The Spread Of Western Science In China And The Evolution Of The Confucian View Of Heaven In The Late Ming And Early Qing Dynasty

This paper examines the Ming and qing dynasty, Chinese and western cultural integration in some important original, and keep track of some important figures like Matteoricci’s scientific practiceactivity.This paper argues that the spread of western science in China through three main way has influence on the Confucian view of heaven, these three ways are:(1) Matteoricci adjust and reformthe Confucian view of heaven through religion and philosophy,Although it is difficult to use the data to illustrate the influence degree, judging from the response of Chinese scholars, its scope and strength are also evident; Although, Matteoricci critique and transformation "reason" from the idealist phylosophy, But, he has admitted that the legitimacy of the Making a thorough inquiry, which obtain from the adjustment of Confucianism.He tried to introduce the Western learning by using the name of "Making a thorough inquiry"’, and his purpose is to make the spread of western legal and wanted to get China scholar’s closeness and affection.However, in terms of actual effect, he has took the lead in its understanding of Confucianism, change some main principles and methods of "Making a thorough inquiry".It is so, XuGuangqi just in the process of the practice of the scientific integration of Chinese and western understanding of "Making a thorough inquiry"have changed a lot.(2)Western scientific knowledge updates and converts the knowledge ofthe Confucian view of heaven, which make traditional Chinese mathematics to calculate within the "gods" mainly, to give priority to "class" all things outside, also caused the traditional Chinese astronomy forward to modern astronomy; Use mathematical and experimental science method to know"Heavenly Tao", examine the way of "Heavenly Tao" have ruled out the Confucian comprehend and tacit way; Not only the Chinese traditional heaven calculate function has changed, but also make fundamentalchange in the Confucian understand the Heavenly Tao. AS a result, it increased the connotation of the universe common regularity in Confucian view of heaven, played down the contact with the personnel of the good or ill luck in the Confucian view of heaven, and played down the connection between the theory of Confucian theory of knowledge and morality;(3)Some Confucian scholars tried to use westernknowledg to rebuild the Confucian view of heaven, its rationality in the processed of Confucian view of heavenobviously strengthened, and also have weakened the mysteries in the life culture.All of these have manifest that the Confucian view of heaven already changed.