Chapter 22 Section 2 Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi

In 1583, Matteo Ricci went to Zhaoqing, Guangdong to preach, and built a European-style church there.In order to attract the attention of the Chinese, "Western artifacts" brought from Europe were also exhibited, such as chime bells, prisms, astronomical instruments, portraits of the Virgin Mary, and so on.In particular, a "Comprehensive Map of Mountains, Seas and Lands" drawn by Matteo Ricci hangs in the hall, which is particularly eye-catching.This map of the world drawn by Matteo Ricci is really painstaking.The map is marked in Chinese so that the Chinese can understand it.In order to adapt to the Chinese people's concept that the Celestial Dynasty is at the center, China is specially placed in the center of the map.He sent this map to the local governor, prefect and other officials.In order to win the favor of the Chinese, Matteo Ricci gave himself a Chinese name after arriving in China, nicknamed "Xitai".They also changed to Chinese clothes, but at the beginning they were indiscriminate, and they wore monk's cassocks.The blond-haired and blue-eyed Matteo Ricci wore a monk's robe, spoke Chinese, and imitated Chinese customs and bowed, bowed and bowed. These behaviors greatly facilitated his missionary activities.He made friends with local officials and scholars extensively, and even Wang Pan, the prefect of Duanzhou (Zhaoqing), wrote poems for his church plaque.Later, he went to Shaozhou from Zhaoqing, where he further got acquainted with Qu Taisu, the son of the Minister of Rites.Qu Taisu learned Western knowledge from Matteo Ricci, such as astronomy and mathematics, and later converted to Catholicism.He also advised Matteo Ricci to change to the clothes worn by Chinese scholars, so as to make it easier for the scholar-official class to accept.From then on, Matteo Ricci took off his cassock, put on Confucian clothes, and became a "Western Confucian".In order to ensure a solid foundation for his missionary work in China, Matteo Ricci was not satisfied with his achievements in Zhaoqing and Shaozhou, but wanted to obtain the approval of the emperor, the supreme ruler of China.He traveled to Nanjing, Nanchang and other places, writing books, preaching, and making friends everywhere, which greatly enhanced his understanding of China.Among the officials, Confucian scholars, scholars and celebrities he made friends with, the most famous is Xu Guangqi, a great scholar in the Ming Dynasty. At the beginning of 1601, Matteo Ricci arrived in Beijing and presented his tribute to Emperor Wanli, including one image of God, two images of the Mother of God, one "Our Father", one cross inlaid with pearls, two chiming bells, "All Nations" One volume of "Pictures" and one piece of Xiqin.At the same time, he gave a memorial to Emperor Wanli, claiming to be an "Atlantic vassal", because he admired China, so it took three years and traveled more than 80,000 miles to cross the sea.He also expressed his willingness to work for the Ming Dynasty in astronomy and calendar calculations.Although Emperor Wanli did not meet Matteo Ricci, he allowed him to preach and stay in China.Therefore, Matteo Ricci settled in Beijing until his death.After his death, Emperor Wanli gave him a special gift to be buried outside Fucheng Gate in Beijing.

Matteo Ricci spent 28 years in China, devoted himself to the study of Chinese Confucianism, wrote books, and used Confucianism to promote Catholicism. The book "The Truth of God" is Matteo Ricci's representative work in this regard.The book combines Confucianism and Catholicism, which was very influential among officials and scholar-bureaucrats in the Ming Dynasty.At the same time, Matteo Ricci played a media role in the spread of Western European technology and culture in China with his erudition.Together with Xu Guangqi, he translated Euclid's "Elements of Geometry", drew the world map "Kun Yu Wan Guo Quan Tu", and introduced Western knowledge of music, painting, architecture, surveying, etc. to China.It can be said that Matteo Ricci was the first representative of Western learning to come to China.Matteo Ricci's dissemination of Western learning opened the way for his missionary activities.By the time of his death, Catholic churches had been built in Beijing, Nanjing, Nanchang, Zhaoqing and other places, with 2,500 believers nationwide.

In the late Ming Dynasty, three officials in China had close contacts with Matteo Ricci, which played a positive role in the spread of Catholicism and Western learning in China.They are Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and Yang Tingyun. Xu Guangqi (1562-1633 A.D.) was born in Xujiahui, Shanghai.He studied hard since he was a child, and before he met Matteo Ricci, he had a solid foundation in academic research and practical experience. He wrote the article "Measuring River Works and Measuring Geography", which brilliantly used the original practical mathematics of our country. Knowledge. At the beginning of the 17th century, Xu Guangqi came into contact with Matteo Ricci, and soon joined the Catholic Church, and his Christian name was Paul. In 1604, Xu Guangqi became a Jinshi and worked in the Imperial Academy in Beijing. Since then, he has had a close relationship with Matteo Ricci for four years.The communication between Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci marks the exchange of traditional Chinese academic knowledge and modern Western scientific knowledge.He once studied Western science and technology knowledge such as astronomy, calendar calculation, and firearm manufacturing with Matteo Ricci, and translated the six volumes of Euclid's "Elements of Geometry" in ancient Greece with Matteo Ricci. It is said that Ricci dictated and Xu translated. .They also co-authored books such as "Measurement Law" and "Pythagorean Justice". In 1607, Xu Guangqi lost his father and went home to guard the system, so he was able to spend more time on academic research. After the death of Matteo Ricci in 1610, Xu still kept in touch with other missionaries who came to China, and continued to carry out academic research and compilation work when he was an official. In 1612, he compiled "Taixi Water Law", and between 1621 and 1628, he compiled the important natural science work "Nongzheng Quanshu" in ancient my country.During the reign of Chongzhen (1628-1644 A.D.), Xu Guangqi was reused as Minister of the Ministry of Rites and a Bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion.Using his status and influence, he worked hard to protect the influence of Catholicism in China, and at the same time worked tirelessly to promote Western learning. From 1629 to 1633, he presided over the compilation of the "Datong Calendar", and he still insisted on scientific research on the calendar until his death.From the perspective of cultural exchanges between China and the West, the value of Xu Guangqi's academic activities lies in the fact that he is based on the foundation of traditional Chinese scholarship and is good at absorbing the achievements of Western science, so that his research has a modern scientific tendency.For example, he recognized the value of "Principles of Geometry", and believed that "this book is widely used, and it is especially urgently needed at this time", "so there is no one in the world who should not study it".Xu Guangqi also emphasized the importance of "the science of image and number", that is, applying mathematical principles to experimental science, discovering the laws of nature, and then producing "thousands of useful learning".For this reason, he proposed to develop scientific research tasks in various aspects such as astronomy and meteorology, water conservancy measurement, military manufacturing, mechanical mechanics, architecture, clocks and watches, and medicine.It's a pity that it was the last years of the Ming Dynasty, and the world was in chaos soon, and the feudal shackles of the Qing Dynasty became stricter.The emerging scientific enterprise advocated by Xu is difficult to develop in the end.

Li Zhizao (1565-1630 A.D.) was born in Renhe (now Hangzhou), Zhejiang. In 1602, he met Matteo Ricci.He once collaborated with Matteo Ricci and wrote "Tongwen Suanzhi" and "圣〔元元〕Rong Comparison".He has done research on Western astronomy, geography, mathematics, military affairs, etc. He also wrote a preface to Matteo Ricci's "The True Meaning of God" and compiled a series of books about Catholicism, "The First Letter of Tianxue". In 1625, after the discovery of the "Great Qin Nestorian Popularity in China", he wrote the article "After Reading Nestorian Tablets", which is the earliest article describing the spread of Nestorianism in China.

Yang Tingyun (AD 1557-1627), a native of Renhe, Zhejiang. After getting acquainted with Matteo Ricci in Beijing in 1602, under his influence, he changed his belief in Buddhism to Catholicism.He has written many works promoting Catholicism.After Matteo Ricci's death, when some officials of the Ming government launched the "Nanjing Missionary Case" to attack Catholic forces, Yang Tingyun, together with Xu Guangqi and others, defended Catholicism and protected some missionaries. After Chongzhen, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, came to the throne, Xu Guangqi was credited.Xu Guangqi immediately suggested to the emperor to use missionaries to help revise the calendar.The rulers of all dynasties in China have always believed that changes in the celestial phenomena represent the good or bad luck of the country, and regarded the formulation of the calendar as a major event for the country.The "Da Tong Li" implemented in the Ming Dynasty actually followed the "Shou Shi Calendar" of Guo Shoujing in the Yuan Dynasty.Over time, there are many mistakes, and it is often wrong to predict solar and lunar eclipses.Emperor Chongzhen adopted Xu Guangqi's suggestion of setting up a calendar bureau and revising the calendar, and appointed him to supervise the matter.The missionaries Long Huamin and Deng Yuhan recommended by Xu Guangqi were also allowed to participate in the revision of the calendar.Deng Yuhan was a German, and he was the most knowledgeable among the missionaries in China at that time.He was good friends with the famous physicist Galileo and astronomer Kepler.It is a pity that he passed away after only working in the Li Bureau for a few months.After Deng Yuhan's death, Xu Guangqi recommended Tang Ruowang and Luo Yagu to work in the Li Bureau.Tang Ruowang also helped the Ming Dynasty manufacture artillery in 1642.Due to the revision of the calendar and the manufacture of artillery, missionaries were able to serve in the Ming Dynasty and even enter and leave the imperial palace, so Catholicism gradually penetrated into the court.Some concubines, princes and eunuchs all believed in Catholicism.It is estimated that there were 540 Catholics in the palace at that time.Almost every province in the country has missionaries and believers.In addition to the Jesuits, Franciscan and Dominican missionaries also went to China to preach. In 1644, after the Qing soldiers entered the customs, the clan of the Ming Dynasty successively established several regimes in the south, which was called Nanming in history.In order to protect itself, the Nanming regime implemented a pro-Catholic policy and repeatedly attempted to seek help from the West through missionaries.For example, Bi Francis, an Italian Jesuit missionary, was sent to Macao by the Nanjing Fuwang regime to borrow troops from the Portuguese.After the Fuwang regime collapsed, he was ordered by the Tangwang regime in Fuzhou.Soon, the Tang regime fell, and Bi Fangji defected to the Nanming Yongli regime.Qu Shixu, Jiao Lian, the ministers of the Yongli regime, and Pang Tianshou, the eunuch, all believed in Catholicism.Later, even the empress dowager, empress and newborn prince became Catholics.Bi Fangji was appointed by the Yongli regime and accompanied by Pang Tianshou to Macau for help. In 1646, the Portuguese in Macau sent 300 troops, carrying several artillery pieces, to Guilin to assist in the battle. In 1648, when Pang Tianshou went to Macau for help again, the Portuguese donated another 100 muskets.Later, another Polish priest who served the Yongli regime was sent by the Empress Dowager to go directly to the Holy See to ask for assistance.

In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, the rulers generally adopted a policy of tolerance and enlightenment towards Catholicism and Western learning.For example, Tang Ruowang, a missionary who worked on the calendar and made cannons for the Ming Dynasty, remained in Beijing after the death of the Ming Dynasty, serving the new regime of the Qing Dynasty, and was appointed as the first official in charge of the Qin Tianjian in the Qing Dynasty.He and Nan Huairen continued to revise the calendar.The newly compiled almanac is named "Shixian Li".In the early years of Kangxi (AD 1662), the Qintianjian teaching case occurred.Yang Guangxian, a native of Huizhou, wrote an article attacking Catholicism, and in 1644 falsely accused Tang Ruowang of treason.Tang Ruowang and a group of suspected missionaries were arrested and imprisoned, some were executed, some were exiled, and Tang Ruowang himself died of illness.Yang Guangxian was appointed as the supervisor of Qin Tianjian.Until 1668, Kangxi ordered Yang Guangxian and missionary Nan Huairen to measure the shadow of the sun at noon.As a result, Yang Guangxian's measurement was extremely inaccurate, while Nan Huairen's measurement was not bad.So Emperor Kangxi dismissed Yang Guangxian, and Nan Huairen presided over the work of Qin Tianjian.Tang Ruowang's unjust case was also brought to light.After that, for a long period of time, Emperor Kangxi trusted missionaries, loved Western learning, especially mathematics, and respected Catholicism.It was only because the Holy See completely disregarded China's national conditions, arbitrarily interfered with the etiquette and customs of the Chinese people, prohibited Chinese Christians from worshiping their ancestors and respecting Confucius, and provoked the so-called "controversy over etiquette". Emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng changed their attitudes and banned Catholicism.