Chapter 287 Auxiliary (12) Li Zhizao, Matteo Ricci
After Li Zhizao arrived, Gao Pragmatic was pleasantly surprised that an initiative he had quietly promoted for many years had begun to take effect, that is, the application of Arabic numerals.
Li Zhizao is not only proficient in using Arabic numerals for calculations, he can even use some vertical column calculations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division that are relatively simple in Gao Pragmatic's view. This means that the new algorithms he has implemented in the Mathematics Department of Jinghua Craftsman School for many years have at least become popular.
There are some groups in Shilin who are willing to try new knowledge, which is a very gratifying thing.
In fact, the level of mathematics in ancient China was not low, but the complex characters and algorithms led to limitations in later development. The vast majority of people, including the vast majority of people with financial resources and energy, often found it difficult to work hard in mathematics, resulting in hobbies
Mathematics, there are fewer and fewer pioneering figures who are proficient in mathematics, and the development of mathematics in China has gradually slowed down.
Although, relying on the current era, Ming Dynasty scholars still have a large enough base on a global scale, mathematics is still developing. However, Gao pragmatically knows that with the rise of the European Renaissance and the expansion of colonies, the population of
If it is not enough, the European powers will enter a "demand orientation" and force their societies to enter the industrial age.
Once entering the industrial age, basic sciences such as mathematics using Arabic numerals as the carrier will achieve great development in a very short period of time. If the Ming Dynasty cannot keep up with this wave of development, no matter how high someone develops business, handicrafts and even
Primary industries will eventually be left behind.
Therefore, the basic science of mathematics must fully switch to the use of Arabic numerals, and must not stick to the old rules and engage in "Chinese supremacy". What's more, from Gao Pragmatic's point of view, the real Chinese Celestial Empire should also have the ideological background of seeking truth from facts, and what is good?
I will use whatever I use, it is "the sea is open to all rivers, and tolerance is great". As the old man said: development is the last word.
However, here is a special point to note. The ancient Chinese mathematics system had a set of "characteristic mathematics" called "chips", which later developed into the abacus. The abacus is not only convenient to use, but also relatively easy to record compared to Chinese. It is precisely because of its
existence, so when Arabs and Europeans successively adopted "Arabic numerals" originally originated in India for mathematical calculations, although China also had Arabic numerals introduced, they were not widely used.
However, "chips" or "abacuses" also have their limitations. Gao pragmatism will not deny the ease of use of "abacuses", but will continue to promote them. However, when used for written calculations and records, Gao pragmatism not only insists on it at Jinghua Craftsman School
Promote Arabic numerals, and in recent years it has also been promoted in the Ministry of Household Affairs.
This point has actually been mentioned before. After the restructuring of the Ministry of Accounts, its power and scale have expanded dramatically. Now there are many new staff traveling all over the world, responsible for checking accounts, auditing, supervision, etc., and these staff are highly pragmatic.
It is compulsory to study in the Mathematics Department of the Artisan Academy for two to three years.
Two or three years is not a small problem. Most people are not willing to waste such a long time, especially officials. Therefore, Gao Pragmatic cannot force the Jinshi men to learn. He can only think of other ways. For example, Gao Pragmatic picks up San Bo Gao.
At that time, Gong used the rhetoric of "valuing the promotion of people" and vigorously introduced people to join the Ministry of Household Affairs. On the condition that they were provided with food, housing and salary, they were allowed to study mathematics in the Craftsman School, and then they were arranged to serve in the Ministry of Household Affairs.
It is said that people are qualified to be officials, but in fact you have to queue up and wait until there is a "vacancy" before you have the chance to be appointed as an official. Of course, in fact, it is not only necessary to have a vacancy, you may also have to have connections and even money.
, can you really get the appointment.
However, Gao Pragmatic is best at secretly thinking of ways to deal with such "little things": there are many new positions in the Ministry of Household Affairs, and all of them require further mathematics training at the Artisan School. After completing the training, he will be awarded an eighth- or ninth-grade official position based on his performance, and he will officially enter
Official sequence.
In the Ming Dynasty, officials and officials were two completely different groups, and could even be said to be two classes. Although some people passed the Juren Examination, they asked themselves that even if they studied for another ten or twenty years, they might not be able to become a high school Jinshi, but their family backgrounds were average.
, expecting to wait until a vacancy is filled, may not be much different from winning five million in lottery tickets in later generations, and it is basically equivalent to no chance.
Things are different now. It takes two or three years to go to the Jinghua Craftsman School for further study. As long as you can successfully graduate, you will be granted the status of an official. What a great opportunity it is! From this, a large number of candidates began to enter the grassroots level of the household department, enriching the
Responsible for finance-related work across the country.
There is no doubt that these officials who have received the new arithmetic education are far better in "business ability" than the earlier officials who only read the books of sages. After they enrich the grassroots, they can form "governors and supervisors - household commissioners - local officials."
The three-level mechanism of "officials and officials" can better fill the power gap between officials and officials in the past, and greatly improve the bad situation in the past that "officials did not ask about common people's affairs, and officials deceived superior officials".
Now, Gao Pragmatic was pleasantly surprised to find that not only the officials dispatched from the Ministry of Household Affairs had a basic understanding of using Arabic numerals, but even officials like Li Zhizao who were not dispatched from the Ministry of Household Affairs but liked mathematics began to take the initiative to learn it, and even learned it.
Not bad.
Gao pragmatically gave Li Zhizao the materials in the morning, and Li Zhizao came to hand in the task shortly after noon. Gao Yuanfu was very impressed. He not only praised him repeatedly, but even reviewed it on the spot. He also gave Li Zhizao some pointers on how to simplify the calculation methods, and in turn,
It also shocked Li Zhizao, thinking that Gao Yuanfu was indeed a talented person with a vast knowledge of the world, and he was really knowledgeable.
Why is it said that he has mastered "things"? Because Li Zhizao was surprised to find that Gao Yuanfu's calculation method was very similar to that of his friend from the West. Finally, Li Zhizao couldn't help but inquire and asked: "Yuanfu is erudite, is he really
A model scholar... I wonder if Yuan Fu has ever known some Western monks?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Gao Pragmatic laughed when he heard this and said: "You mean the Catholic missionaries?"
Seeing Gao Pragmatic, he did not mention "Western monks" but directly pointed them out. Li Zhizao was overjoyed and hurriedly said: "So Yuan Fu also knows these people?"
Gao Pragmatic laughed and said: "The Rixin Building of our Pavilion is a combination of Chinese and Western. It was designed by our Ming Dynasty craftsmen and Italian architects. In this case, how could our Pavilion not know about the Catholic missionaries?
?However, I have not yet met the priest you know in person. If he comes to Beijing one day, you can invite him to come to our house to talk about it."
Li Zhizao was shocked and asked, "Does Yuan Fu also know Mr. Xijiang?"
This "Mr. Xijiang" made Gao Pragmatic stunned for a moment, and he hesitated: "Isn't his name Matteo Leach, or Matteo Ricci?"
This question made Li Zhizao even more surprised, and he quickly said: "I didn't expect that Yuan Fu even knew Mr. Xijiang's original name. Yes, Mr. Xijiang's original name was Matteo Leach. Later he gave himself a Chinese name, which is exactly
Matteo Ricci. As for Xijiang, this is his nickname. There are two other nicknames, namely Xitai and Qingtai."
Matteo Ricci’s number? I really don’t remember this Gao Pragmatic. On the contrary, it was his original name. Gao Pragmatic had known it before. But this is not a problem. Matteo Ricci is a very smart person. In Chinese, he is very knowledgeable.
Using the method of "adapting measures to local conditions", he studied Chinese as soon as he arrived in China, as well as Chinese culture and folk customs, so he quickly gave himself a Chinese name, but I didn't know that he even had a nickname... I wonder if there is a pseudonym?
After thinking about it pragmatically, he forgot about these things. He just smiled and nodded, and said to Li Zhizao: "Matteo Ricci is a talent. He is not only knowledgeable, but also knows how to get along with us. I think you must be here
He feels like a spring breeze, right?"
"What Yuan Fu said is absolutely true, and Mr. Xijiang is indeed true." Li Zhizao's answer did not shy away from anything.
Gao pragmatic continued to smile and asked: "Did he mention some missionary matters? For example, establishing a Catholic church somewhere in the south of the Yangtze River, or even simply in the capital? Or, did he hope that you or people around you would convert to Catholicism?"
Li Zhizao was still very direct and nodded: "It was indeed mentioned, but... the official has not yet agreed. He only said that he could help him test his voice in the capital."
"Whose tone? Is it from my cabinet, or simply testing the emperor's tone?" Gao pragmatically asked.
He still kept smiling, but after all, Li Zhizao had been an official for two years, so he knew that this matter was different from his interactions with foreigners like Matteo Ricci. Although China has always not interfered with folk religion, the Ming Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was different from other dynasties. It had used this power before the founding of the country, and later experienced events such as the White Lotus Sect uprising, so it became more sensitive to these things.
Li Zhizao said cautiously: "Xiaguan views his teachings as advocating good rather than evil, and is not similar to bandits, so he has no power to refuse. As for the so-called Tantan tone, it is actually mostly perfunctory..."
"There is no need to be perfunctory." Gao Pingshi said calmly: "I have reached some tacit understanding with his predecessor many years ago. There is no obstruction to the Catholic missionary matter, but there are some prerequisites.
If he wants to come to the capital to preach, you can write to him and say that you can come anyway. There is no need to be taboo about building a church or something. Our cabinet can even explain the situation to the emperor, and I believe the emperor will not mind.
However, the prerequisites for all this are the same as in the past - do not try to treat Ming Dynasty as a diocese directly belonging to the pope, and any bishops, cardinals, etc. appointed by him in Ming Dynasty should not attempt to interfere in the government affairs.
In addition, I would like to remind you that if you want to successfully proselytize in the Ming Dynasty, you should start from the upper class society, especially cultural exchanges - whatever the most advanced scientific developments in Europe are, they should use them to communicate with us in the Ming Dynasty. As for Catholicism
The teachings and so on...this is really dispensable."
Li Zhizao was greatly surprised. Seeing that Gao Pragmatic showed no signs of anger, he couldn't help but asked tentatively: "There is indeed some interesting knowledge in Europe, but Guan Yuanfu seems to be only interested in these, but not quite interested in his 'main business'
For disdain... Can I ask Yuan Fu, what is the reason for this?"
The reason? The reason is that I am an atheist...
"You are silent about the strange power that confuses the gods." Gao Pingshi shook his head and said: "I don't believe in any of the three Abrahamic religions. If you really want to ask, I believe that human desire is the way of heaven."
Li Zhizao actually didn't know what the "Three Abrahamic Religions" mentioned by Gao Jingshi were, but what shocked him more at the moment was the latter sentence, which was what Gao Jingshi said: "Human desire is the way of heaven."
"Human desire is the way of heaven?" Li Zhizao looked shocked: "I wonder what Yuan Fu meant by this statement?"
"Ten days are empty, people want to live, so Hou Yi shoots the sun." Gao Jingshi said calmly: "There are thousands of people in the world, they want to live, this is the way of heaven. What I follow, the way of heaven, is
Work hard for the survival of all peoples and work hard to make a difference.
As for God, as for ghosts, or what Matteo Ricci called ‘God’, I don’t believe in them. What’s more, the three Abrahamic religions say that man is born with sin... It’s a joke, he is born as he is born, how can he be sinful?”
Li Zhizao said subconsciously: "Mr. Xijiang said that the original sin was because Adam and Eve were seduced by snakes..."
"Do you think Matteo Ricci looks different from you and me?" Gao Pragmatic said disdainfully: "The three Abrahamic religions originated in West Asia. They were originally a primitive sect of the Semitic tribe in the local desert. One of them later developed into Ricci.
They believe in Catholicism.
This sect was born out of a new sect of Judaism about 1,600 years ago, probably during the period when Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty. Moreover, West Asia and China are tens of thousands of miles apart... Zhenzhi, do you believe in the so-called claims of such a sect?
In terms of the origin of man, do you believe that our ancestors will be what they call Adam and Eve?
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As for the classics they regard as the standard, such as the "Old Testament" and "New Testament", there are countless fabrications, but anyone with a little knowledge will not know
Acceptance.
In addition, despite the fact that Matteo Ricci made some doctrines and rules very reasonable when he came to preach, in fact Catholicism has long been corrupted in Europe, and new sects, such as Lutheranism, have emerged within them decades ago.
Calvinism, etc... I can let you know about these things when I have time later."
Li Zhizao was greatly shocked and murmured: "Yuan Fu's erudition is really... really unmatched. The amount of teachings I received today is indescribable. If Yuan Fu hadn't given him a heads-up today, I might have been able to join the teachings in the future."
…”
Don't say "maybe", if I hadn't said this today, you would have been one of the "three pillars of Chinese Catholicism" in the future, as famous as Xu Guangqi and Yang Tingyun.
However, after thinking about it, Gao Pragmatic still said calmly: "Although it is not necessary to join the religion, you still have to remember what I said before, and try to find ways to let Europeans bring their knowledge to the Ming Dynasty."
After Gao Pingshi finished speaking, he paused and added: "It is said that stones from other mountains can attack jade, and you can never have too much knowledge. Zhenzhi, do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand, I will try my best." Li Zhizao took a deep breath and said, hesitating a little, and asked: "But Yuan Fu, if Matteo Ricci and others provided those Europa knowledge, they then insisted on asking for it.
Become a religious official..."
"Then come in. You and I are just pretending." Gao Pragmatic waved his hand and sneered: "We have so many stars in the sky that we can't believe it. I'm not afraid of burning another stick of incense to Jehovah."
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