Also called: Paul Xu, Hsü Kuang-ch’i
Late Ming scholar-official and Catholic convert who translated Euclid with Matteo Ricci, compiled the Complete Treatise on Agriculture and led the Western-style Chongzhen calendar project
The Jesuit Matteo Ricci entered Beijing in 1601 and, through his world map and The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven, introduced Western geography, science and Catholicism in Chinese. Carried home by envoys, these works reached Korea as “Western Learning” (Seohak).
Italian Jesuit missionary who entered Beijing in 1601 and introduced Western geography and Catholic teaching in Chinese through his world map and The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven
Ming emperor (r. 1572–1620) who, after Zhang Juzheng’s death, long refused to hold court; the “three great campaigns” including the Korean war and the defeat at Sarhu drained the dynasty
The age when the Ming, shaken by northern raiders, southern pirates and the silver economy, fell to Li Zicheng’s rebels, and the Manchu Qing reached its greatest extent and prosperity under Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong — as Japan was unified out of the Warring States into the Edo shogunate’s bakuhan order and closed country, and Joseon, after two great wars, met its neighbours through embassies to Edo and the Northern Learning