A Brill Calendar: October 9

Ferdinand Verbiest, Imperial Astronomer

Few scholars in the 17th century were as crucial in developing Western knowledge of Chinese culture, language and civilization as Ferdinand Verbiest, born in the hamlet of Pitthem, in southern, Roman-Catholic Spanish Netherlands October 9, 1623.

When he died in Peking in 1688, Verbiest had served the Imperial Court as an accredited and trusted official for more than two decades. Two personal traits explain his curious career. Verbiest was an experienced astronomer as well as an enthusiastic Jesuit. Well before his birth, China was fascinated by Western astronomical knowledge. This knowledge was the main vehicle for the Jesuit order to ingratiate the concept of Christianity at the Chinese government.

Verbiest succeeded as astronomer to Adam Schall von Bell (1591 – 1666, another colourful member of his order), and came to advise the Emperor in many other scholarly matters; including founding and implementing three hundred pieces of cannon, when a rebellion in Southern China raised its head and threatened authority of the Ch’ing dynasty. Verbiest’s Christian mindset was revealed with the fact that each gun carried an individual Christian name, corresponding to a Roman Saint.

His Chinese agenda didn’t prevent him from sending regular - and elaborate - letters to European friends; describing, analyzing and interpreting the ins & outs of his ‘Chung Guo’, the ‘Realm of the Middle’. To a large extent, European admiration for China in the following, ‘enlightened’ 18th century was caused by his astute and colourful observations.

As a polyglot cosmopolitan, Verbiest even acted as official translator for both Russian and Chinese empires in 1678, during treaty negotiations for an overland connecting road through Siberia. A fine case of Jesuit perspicacity on Verbiest’s behalf; it would allow his brethren to reach China with less effort and danger.