我研究《道藏》炼丹术文献的回顾与反省

《道藏》中包含了大量关于中国古代科技的文献资料。何丙郁先生自1958年协助李约瑟撰写《中国科学技术史》开始,就对《道藏》中的炼丹术文献进行深入研究,涉及炼丹理论、炼丹仪器、金丹毒、炼丹水法、炼丹著作的考订等,且历经多年,颇有心得。何教授回顾了他研究《道藏》炼丹术文献的历程,介绍了正在撰写的英文新著《〈道藏〉探索》(Explorations in Dao-ism)的主要内容,内容包括《道藏》炼丹术著作的年代鉴定、校雠和辑存以及炼丹术语的解读等。

Studying the Taoist Canon: Reminiscence and Reflection

The Taoist Canon contains a vast amount of material pertaining to the history of science and technology. Since the year 1958 when the writer began his collaboration with Dr. Joseph Needham on the Science and Civilisation in China project, he has engaged himself deeply in the study of the Taoist Canon, touching on alchemy theory, alchemical apparatus, aqueous solutions, elixir poisoning, etc. Having gained from his long years of study, he narrates his experience and reflects on the subject in this paper. In December 2001 he began writing a new book in English entitled Explorations in Daoism that would encompass the daring of alchemical texts, collations and restoration of alchemical texts from fragments among other topics.