Overview of Ancient Geoscience and Views of Geological Disasters and Abnormalities

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the development of geoscience in ancient China and the understanding and researches of geological disasters and abnormal phenomena by ancient Chinese. In the first part, the author divides the development of geoscience in ancient China into several phases and illustrates important features of geoscience development in different historical periods by presenting classics on geology, geological works, records of geological features in ancient works, thoughts and theories on geology, personages making prominent contributions in this field, and important researches. In the second part, the author first explains the connotation of geological disaster and abnormities and then elaborates ancient people’s views of two geological phenomena: the Yellow River getting clear and earthquakes.