1562-1633
Translator Of Scientific Works

Official. Xu Guangqi was born to a landholding family near Shanghai. Successful in the doctoral examination in 1604, Xu was one of the first Chinese men to make contact with the Jesuit missionaries. Hired as tutor by a wealthy family, he met first Father Lazare Carraneo and then Matteo Ricci in Nanking in 1600. From 1604 to 1607 Xu lived in Beijing and there received instruction from Ricci. As a government minister, Xu used his Jesuit instructor's talents not only in the mathematical bureau of the Board of Rites but also as artillery adviser in the war against the Manchus and the rebels. Through his influence the Ming court (1368-1644) turned to the Portuguese for help and enlisted the first European forces to serve in China.

Translator. As a disciple of Ricci, Xu started to translate European scientific works such as guidebooks on mathematics, astronomy...