对明末科技翻译的两点辨误

On Misunderstandings of Science and Technology Translation during the Late Ming Dynasty

本文旨在更新学界对明末科技翻译的两点认识。利玛窦仅仅翻译前六卷《几何原本》,并非完全出于传教的实用主义,而是由于既想引入数学论证体系,同时考虑到自己数学水平有限。而传教士们也并未因反对科学而刻意隐瞒《天体运行论》,事实上该书在明末已得到翻译,但仅作为编纂历法的参考材料。

The paper aims to update two understandings of sci-tech translation during the late Ming dynasty.The reason why Matteo Ricci translated only the first six volumes of Euclid′s Elements is not the uselessness of it for preaching,but rather his determination to introduce a mathematical system and the consideration of his limited mathematical competence.Besides,missionaries did not deliberately conceal Copernicus′s De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium.The book had been translated in the late Ming dynasty,but only as reference material for the compilation of the Chinese calendar.