博物新編 Bówù Xīnbiān, 1855

Benjamin Hobson (合信)

Hobson’s natural philosophy treatise, printed at the London Missionary Society press in Shanghai. It mentions 56 elements (元質) and names hydrogen 輕氣, light gas; names were not yet consistent.

Waseda University Library scan ↗

Forms attested here (3)

• 水母氣 Hydrogen H shuǐmǔqì today 氢 qīng “water-mother gas”, a calque of hydro-gen replaced
• 輕氣 Hydrogen H qīngqì today 氢 qīng “light gas”; the lightest element replaced
• 生氣 Oxygen O shēngqì today 氧 yǎng “life gas”, also used for air replaced