Matteo Ricci, Geometry And China

One cup of coffee adds up to a place in history
Created: 2007-11-9 1:31:07
Author:Zou Qi and Winny Wang
A CUP of coffee and 400 years of history fell into place yesterday as China and Italy celebrated a landmark in world mathematics.The descendants of Xu Guangqi, Matteo Ricci and Sabatino de Ursis met up in Shanghai yesterday to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the translation of Euclid's "Elements." Xu Guangqi was one of the great mathematicians of China. He and the Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci helped by another Jesuit, Sabatino De Ursis, translated "Elements," one of the major works of mathematics and a big influence on Chinese scholars of the day.Yesterday, at the Shanghai Sports Hotel, Xu Chengxi, the 13th generation descendant of Xu Guangqi, Luigi Ricci, a 14th generation descendant of Matteo Ricci and Paolo Sabatini, a 16th generation descendant of Sabatino de Ursis got together.For the two Italians it was not the first meeting. By coincidence Paolo Sabatini, who is the cultural affairs director for the Italian Consulate in Shanghai, is a good friend of Luigi Ricci."In 1605, Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci jointly translated Euclid's Elements and the translation of the first six volumes was completed in 1607, exactly 400 years ago," Xu Chengxi said yesterday. "I am excited that our families could meet for the anniversary." Xu Chengxi is a descendant of Xu Guangqi's third grandson."My father was a teacher. About 50 years ago he had Xu Guangqi's tomb officially listed as an important historical site and donated the family tree to the Shanghai Museum - he realized maintaining these historical treasures was too much for a single family," he said.While Xu Guangqi had support from his family and won acclaim and honors early on, Luigi Ricci said his ancestor was misunderstood in Italy."Matteo Ricci's father did not want his son to become a priest but Matteo persevered and came to China as a missionary," Luigi Ricci said. "In those days the feeling in Italy was that anyone who traveled far from home should return with treasure." "But Matteo Ricci brought many gifts to China and returned nothing to Italy. He left all his belongings in China and was spurned by the public in Italy," Luigi Ricci said."After 200 years had passed Matteo Ricci's achievements were at last acknowledged by Italy and we are proud to have such a man in our family," said Luigi Ricci. As Xu and Ricci worked on the translation of Euclid's "Elements," Sabatino de Ursis joined them. After the translation of "Elements," to help the exchange of Chinese and Western science and technology, Xu Guangqi, Matteo Ricci and Sabatino de Ursis translated other key works such as Tongwen Suanzhi, Taixi Shuifa and The Theory of Measurement.Xu died in 1633 and was buried on the site that has become Guangqi Park. Xujiahui was named after him.
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