During the Ming Dynasty, there was a man who was both humanistic and martial, studied both Chinese and Western, and was baptized as a Catholic, and he was Xu Guangqi.
Xu Guangqi's family was poor, and he became a reviewer of the Hanlin Academy through the imperial examination, and was responsible for compiling and revising the history of the country. During the Chongzhen period, Xu Guangqi was appointed as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites and a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion.
Xu Guangqi attached great importance to agriculture, and under his vigorous promotion, sweet potatoes imported from Spain were widely promoted, and kohlrabi was successfully introduced from northern China to southern China.
Xu Guangqi also summarized the experience of fish farming and beekeeping, as well as practical skills for planting bamboo, lilies and citrus plants, and promoted the advanced experience to farmers.
Xu Guangqi vigorously trained the army and mass-produced muskets and artillery and other hot weapons, and repeatedly suggested that the imperial court learn the technology of casting firearms and cannons in the West.
Xu Guangqi introduced Western mathematics and co-translated Geometry with Matteo Ricci, which made up for the shortcomings of Chinese mathematics. In addition, he wrote "Measuring Similarities and Differences" and "Pythagorean Righteousness", and created the heavenly plate, the earth, etc.
In the second year of Chongzhen, Xu Guangqi asked Emperor Chongzhen to revise the calendar, and after obtaining consent, he immediately led someone to translate the Western astronomical calendar book, so the famous "Chongzhen Calendar" came out.
Xu Guangqi's great achievements are closely related to his forward-looking vision.
He once said: "Every time someone talks about the art of prosperity and strength, a rich country must use its own industry, and a strong country must use a righteous army." This coincides with the Westernists shouting "seeking wealth and strength" more than 200 years later.
Xu Guangqi was a pioneer in the dissemination of modern science and culture, and was the first person to open his eyes to the world.
