Ordering the Myriad Things: From Traditional Knowledge to Scientific Botany in China

This is a book that explores plant wisdom, notably diving into the influence Chinese practices had in the development of scientific botany from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century—when taxonomy was beginning to be developed. The author will go into the history of plant documentation in China, including horticultural manuals, encyclopedias, even literature and poetry that concerned plants. He’ll go into the importance that China played worldwide in the formalization of documentation practices and how botanical illustration also became an important skill and tool—more than just art—that in some ways was part and parcel of early documentation that gave way to more formal taxonomy. The book will share plant wisdom and tradition of different plants, as well.