An Important Figure In The History Of Cultural Exchange Between China And The West - Li

In the history of cultural exchange between China and the West, it was a fact which the academic circles recognized that French Jesuits played an extremely important role. In 1687 five Jesuits arrived at China ,which was called "royal mathematicians": Hong Ruo han (Jean de Fontaney, 1,643-1,710), Bai Jin (Joachim Bouvet, 1,656-1,730), Zhang Cheng (Jean Francis Gerbillon, 1,654—1,707), Liu Ying(Claude de Visdelou, 1,656—1,737), and Li Ming (Louis le Comte, 1,655—1,728). "These great missionaries not only are God envoy, also are the French king's unofficial representative, also are the Europe natural sciences robber fire. "Their arrivals, symbolized that the history of cultural exchange between China and the West entered a new stage. The affection was profound. Since long time ago, the domestic and foreign scholars have continuously been taking research on "royal mathematicians", and many splendid results have yielded. However, the current research has two kinds of intrinsic flaws. One of them is to conduct "royal mathematicians" as a whole to their search, but neglects individual inspection. The other one is the research on individuals, excessively concentrates the attention in Hong Ruo han, Bai Jin, Zhang Cheng, Liu Ying, but seldom Li Ming. Although Li Ming stayed in China for only 5 years, certainly his achievement is not inferior to other "royal mathematician". Li Ming had made special contribution for the promotion to China and the West cultural exchange, His work《The Chinese Near Matter Reported》(Nouveau memoires sur 1 'etat present de la Chine) has the function in the sinology history which cannot be substituted.