Xu Guangqi's Theory Of “Tian-xue”

Xu Guangqi,also named Zixian,Xuanhu,the Catholic Saint Paul,was the famous Confucian scholar,Catholic and scientist.In late Ming dynasty he lived,there were serious parties contest,bad morality and the invasion by foreign enemies.So,the people lived a hard life."Astronomy" concept of Xu Guangqi was based on the two ideals of reshaping social moral and developing national economy and improving the people's life.Based on the traditional thinking,Xu Guangqi criticized the deficiency which Confucian traditional view of heaven with evident humanistic and reasonable characteristics had on enlightening people.Instead he turned to seek for a outer moral judgement entity,a transcendent outer leader,and built the morality and ethic system at metaphysical aspect.He criticized the failure of Buddhist persuasion function,which could only be turned to foreign religions,and seek for the supplement of the Confucian moral education inadequacy.The criticism on Buddhism from the"nothingness" to "recluse" and theoretic philosophical connotation of Cheng Zhu,had laid down the characteristic which was applicable to the world in his "heaven view".And then he sought for not only an moral and ethical system in metaphysical aspect,external transcendental dominance that could enlighten people,but also“Machine” world that could guide concrete things,helping people control the production and life.So,"astronomy" concept of Xu Guangqi was the ideological system of "integrated Tao and Machine".He found Catholicism through familiar Confucianism.Based on the lack of traditional thinking,he "supplemented Confucianism changed Buddhism." He established the ideological ethic system of"astronomy" in the metaphysical level,through the transcendental God and the Catholic commandments.Catholicism did not deny the secular life.Through the Western science and technology brought by missionaries,he established the concrete system of "astronomy",that is,the practical aspect of "astronomy" concept-integrated scientific thoughts of China and western countries,and scientific thinking also run through the spirit of humanistic pragmatism.From basic agricultural researchto mathematics as a modern scientific method and finally rose to astronomy research,it could guide people to practice better."Astronomy"concept of Xu Guangqi,integrated "Tao" and "Machine",achieving the effect of "supplemented and changed the emperor's enlightening”,realized the Confucian ideal society in his mind.This article intends to study from five levels.First,it defines "astronomy" concept of Xu Guangqi.Secondly,it introduces the social and ideological status in late Ming Dynasty,which is the social basis for the formation of "astronomy".Thirdly,introduces the essence of Xu Guangqi's “astronomy”,which the theoretical foundation for him to integrate the culture of Chinese and western nations and establish “astronomy” view of integrated “Tao” and “Machine”.Fourthly,it introduces the ideological and moral system on “astronomy” view in the metaphysical level,through connecting the culture of Chinese and western nations.Fifthly,it introduces scientific thoughts in practical aspect of Xu Guangqi's "astronomy" concept.