Contact with Western Studies
In the 21st year of Wanli (1593), Xu Guangqi was hired to teach in Shaozhou, where he first came into contact with the missionary Guo Jujing (L. Cattaneo). At Guo Jujing's place, he saw a world map for the first time and learned that there was such a big world outside of China. He also heard for the first time that the earth was round and that a Westerner named Magellan sailed around the earth. Traveled around for a week.
It was also the first time I heard that Italian scientist Galileo built an astronomical telescope that could clearly observe the movement of stars in the sky. All of this was unheard of to him. From then on, he began to get in touch with modern Western natural sciences.
Being an honest official
Mr. Xu Guangqi was an honest official and lived a simple life, which was unimaginable for officials at that time. The bigger Xu Guangqi became, the more low-key he became. On Xu Guangqi's 70th birthday, it was customary for officials, big and small, relatives and friends to send congratulatory gifts.
Xu Guangqi had already written to his juniors in his hometown of Shanghai not to accept any gifts sent to him. I politely declined even the congratulatory gifts sent by my relatives and friends. The children and grandchildren in Shanghai know the old man's temper and character and follow his instructions without fail.
Life is simple
When Xu Guangqi was studying in the Hanlin Academy in his early years, there was an anecdote. One day, when he got up in the morning to get dressed, he found that he could not find a garter. Without disturbing his classmates, he secretly replaced it with a piece of cloth.
This lasted for more than a month, until my wife found out and said with a smile: "No matter how small the salary in the Hanlin Academy is, I can't afford a pair of garters! You are so frugal, and others will see it." , I will definitely think that you are pretending." Xu Guangqi replied: "You! You know that nothing in the world is perfect.
I don't lack anything now, including winter clothes and summer clothes. Everything is complete, just one garter belt is missing, just treat it as a small flaw, I think it is just right, why are you pretending?" Xu Guangqi looks a bit naive on the surface, but if you understand his inner thoughts, you will feel that he is just a small flaw. Inner noble personality charm.
Extended information:
Xu Guangqi believed that agriculture is the foundation of a rich country, and the military is the foundation of a strong country. Therefore, Xu Guangqi always attached great importance to the research of military science and technology. Xu Guangqi was one of the pioneers of cultural exchanges between China and the West in the Ming Dynasty, but not many of his handwritings have survived. Among them, Xu Guangqi inscribed Lu Wanyan's "Album of Poems on Qinhe Gaofeng" in elegant running script.
In his notes on revising the calendar, Xu Guangqi discussed in detail the extensive application of mathematics. He proposed ten aspects in a row ("Degrees can lead to ten things"), namely: astronomy and calendar, water conservancy projects, music, weapons and military engineering, accounting and financial management, various construction projects, machinery manufacturing, geodetic surveying , medicine, manufacturing clocks and other timers.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Xu Guangqi