Knowledge Narrative

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Jesuit missionaries undertaking astronomical observations in front of the King of Siam (from Guy Tachard, Voyage de Siam, Paris, 1686).
Jesuit engagement with Asia resulted in vibrant cross-cultural exchange, including in the fields of science.
The observatory in Beijing, where many Jesuits and Chinese Christians worked (from Jean-Baptiste Du Halde, A Description of the empire of China and Chinese-Tartary, London, 1738).
Astronomy was a critical part of this exchange, and Jesuits working in the Tribunal of Mathematics also worked at the observatory in Beijing.
The ancient observatory in Beijing. (Photograph by Jeremy Clarke, S.J.)
Astronomical instruments made by Jesuits like Ferdinand Verbiest are still visible in Beijing.
Titlepage of Christopher Clavius’ work on gnomons and sundials (Christopher Clavius, Gnomicies libri octo, Rome, 1581).
The works of the famous German Jesuit mathematician were crucial to the work of Jesuits in China.
Titlepage of the famous atlas drawn by French cartographer, Jean-Baptiste D’Anville (from Jean-Baptiste D’Anville, Nouvel atlas de la Chine, de la Tartarie chinoise et du Thibet, La Haye [the Hague], 1737).
Jesuits also mapped where they were and sent these back to companions and scholars where they had been. These maps became important in helping Europeans visualize other parts of the world.
Section of a map in a famous Jesuit encyclopedia about China (from Jean-Baptiste Du Halde, Description géographique, historique, chronologique, politique, et physique de l'empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise, La Haye [the Hague], 1736).
The southern part of China was both a gateway and a barrier for many Jesuits missionaries. This map includes the island of Shangchuan (or Sancian), which is where Francis Xavier died in 1552.
Depiction of the ginseng plant, showing root and leave structure (from Jean-Baptiste Du Halde, Description géographique, historique, chronologique, politique, et physique de l'empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie chinoise, La Haye [the Hague], 1736).
Much of the cross-cultural exchange also involved describing the flora and fauna Jesuits encountered throughout Asia. Some times these were plants little known outside Asia.
Illustration of a tea-shrub (from Athanasius Kircher, Athanasii Kircheri e Soc. Jesu China monumentis, Amsterdam, 1667).
Jesuits wrote often about tea, praising its positive benefits when steeped in liquid and describing how it was cultivated.
Image from Andrea Pozzo’s textbook on perspective (Andrea Pozzo, or Andreas Puteus in Latin, Perspectiva pictorum et architectorum, translated into English by John James, published as Rules and examples of perspective, proper for painters and architects, etc., London, 1707).
Jesuits also worked as artists in the imperial court in Beijing, and one of them assisted Chinese scholars in the translation of Andrea Pozzo’s work on perspective. Jesuit writings on Chinese art also influenced such things as garden design in Europe.
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