<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Engineering science in the China of 1901-40 had unique characteristics that disrupt the idea of a universal approach to its history.<sup>1</sup> The following case study describes the ideas and trials of introducing bamboo into the seemingly globalised technology of reinforced concrete—an innovation developed across the borders of mechanical, naval, civil, and aeronautical engineering. The article showcases a way of knowing and working by twentieth century engineers that has not been fully acknowledged, and is not only a phenomenon of China. While bamboo was a complicated and somewhat marginal object for engineering, it did make the European concrete technology more viable in the construction sites of China, and stimulate engineers’ experimental and resourceful spirit in mobilising both craft and scientific knowledge. It also opened up a challenge to engineering science of the time.</p>
</abstract>

Engineering science in the China of 1901-40 had unique characteristics that disrupt the idea of a universal approach to its history.1 The following case study describes the ideas and trials of introducing bamboo into the seemingly globalised technology of reinforced concrete—an innovation developed across the borders of mechanical, naval, civil, and aeronautical engineering. The article showcases a way of knowing and working by twentieth century engineers that has not been fully acknowledged, and is not only a phenomenon of China. While bamboo was a complicated and somewhat marginal object for engineering, it did make the European concrete technology more viable in the construction sites of China, and stimulate engineers’ experimental and resourceful spirit in mobilising both craft and scientific knowledge. It also opened up a challenge to engineering science of the time.

Unspoken Modernity: Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete, China 1901-40

HoST - Journal  of History of Science and Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Unspoken Modernity: Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete, China 1901-40"}

Engineering science in the China of 1901-40 had unique characteristics that disrupt the idea of a universal approach to its history.1 The following case study...

Unspoken Modernity: Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete, China 1901-40

Published Online: Dec 14, 2021

Page range: 88 - 120

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/host-2021-0014

Keywords
bamboo, craftsmanship, engineering, modern science, transdisciplinary knowledge

© 2021 Chang-Xue Shu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Unspoken Modernity: Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete, China 1901-40

Published Online: Dec 14, 2021

Page range: 88 - 120

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/host-2021-0014

Keywordsbamboo, craftsmanship, engineering, modern science, transdisciplinary knowledge

© 2021 Chang-Xue Shu, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
bamboo, craftsmanship, engineering, modern science, transdisciplinary knowledge