Ferdinand Verbiest
Jesuit missionary and astronomer
Born
October 9th, 1623
401 years ago
Died
January 28th, 1688
337 years ago — 64 years old
Category
Scientists & Innovators
Country
Belgium
Links & References
Ferdinand Verbiest served as a Flemish Jesuit missionary in China during the 17th century. Arriving in China in 1659, focused on introducing Western science and technology, particularly astronomy and mathematics. Verbiest played a significant role in the establishment of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau and became the first European to create a full set of astronomical instruments designed for Chinese use. Additionally, he contributed to various translations of Western scientific texts into Chinese, bridging the gap between Western and Chinese knowledge systems. His work significantly influenced Chinese astronomy and mathematics, enabling the integration of Western concepts into these fields.
Established the Imperial Astronomy Bureau in China
Created astronomical instruments for Chinese use
Translated Western scientific texts into Chinese
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