On the Reasons for the Prosperity of the Dissemination of Western Scientific and Technological Knowledge in the Kangxi Dynasty

试论西方科技知识在康熙朝传播兴盛的因由

Since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, western scientific and technological knowledge had entered China with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the dissemination of such knowledge accelerated markedly. From the perspective of the eastward transmission of western learning, the flourishing spread of western science and technology knowledge in the Kangxi era can be attributed to several factors. First, it is inseparable from the external factors such as the advancement of western society and technology and the sustained missionary efforts of Jesuit missionaries. Second, internal factors, it should be attributed to the personal contribution of Emperor Kangxi who actively studied and engaged with western culture. Third, objective considerations, as the Qing Dynasty’s state, driven by practical needs of governance and development, placed increasing emphasis on absorbing western scientific and technological knowledge. Examining the transmission of western science and technology during the Kangxi reign from multiple dimensions of political, cultural, and religious, as well as through the combined lenses of internal causes, external influences, and objective conditions, helps to illuminate the internal logic of this process and contributes to a deeper understanding of Chinese culture adaptation to the world and its transformation toward modern science and technology.

自明末清初西方科技知识随着耶稣会传教士进入中国以后，清朝康熙帝在位时期，西方科技知识在中国更是迅速传播。以西学东渐的视野来考察，西方科技知识在康熙朝传播兴盛的因由，一是跟西方社会科技的发展及耶稣会士的传播努力这个外因分不开，二是从内因上应归功于康熙帝积极学习西方文化的个人贡献，三是客观上清朝国家治理出于实际发展需要注重对西方科技的吸收。以政治、文化、宗教的多维角度，以及内因、外因、客观因素的多重视角，探讨西方科技知识在康熙朝得以传播的内在逻辑，有助于理解中国文化的世界适应以及近代科技转型的问题。