During the Ming Dynasty, our country’s territory reached its largest size, and at the same time, cultural exchanges with Western countries gradually began. During the Ming Dynasty, there was a person who made great contributions in the field of cultural exchanges between China and the West. This person was Xu Guangqi, the Minister of Rites during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. He was also a famous scientist and politician in the history of our country. It is recorded in history that Xu Guangqi promoted cultural exchanges between China and the West and brought some advanced Western ideas into China, playing a vital role in the spread of Chinese and Western cultures. So what contribution did Xu Guangqi make to the spread of Chinese and Western cultures during the Ming Dynasty? How did he promote cultural exchanges between China and the West?
We all know that the Ming Dynasty was an open dynasty. Xu Guangqi, as the Minister of Rites during the Ming Dynasty, greatly promoted cultural exchanges between China and the West during the Ming Dynasty. In terms of astronomy, he introduced Western concepts of longitude and latitude into China. At the same time, he also introduced the theory that the earth is round into the Ming Dynasty. The reason why Xu Guangqi can accept advanced theories and knowledge from Western countries has something to do with his being a Catholic. Xu Guangqi is a devout Catholic, so he has more exchanges with Western countries than ordinary people. Because of this, he gradually learned about Western culture. Although Xu Guangqi was a scholar, he was not an old scholar. He was able to accept advanced Western culture and spread this culture to the people of the Ming Dynasty. Xu Guangqi mainly promoted the exchanges between Chinese and Western cultures in astronomy, mathematics and agriculture. In astronomy he introduced the concepts of longitude and latitude. In mathematics he introduced geometric knowledge and concepts of applied mathematics. In agriculture he introduced a new crop, the sweet potato.