As part of the Jesuits' programme of introduction to European culture, in 1607 the Elements of Euclid ( 300 BC) were translated for the first time into Chinese. The translation of this epoch-making ancient Greek textbook on deductive geometry meant a confrontation of contemporary Chinese and European cultures. Part I of Peter Engelfriet's work deals mainly with the European and Chinese backgrounds, part II with linguistic and textual matters. In part III the manner in which learned Chinese tried to integrate this new knowledge into their own, Chinese, mathematical and cultural...
As part of the Jesuits' programme of introduction to European culture, in 1607 the Elements of Euclid ( 300 BC) were translated for the first t...