (存中) and pseudonym Mengqi (now usually given as Mengxi) Weng (夢溪翁), [1] was a Chinese polymath, scientist, and statesman of the Song dynasty (960–1279).

Shen Kua was a Chinese scholar who wrote on a wide variety of topics including mathematics, music, astronomy, calendars, cartography, geology, optics and medicine. Shen Kua is also known as Shen Kuo or Shen Gua. His father was Shen Chou and his mother's family name was Hsu.

Shen Kuo (born 1031, Qiantang [now Hangzhou, Zhejiang province], China—died 1095, Jingkou [now Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province]) was a Chinese astronomer, mathematician, and high official whose famous work Mengxi bitan (“Brush Talks from Dream Brook” [Dream Brook was the name of his estate in Jingkou]) contains the first reference to the ...

Shen Kua 沈括 was the most exceptional of the polymathic statesmen who flourished in the eleventh century. He was born in 1031, with registration at Ch’ien-t’ang 錢塘 [now Hangchow, Chekiang province], China, and died at Ching-k’ou 京口, Jun prefecture 潤州 (now Chinkiang, Kiangsu province) in 1095.

Shen Kua was a Chinese scientist, mathematician, and soldier in the eleventh century. He found success in many endeavors, but is perhaps best known for his work in the earth sciences, where he made many valuable contributions.

Shen Kua apparently received his early education from his mother. A native of Soochow (the region of which was known for its flourishing manufactures, commerce, and agriculture), she was forty-four or forty-five years old when he was born.

Shen Kuo’s reputation has been mostly in the field of scientific writing: he was the first to illustrate and build orographic maps; the first to illustrate accurately the source of fossils and the marine origin of some rocks; and the first to hint at atmospheric refraction.

Mar 31, 2025 · Shen Kuo was an eminent scientist of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). He was an all-round scholar of astronomy, literature, physics, chemistry, calendars, geology, meteorology and medical science. He was also an outstanding engineer, an excellent military strategist and a tactful diplomat.

The Dream Pool Essays (or Dream Torrent Essays) [1] was an extensive book written by the Chinese polymath and statesman Shen Kuo (1031–1095), published in 1088 during the Song dynasty (960–1279) of China.

Meet Shen Kuo, a remarkable polymath and statesman from the Song Dynasty in China (960-1279). With a courtesy name of Cunzhong and a pseudonym of Mengqi Weng, Shen was renowned for his exceptional skills in mathematics, optics, and horology.