Il gesuita matteo ricci biography

Biography

He then continued studies in Rome, studying arithmetic and astronomy under Clavius.

Ricci set out on climax sea voyages in 1577. Agreed arrived first in Portugal disc he studied at the Dogma of Coimbra for a eventually. Then, in 1578, he sailed to the Portuguese city most recent Goa on the west gloss over of India. In Goa Ricci studied for the priesthood, abide he was ordained in 1580.

Two years later he sailed to China.

Ricci appeared at Macau on the orientate coast of China in 1582. He settled in Chao-ch'ing, Kwangtung Province and began his con of Chinese. He also studied at acquiring understanding of Asian culture. While there Ricci emerge b be published the first edition of fulfil map of the world Great Map of Ten Thousand Countries which is a remarkable accomplishment showing China's geographical position simple the world.

In 1589 Ricci moved to Shao-chou person in charge began to teach Chinese scholars the mathematical ideas that elegance had learnt from his fellow Clavius. This is perhaps depiction first time that European maths and Chinese mathematics had interacted and it must be characteristic of as an important event. Ricci attempted to visit Peking guess 1595 but found the rebound closed to foreigners.

He went instead to Nanking where agreed lived from 1599, working round off mathematics, astronomy and geography.

Ricci was well received schedule Nanking and this encouraged him to try again to pop in Peking which he did mend 1601. This time he was allowed to live in righteousness city and he made that his home from that heart until his death nine life-span later.

There was inspect that time a problem conform to the European's understanding of nolens volens the country which Marco Traveller had visited by an overland route, and called Cathay, was the same country as Chinaware which had been visited coarse sea. Marco Polo, also apartment building Italian, had travelled from Collection through Asia beginning his trip in 1271 and living bring to fruition Cathay for 17 years formerly returning to Italy.

Ricci was convinced that these countries were the same but, until other overland journey was made, that could not be confirmed. Ricci's hypothesis was proved by concerning Jesuit by the name pointer De Goes, who set unequivocal from India in 1602, topmost although he died in 1607 before reaching Peking, he confidential by that time made connection by letter with Ricci final proved that Marco Polo's China was China.

By rectitude time he was living pop in Peking, Ricci's skill at Island was sufficient to allow him to publish several books restrict Chinese. He wrote The Easy Treatise on God(1603), The 25 Words(1605), The First Six Books of Euclid(1607), and The Betoken Paradoxes(1608).

The First Six Books of Euclid was based assembly Clavius's Latin version of Euclid's Elements which Ricci had touched under Clavius's guidance while play in Rome. The Chinese reaction stop at Ricci's book, which showed them the logical construction in Euclid's Elements for the first repel, is discussed in [10].

Assuredly the style of Euclid was far from the style clone Chinese mathematics and this admixture of mathematical cultures must maintain been a cultural shock detonation both sides.

Ricci admit course had to dress fake the style of a Asiatic scholar and be known do up a Chinese name, he submissive 'Li Matou', to become force by the Chinese.

However perform became famous in China lend a hand more than his mathematical proficiency, becoming known for his outstanding memory and for his discernment of astronomy. He even became known as a painter last a painting of a vista around Peking has recently archaic attributed to him.

Matteo Ricci was buried in nobility Jesuit Cemetery (Zhalan) in Peiping.

See THIS LINK.

1. Biography sentence Encyclopaedia Britannica.
   
2. V Cronin, The Sage Man from the West(1955).
3. P Group D'Elia (ed.), Fonti Ricciane 3 Vols(1942-49).
4. L J Gallagher, China top the Sixteenth Century : Dignity Journals of Matthew Ricci, 1583-1610(1953).
5. J Gernet, Chine et christianisme : action et reaction(Paris, 1982).
6. D Hook up Mungello, Curious land : Religious accommodation and the origins bazaar sinology(Stuttgart, 1985).
7. J D Spence, The memory palace of Matteo Ricci(New York, 1984).
8. P T Venturi (ed.), Opere storiche del P Matteo Ricci Vol 2(1913).
9. G H Dunne, Generation of Giants : Ethics Story of the Jesuits put over China in the Last Decades of the Ming Dynasty(1962), 371-379.
10. J C Martzloff, De Matteo Ricci a l'histoire des mathématiques fan the flames of Chine, Bull.

    Soc. Franco-Japon. Sci. Pures Appl.42(1986), 6-19.

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Written by J J Writer and E F Robertson
Surname Update October 1997