The Influence Of Missionaries To The Development Of Science And Technology In China During The Late Ming And Early Qing Dynasty

This thesis analyzed the reasons why the missionaries from Societ of Jesus are able to be the most important messengers of science and technology exchanges between the Chinese and Westerner during the late Ming and early Qing period and placed too much emphasis on illustrating and appraising their scientific achievements in the areas included astronomy,artillery,and map topographical. The dissertation probed into the Conditions of Chinese science and technology in that time and compared it to the occident, and showed the big gap between them. The discourse considered that it is no doubt that the missionaries exert positive effects on the development of China's science and technology. The missionaries bring the consciousness of science, scientific achievements, and values to China, and inject fresh energy to the China's intellectual circle, and also exert some influence on China's politics and military affairs. Nevertheless, the conflicts between the missionaries'Christian theological view and Chinese traditional view , the expansion of the power of the church inevitably lead to be suspected by China. Additionally, china's feudal culture has her own limitations. All of the aspects that be mentioned above limit the scope and depth of the science exchanges. By the end of this treatise, several advises on how China's science and technology should be improved be offered.