"I Append A Notice Of The Observatory Taken From A Popular Description Of
Peking, By Which It Will Be Seen That The Construction Of These
Instruments Is Attributed To Ko Show-King, One Of The Most Renowned
Astronomers Of China.
He was the chief astronomer under Kublai Kaan" [to
whom he was presented in 1262; he was born in 1231.
- H. C.]
"It must be remembered that there was a special vitality among the Chinese
under the Yuen with regard to the arts and sciences, and the Emperor had
the choice of artizans and men of science from all countries. From the age
of the Yuen till the arrival of the Jesuits, we hear nothing of any new
instruments having been made; and it is well known that astronomy was
never in a lower condition than under the Ming."[6]
Mr. Wylie then draws attention to the account given by Trigault of the
instruments that Matteo Ricci saw at Nanking, when he went (in the year
1599) to pay a visit to some of the literati of that city. He
transcribes the account from the French Hist. de l'Expedition Chrestienne
en la Chine, 1618. But as I have the Latin, which is the original and is
more lucid, by me, I will translate from that.[7]
"Not only at Peking, but in this capital also (Nanking) there is a College
of Chinese Mathematicians, and this one certainly is more distinguished by
the vastness of its buildings than by the skill of its professors.
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