The Shocking Conspiracy of Xu Guangqi and the Jesuits: Total Control of the Ming Dynasty (Series 5) Why did they want to package Matteo Ricci as a master of astronomy? (superior)

Author: Life without borders

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Why did they package Matteo Ricci as a master of astronomy and calendar? (superior)

Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and others, after a long period of planned and organized operations, finally packaged Jesuits such as Matteo Ricci, who knew nothing about astronomy and calendar, into masters of astronomy and calendar. However, scholars at the time did not fully believe in the so-called "Western methods" boasted by Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and others. For example, the 24-hour "Western method" advocated by Matteo Ricci and others, Ming Shen Defu clearly pointed out that this was originally one of the traditional Chinese calendars with a long history, "Wanli Yehuobian":

But Lixitai said that his country is divided into twenty-four hours every day, and each hour is divided into four quarters, which is only ninety-six quarters... His country's twenty-four hours, that is, the twelve hours of China, is based on the consideration of Huayi. Those who become in between. [1]

In the spring of the following year (the thirteenth year of Zhengtong, 1448), he made his own experience, and he used his (Qin Tianjian Zheng Peng Deqing) words to promulgate the ceremony to the world. According to twelve o'clock, there are ninety-six engravings in the large engraving, and twenty-four small engravings, a total of one hundred and twenty engravings. However, the small engravings are only equal to the four major engravings, so it is called a hundred engravings...in today's general calendar... It's not the same as what Peng Deqing built. [2]

It can be seen that Matteo Ricci's so-called "Western method" had already been established during the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty: there are twenty-four hours in a day, and one hour is divided into four quarters. It's just that due to complicated political reasons, this "calendar date" has not been officially promulgated. In fact, this is an authentic Chinese product. It was proposed and implemented as early as the Western Han Dynasty. "Han Shu·Li Xun Biography":

Taking the second year of Jianping as the first year of Taichu... the degree of leakage is one hundred and twenty. Announce the world so that it is known.

Another example, during the period of Emperor Wu of Liang, it was also formally implemented, "Sui Shu Astronomical Records":

In the sixth year of Tianjian, Emperor Wu allocated twelve hours to one hundred quarters of the day and night, and there were still eight quarters for each day, and there was still a surplus. It takes day and night as ninety-six quarters, and one hour has eight full quarters.

The literati and bureaucrats of the Ming Dynasty were familiar with the classics and history, and they would not be ignorant of these historical facts. However, as early as the Wanli period, after Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and others boasted everything, Matteo Ricci has become a well-known master of astronomy and calculus. "Wanli Ye Huo Bian":

Since Matteo Ricci came to the capital, there are countless names, and scholars such as Li Zhizao have all taught him their careers, and they seem to be in charge of astronomy at the same time. [3]

Finally, Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and others found the right time and sent the Jesuits into the observatory of the Jesuit Ming court. "Ming History · History":

During the solar eclipse in Yiyoushuo in the second year of Chongzhen, Xu Guangqi, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, predicted it according to the Western method... So the Ministry of Rites made a revision at the beginning, and used Guangqi to supervise the revision of the calendar... Because of the Nanjing eunuch Shaoqing Li Zhizao, the Westerners Neng Huamin, and Deng Yuhan. Accepted. In September, Guimao opens the calendar bureau. Three years later, Yuhan died, and he recruited Westerners Tang Ruowang and Luo Yagu to translate books and calculate. Guang Qi entered the Ministry of Shangshu and still supervised the revision of the calendar.

Since then, the Jesuits have entered and gradually controlled the observatories in China. The Jesuits did not leave China until the eve of the outbreak of the Opium War.

In terms of astronomical and calendar calculations, why did Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and others put so much effort into it?

1. How important is astronomy and calendar calculation in traditional Chinese culture?

As we all know, the core of Chinese traditional culture is "the unity of man and nature", and the technical basis for establishing the world view of "the unity of man and nature" is the powerful astronomical calendar technology. As early as in the period of Yao and Shun, Xuanji Yuheng was established to establish a unified calendar for the world with Qiqizheng. "Historical Records: The Chronicles of the Five Emperors":

The Emperor Yao... ordered Xihe, counted the sun, moon and stars, and gave respect to the people... So the Emperor Yao, the old man, ordered Shun to take care of the government of the Son of Heaven, so as to observe the destiny. Shun was in Suiji Yuheng, and Qi Qizheng.

The high status of Yao and Shun in Chinese culture is self-evident. "The Analects of Confucius Tabor":

Towering and majestic, only the sky is the greatest, and only Yao is the greatest.

Confucius said that only Yao could control and obey the will of heaven to govern the country and establish the "Yao Heaven" in a peaceful and prosperous age.

For thousands of years, the Chinese have studied the heaven and the earth to an almost obsessive level. Only the revision and improvement of the calendar is in a state of never-ending, "History of Ming Dynasty History":

From the Yellow Emperor to the Qin Dynasty, there have been six changes in history. Han Fan changed four times. From Wei to Sui, the fifteenth revision. From Tang to Five Dynasties, it was changed in the fifteenth year. Song seventeen changes. Jin Zhiyuan, five reforms.

From the Yellow Emperor to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, excluding some small dynasties, the Chinese calendar has been revised 62 times.

One of the important contents of "Harmony of Heaven and Man" is that the successive emperors were all ordered by the heavens to manage things on behalf of the heavens; each dynasty should do its best to make everything in line with the will of heaven, as the well-known "rectification of the first moon, easy clothes color" , "Historical Records Almanac":

When the king changes his surname and is ordered, he must be cautious about the beginning, correct the new moon, change his color easily, promote the original Tianyuan, and follow the meaning of Jue.

This is a huge system, and its specific content is reflected in the complex ritual system. In the view of Confucianism, the heart of the people is the heart of heaven. As long as the people live and work in peace and contentment, heaven is satisfied, and heaven will bless the dynasty with long-term stability. The core of the ritual system is to regulate the behavior of the emperor to the common people through a series of specific actions in accordance with the mandate of heaven, so as to achieve the purpose of educating the people of the world and establishing an orderly society. Therefore, building a good ritual system and realizing the rule of law and music is the top priority of every dynasty at the beginning of its founding. The same was true at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, "History of Ming Dynasty Li Zhi":

Since the history of the Han Dynasty wrote "Lizhi", it was all because of it... Only if you can cultivate the clarity and consistency, and act in it with real meaning, you will be able to understand ghosts and gods, and the success of enlightenment is right here...Ming Taizu first established the world, and other things Not to mention, the first ceremony and the second game of music were held, and senior Confucians were widely recruited, and they were discussed by Cao. In the first year of Hongwu, the Ministry of Education, the Imperial Academy, and the Taichang Division were ordered to formulate a sacrificial ceremony...five rites, one is called auspicious rites. All sacrificial matters are led by the Taichang Temple and belong to the Ministry of Rites... All those worshiped by the emperor are heaven and earth, ancestral temples, shrines, mountains and rivers.

The etiquette system stipulates that the emperor must personally sacrifice to heaven and earth, ancestral temples, shrines, mountains and rivers, and express his awe of heaven and earth with practical actions. Even the son of heaven must be strictly restricted by the heaven and the ritual system, otherwise he will be punished by the heaven. It's important to remember this.

In order to grasp the "people's hearts" at any time, the imperial court required officials and arranged special personnel to interview social conditions and public opinions at any time. This is how "Book of Songs·Guofeng" came into being. In order to grasp the "Heaven's Heart" at any time, the imperial court also set up an observatory and established a professional team. The main tasks are, first, to accurately compile the calendar according to the laws of astronomical operation, so as to facilitate production and life; Take timely measures to conform to the heart of heaven; the third is to observe the sky and analyze the joys, anger, sorrows and joys of God, so that the court can review the gains and losses of the government in a timely manner.

Therefore, the calendar, as one of the important contents of the ritual and music system in which the Son of Heaven acts on behalf of heaven and things, can only be promulgated by the imperial court, and must be uniformly implemented within the scope controlled by the imperial court.

When the Ming Dynasty was established, it first promulgated a new calendar, "Ming History Taizu Benji":

Yiwei, issued the "Great Tongli"... Kuichou, Li Shanchang, the commander-in-chief of all officials, persuaded him to enter, and the third table was approved. Jiazi, tell God.

Ming Taizu promulgated the "Da Tong Li" to reunify the calendar of the world, and he officially ascended the throne more than a month later.

Immediately, Ming Taizu promulgated calendars to the dependent countries. "History of Ming Dynasty Foreign Biography":

North Korea... (the second year of Hongwu) bestowed calendar and Jinqi.

Annan... (the second year of Hongwu) bestowed (King Annan) Riying "Da Tong Li"...

Zhancheng... (the second year of Hongwu) sent officials to send seal books, "Datong Li", Wenqi, and Sara, and sent their envoys to give them .

Xiyang Suoli... (the third year of Hongwu) gave Wenqi and gauze very generously, and also gave "Datongli".

Zhenla... (the fourth year of Hongwu) ordered "Da Tong Li" and colored coins...

Siam... (the fourth year of Hongwu, its king) ordered the "Da Tong Li" and colored coins.

Ryukyu... (the fifth year of Hongwu) bestowed "Datongli" and Wenqi and Sara.

Suoli... (the fifth year of Hongwu) gave "Da Tong Li" and four horses each of Jinzhi Wenqi and gauze...

The promulgation of calendars by the imperial court to these countries marks that the imperial court recognizes them as vassal states; these countries implement the imperial court's calendar, which means that they respect the imperial court and enjoy being the subjects of the imperial court.

In today's terms, in ancient China, the use of the calendar symbolized the orthodoxy of the imperial power; wherever the calendar touched, it symbolized the sovereignty.

In ancient China, how rich is the connotation of the calendar? Here are two examples for your reference.

This passage from "New Book of Tang: The Biography of Liu Rengui":

At the beginning, (Liu) Rengui was appointed to lead Fangzhou, saying that people said: "Heaven will be rich and honored, this old man is evil!" He asked the calendar and ancestral temple taboos, or asked why, and replied: "When the Liaohai Sea is flattened, an order is issued. This dynasty is Zhengshuo." The death is as said.

Liu Rengui was a famous official in the Tang Dynasty, ranging from official to prime minister. In the early years, when Su Dingfang conquered Korea, the imperial court appointed Liu Rengui as the acting governor of Fangzhou. After receiving the appointment, Liu Rengui immediately went to the government to apply for the calendar promulgated by the imperial court. He told people: This trip must flatten the Liaohai Sea, promulgate the Zhengshuo of this dynasty, and bring it into the imperial court's territory.

Lu You, a famous poet in the Southern Song Dynasty, has a famous poem titled "Night and Night on May 11th and Half a Dream from Dajia to Conquer the Homeland of the Han and Tang Dynasties":

Tianbao Hubing fell into the two capitals, and there was no Han camp in Beiting Anxi.

After 500 years of ignoring it, the Holy Lord issued an edict to conquer it personally.

Millions of bears drove from Luan, and the old place was handed down without effort.

Fortification must be filled with new plans, and the palace will be lined up to announce amnesty.

The hills and mountains are as far as the Han mountains and rivers, and the documents were first used in the Chunxi year.

In front of the six armies, the brocade is rusted, and the autumn wind drums and horns fill the sky.

Lu You had a dream, dreaming that he went out with the army of the Southern Song Dynasty and successfully recovered the old land of the Han and Tang Dynasties in the Western Regions. One of the important symbols of the country's stability, prosperity, prosperity and unity in Lu You's dream is the unified use of the Song Dynasty calendar: "The first year of the document is Chunxi".

to be continued