Xu Guangqi: The Torchbearer of China’s Enlightenment

Today, we’re going to talk about a true Renaissance man of the Chinese Ming Dynasty. He was a bureaucrat, agricultural scientist, astronomer, and mathematician; meanwhile, he became the first Chinese to publish translations of European books in China. This is also the 100th episode of The Context. Over the past two years, we’ve endeavored to provide listeners with an inside account of China’s history and the fascinating stories behind its ancient cultural relics. In the future, The Context will strive to help you have a more complete understanding of China, including the great opportunities the country brings to the world as well as the challenges it faces.