Science and Technology from the Ming Dynasty to the Opium War

The stable and prosperous society of the Ming Dynasty provided the conditions necessary for great achievements in science and technology.Among the renowned scientists of the time were Xu Guangqi，Xu Xiake and Song Yingxing.During the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties，the Jesuit priests residing at the imperial court in Beijing were important media for cultural and technical exchange from east to west and vice versa.The Jesuits showed the Chinese upper class the technical inventions made in Europe during the past century，such as watches and astronomical instruments.The introduction of Western science and technology intoChina depended mainly on activities of Western missionaries.But the Qing government expelled them from China in 1723，cutting its only link with Western technology for the following 100 years.China was technically advanced until the end of the 18th century.The industrial revolution helped the West to become powerful during the 19th century，giving them a sentiment of being superior to China.

Xu Guangqi

Xu Guangqi（1562-1633），born in Shanghai，was a famous official and scholar.Xu Guangqi was baptized by Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci（1552-1610）in 1603 and took the name Paul.He spent the next three years colaborating with Ricci in translating Western texts on mathematics，astronomy，and geography into Chinese.Their most famous translation was Euclid’s Elements of Geometry，which exerted a great influence on Chinese mathematics.Xu also wrote original works on trigonometry and agriculture，and his notable Encyclopedia of Agriculture advocated the adoption of Western agricultural practices，such as surveying，mapping，and irrigation.His interest in practicalsubjects marked a departure from the dominance of Neo-Confucian thought.After he became a high official in the Ming court，Xu sponsored the Jesuit missionaries in China.

Xu believed that Western scholarship，particularly geometry，could complement Confucianism and replace Buddhism by undermining its tendency toward vague speculation.In 1629，Xu demonstrated the use of Western science for predicting solar eclipses and other astronomical events.When the Manchus invaded China in 1630，he convinced the emperor to use Western armaments to defend the country.

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