浅谈明清传教士传播天文知识的贡献及其局限性

On the Missionaries' Contribution and Limitations to the Development of Astronomy in China

我国天文学的发展经历元代高峰之后,从明初到万历年间开始止步不前,之后一些西方传教士来到我国,带来了一些先进的天文知识——天文仪器、天文历算、天文著作,使我国的天文学进入一个新的飞速发展时期。但是传教士在天文知识的传播方面存在着一定的局限性,先进的"日心说"没有及时传入我国,望远镜也未在我国得到正常地使用。这其中的原因主要是传教本质属性的影响和国人对西学吸收主动性不够。

In the Yuan Dynasty, astronomy was well developed in China. However, the development was slowed down from the Ming Dynasty until the missionaries＇ arrival. The missionaries brought advanced astronomy knowledge, instruments, and calendar and compiled some astronomy books, which resulted in another speedy development of astronomy in China. However, there were some limitations in the missionaries＇ dissemination of astronomy knowledge in China. The latest heliocentric theory proposed by Copernicus was not introduced into China. The newly invented telescope was not well used in China. The cause of this lies in intrinsic quality of missionaries and the Chinese people＇ s lack of subjectivity in absorbing western learning.