Mei Wending, a famous historical scholar in ancient China
1 min readMei Wending
Mei Wending（1633-1721），born in Xuancheng，Anhui Province，was a writer on astronomy and mathematics whose work represented an association of Chinese and Western knowledge.In his view，Chinese astronomical knowledge had advanced following the adoption of the new，more accurate Jesuit calendar in 1629.
Mei stressed that Chinese astronomy had improved from generation to generation，progressing from coarseness to accuracy.He gave precisely the same description for the development of Western astronomy.In other words，he believed that progress was a universal historical pattern.This was Mei’s historical rationale for synthesizing Western and Chinese knowledge.
In his comparative study，Inquiry on Mathematical Astronomy，Mei tried to situate the new European knowledge properly within the historical framework of Chinese knowledge.In Complements of Geometry，he calculated the volumes and relative dimensions of regular and semi-regular polyhedrons by traditional Chinese methods.
Mei helped rehabilitate traditional Chinese mathematics.His Complete Works on Astronomy and Mathematics of Mei Wending，published in 1723，was quite influential.
