The relation between art and science “Meishu yu kexue de guanxi” 美術與科學的關係. Beijing daxue rikan 北京大學日刊 (1921): 168-179.

Cai, Yuanpei, The Relation between Science and Art

Translated by Wendy Xue and Yuning Yan

我們心理上，可以分三方面看：一面是意志，一面是知識，一面是感情，意志的表現是行為，屬於倫理學：知識屬於各科學，感情是屬於美術的，我們是做人，自然行為是主體，但要行為斷不能撇掉知識與感情。例如走路是一種行為，但先探聽；從那一條路走？幾時可到目的地？采明白了，是有了走路的知識了；要是沒有行路的興會，就永不走，或走得不起動，就不能走到目的地。又如踢球的也是一種行為，但要先研究踢的方法；知道踢法了，是有了踢球的知識了；要是不高興踢，就永踢不好。所以知識與感情不好偏枯，就是科學與美術不可偏廢。

There are differences between science and art; science is conceptual, and art is intuitive.

For example, describing a flower from a scientific point of view, one would say that it was a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family, conceptually defining it as a plant and as an organism.’ However If you look at it from an artistic perspective, the shape and colour of this Chrysanthemum is pleasing to the eye, and it does not matter whether or not it is called Chrysanthemum. What are the other Asteraceae plants like? What are the plants like? What are the organisms like? All of these matter even less. Take tables as another example. Scientifically, the proportion of the surface and four legs conforms to the principles of kinematics. So regardless of the types of tables, as well as similar chairs and stools, the same theory applies. Consequently, the same theory can be applied to the relation between roofs and pillars. These can all be achieved conceptually. If we look at it from an artistic perspective, the tabletop merely needs to have a proper vertical and horizontal ratio,  as well as a proper arrangement of thickness of the legs, size and thickness of its tabletop. There is no need to branch out to other tables or other apparatus. Although science is different from art, there are places where an artistic perspective can be applied in various sciences.

科學與美術有不同的點；科學是用概念的，美術是用直觀的，譬如這裡有花，在科學上講起來，這是菊科的植物，這是植物這是生物，都從概念上進行。若從美術眼光看起來：這一朵菊花的形式與顏色覺得美觀就是了；是不叫作菊花，都可不管。其餘的菊科植物什麼樣？植物什麼樣？生物什麼樣？更可不必管了。又如這裡有桌子，在科學上講起來，他那桌面與四足的比例，是合於動學的理法的：因而推到各種形式不同的桌子，同是一種理法，而且與桌子相類的椅子鐙子，也同是一種理法，因而推到屋頂與柱子的關係，也同是一種理法，都是從概念上進行。若從美術家眼光看起來；不過這一個桌面上縱橫的尺度的比例得適當；四足粗細與桌面的大小厚薄，配置得也適當了。不必推到別的桌子或別的器具。但是科學雖然與美術不同，在各種科學上，都有可以應用美術眼光的地方。

Arithmetic is a dull science, but in one type of art, the technique of kirikane. is used. All rectangular objects that mostly conform with aesthetics, have the width to length ratio of 3:5, 5:8, 8:13, and so on. This pattern applies to circles too.

算術是枯燥的科學，但美術上有一類截金法的比例，凡長方形的器物，最合於美感的，大都途徑與橫徑，總是三與五，五與八，八與十三：等比例。就是圓形，也是這樣。

The point, line, and surface in geometry are strict and uninteresting, but a part of pattern painting, is surprisingly a combination of dots, straight lines, curves or triangles, squares, circles etc. In addition, the various shapes of buildings or tools, are still nothing more than the arrangement of straight lines and curves. Is it not beautiful?

形學的點線面，是嚴格沒有趣味的，但是圖案畫的分子，有一部分竟是點與直線，曲線，或三角形，四方形，圓形等，湊合起來。又各種建築或器具的形式，均不外乎直線，曲線的配置。不是很美觀的么？

The volume of sound in acoustics, is nothing more than the number of vibrations the sound device makes persecond. But once a complex instrument is arranged with intricate sheet music, sound can become refined music. 

聲音高下，在聲學上。不過一秒中發聲器顫動次數的多少。但一經複雜的樂器，繁變的曲譜配置起來，就可以成為高尚的音樂。

Also, the difference in colours in optics, is merely the difference in the vibration speed of light. But to approach them with artistic affect; red and yellow are exciting. Blue and green are calming. And arranging various saturated or unsaturated colours together, can even evoke various emotions that are beautiful.

色彩的不同的在光學上，也不過光線顫動遲速的分別。但是用美術的感情試驗起來，紅黃等色，叫人興奮；藍綠等色。叫人寧靜。又把各種飽和或不飽和的顏色配置起來，竟可以喚起種種美的感情。

Mineralogy is only for the purpose of using minerals. But the resulting beautiful crystals, as well as radiance from gold and various types of gems, can be very pleasing to the eye.

礦物學不過為應用礦物起見。但因此得見美麗的結晶，金類寶石類的光彩？很可以悅目。

Biology admittedly shows the similarities and differences of the structures of animals and plants and theirphysiological functions . But as a result, it also sheds some light on the beauty of various plants and flowers,animal fur and feathers, as well as their contours. Scholars of biology constantly come across all the materials artists use for sculptures, paintings, or decorations.

生物學，固然可知動植物構造的同異，生理的作用。但因此得見種種植物花葉的美，動物毛羽與體段的美。凡是美術家在雕刻上，圖畫上或裝飾品上用作材料的，治生物學的人都時時可以遇到。

We can certainly understand the rules of gravity for all sorts of celestial bodies, as well as the number of constellations through astronomy. However, there are many more opportunities to appreciate that which has been admired for by scholars of literature for thousands of years, such as the enchanting moonlight and twinkle of the stars.

天文學，固然可以知各種星體引力的規則，與星座的多寡。但如月光的魔力，星光的異態，凡是文學家幾千年來嘆賞不盡的,有較多的機會可以賞玩。

From the examples given above, people who study science not only can also choose several kinds of art for self-cultivation in their spare time. They can also find art interesting even from the science they specialise in. Is it not killing two birds with one stone?

照上頭所舉的例看起來，治科學的人，不但治學的餘暇，可以選幾種美術，供自己的陶養。就是所專研的科學上面，也可以兼得美術的趣味，豈不是一舉兩得么？

Oftentimes we see people who specialize in science but are not involved in art, inevitably it is hard to avoid astate of desolation without inspiration. When you are extremely uninspired, other than the mandatory duties for survival, you disguise inferior entertainment as superior entertainment, which is vulgar. This is how yougradually become a misanthropic lunatic, because specialising in science is too conceptual, analytical and mechanical. For example, what kind of beings were humans transformed from? Purely from a scientist’s point of view, anatomy is simply a few bones and piles of muscles, that are differentiated from simply a few original matters. If science advances, we can certainly manufacture humans, just as we do now with machines. In addition, nothing can escape the law of causation.

常常看見專治科學不兼涉美術的人，難免有蕭索無聊的狀態。無聊不過，於生存上強迫的職務以外，俗的是借低劣的娛樂作消遣高的；是漸漸的成了厭世的神經病。因為專治科學，太偏於概念，太偏於分析，太偏於機械的作用了。譬如人是何等靈變，的東西？照單純科學家眼光：解剖起來，不過幾根骨頭，幾堆筋肉。化分起，不過幾種原質。要是科學進步，一定可以製造生人，與現在製造機械一樣。兼且凡事都逃不了因果律。

For example, it can be assumed today’s speech is predetermined in accordance to the law of causation to an extreme. Why am I in Hunan now?  Why did I come to Hunan First Normal University today?  Why must I say these words?  Why must you be the ones who came here to listen today? There are various reasons for these questions. We managed to gather here today not because of free will. Even the life and death of a person, the survival of a country and the destruction of the world are all mechanical effects, and there is no free will to change them. If you hold such a mechanical outlook on life and the world, not only will you lose joy in life and passion for society, for the science you specialise in, all you do is drawing dippers with gourds as model, and there is absolutely no spirit for innovation.

既如我今日在這裡會談，照極端的因果律講起來，都可以說是前定的。我為什麼此時到湖南？為什麼今日到這個第一師範學校；為什麼我一定講這些話？為什麼來聽的一定是諸位？這都有各種原因，湊泊成功，竟沒有一點自由的。就是一人的生死，國家的存亡，世界的成毀，都是機械作用，並沒有自由的意志，可以改變他的。抱了這種機械的人生觀與世界觀，不但對與自己，竟無生趣。對於社會，毫無愛情；就是對於所治的科學，也不過「依樣畫葫蘆，」決沒有創造的精神。

To prevent this kind of impediment, we need to cultivate both knowledge and emotion. That is, to study art as well as science. Once we have interest in art, we will not only feel that life is meaningful and valuable, but also, you will have the spirit of courage and liveliness. even when we study science. Ladies and gentlemen, please give it a try.

防這種流弊，就要求知識以外兼養感情；就是治科學以外，兼治美術。有了美術的興趣，不但覺得人生很有意義，很有價值；就是治科學的時候，也一定添了勇敢活潑的精神。請諸君試驗一試驗。