万历韶州同知刘承范及其《利玛传》

Liu Cheng-fan of Wan Li Period and His Biography of Mɑtteo Ricci

刘承范是明末(万历年间)循吏,1589年任韶州府同知时与利玛窦相遇、相交、相知。著有《利玛传》,记录了一段重要的中西文化交流史实,更确切地说是一位具有中国传统儒家思想文化且颇有作为的官吏与一位博学多才的具有近代科学知识且能融入当时中国社会的西方天主教传教士之间的交往,涉及明末社会的政治、经济、军事、文化、宗教等多方面,从一个侧面反映了东西方文化的相互认知与理解。

Liu Cheng-fan, a government official in late Ming Dynasty （Wan LI Period）, met Matteo Ricci in 1589 when he was the prefect in Shaozhou and developed deep friendship with Matteo Ricci. Biography of Matteo Ricci written by Liu Cheng-fan recorded an important history of intercultural communication between the West and China. Matteo Ricci possessed the thoughts and culture of Confucianism, what was more, he was rich in mod- em scientific knowledge and was involved in the communication of the western missionaries of Catholicism, ranging from polities, economy, military affairs, culture and religion of the society in late Ming Dynasty. It reflected the recognition and understanding of the two cultures.