论利马窦等传教士的知识传教及其西学带来的影响

On the knowledge and cultural influences by Matteo Ricci and other western missionaries

以利马窦为首的传教士在明末来到中国,经过几十年的摸索,终于探讨出一条使天主教在华扎根的成功之路。而在明清嬗代之际传教士通过展示自己在火器、历法以及地理学等方面的知识优势获得了最高统治当局的赞许与支持,从而大张旗鼓地收徒传教。由于在整个传教过程中传教士始终紧盯着王贵与士林,并且一直以传播知识为旗帜,所以传教士的活动表现为知识传教的特征,与之相应,在社会政治与学术思想领域传教士所带来的主要不是宗教神学的影响,而是以科学技术为主的西学的影响。如果说这种影响在社会政治领域是短暂、浅显的,那么在学术思想领域就显得长久而深远了。

It is at the end of the Ming that the pioneer missionaries headed by Matteo Ricci come to China to find room for the growth of Christianity. Hence at the turn of Ming and Qing, after their decades of efforts, and owing to their knowledge of powder, calendar and geography, the missionaries achieve their approval and support from the highest Chinese rulers and begin the open drafting of disciples. It is furthermore noticed that their mission is more confined to the spread of academic knowledge among the aristocrats and scholars than to political and social sciences.