On August 15, 2020, the book launching ceremony of Shanghai book fair for The Origin of Shanghai School: Xujiahui Origin was held in the Shanghai Exhibition Center. Scholars, artists and the press from Fudan University recalled the influence on Shanghai and Shanghai culture of the meeting between Ming dynasty scholar Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci, the first Catholic missionary to China. A 13th generation descendant of Xu, Xu Chengxi, also attended the ceremony.
When talking about Shanghai culture, one needs to mention "the Origin of Xujiahui", which is a tourist and cultural attraction that Shanghai has made great efforts to build in recent years. Xujiahui, in the center of southwest Shanghai, was named after Xu Guangqi, a Catholic who lived during the Ming Dynasty. Xu Guangqi lived, built property and wrote books here. His descendants also gathered here, and the place was first named Xujia Village. As it was at the confluence of the Zhaojiabang, Puhuitang and Fahua rivers, it was also the place where the Xu family lived, so it was also known as "Xujiahui." Here you can see many of the historical sites from when the Xu Guangqi’s family first started running the place. It was their reclamation here that laid the initial foundation for the later construction of Shanghai.
Xu Guangqi is recognized as representative of modern Shanghainese. Li Tiangang, a professor at the Institute of Religion and Philosophy of Fudan University and a disciple of Zhu Weizheng, has written extensively on the history of cultural exchanges between China and the West. He combed through Xu's achievements and called him "the most outstanding Shanghainese in the past 400 years."
"Some 400 years ago, Shanghai became a bridgehead for cultural exchanges between China and the West, a city with a rich tradition of cultural exchanges," said an organizer of the launch of the new book at the Shanghai Book Fair in 2007. "We proposed that ‘Xu Guangqi was the first person to conduct cultural exchanges between China and the West’, much earlier than Lin Zexu and he learned better. In today's Xujiahui Origin, we can see a very wonderful history and feel the practical significance of the meeting between Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci in the new era. Xujiahui Origin, edited by Fang Shizhong and published by Fudan University Press, shows the past and present life of many scenic spots in Xujiahui Origin, an important place for cultural exchange between China and the West in Shanghai. It opens a new guide for the new era and injects new contents into the city spirit of Shanghai. The book is also a collection of the research achievements of many experts and scholars, as well as the highlights of lectures on the forum, providing a diverse perspective and multiple discoveries for entering the Origin of Xujiahui and reading "the origin of Shanghai School."
In April last year, Fudan University professor Li Tiangang, contributing editor and author of the book Xujiahui Origin, talked with Xu Guangqi's descendant Xu Chengxi about The Integration of China and the West——Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci: Meeting again in a New Era."
"Xu made up his mind as a child," Li said, "He believed that a person should be upright in conduct, ward off evil thoughts, study, and protect the country and the people. His eight-part essay was not very good, but he had a good knowledge of the practical application. As an official, he also wanted to contribute his strength to the country and the people. Therefore, he took the national affairs as his duty and set high demands on himself. He always believed that "the thing a Confucian doesn’t know brings shame on him" and that a man should feel ashamed if he does not know something. So he traveled ten thousand miles and read ten thousand books, and he was also devoted to learning and pursued truth. Today, we know that he was ahead of the intellectuals of his time and much more honest and upright than the bureaucrats of his time. Xu Chengxi recalled his ancestor, "Although before his death, he received a bachelor's degree from the Imperial Library, ranking ‘below one person and above ten thousand people’, he lived a very poor life. On his 70th birthday, he refused to celebrate his birthday with anyone, so that he could live a clean and honest life. At the same time, he pursued personal independence, was full of religious compassion, and was close to the people of the country. His spirit was also the treasure of our family."
The two also talked about a famous historical painting that depicts Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci talking about Dao (The origin and rules of everything). "Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci are about the same height," Li said, “ We do not know the actual height of Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi. I think it is the painter's design to put two people on an equal footing. One represents the East, one represents the West; one is wearing a black gauze cap of the Ming Dynasty, the other is wearing a Confucian crown and cotton clothes. Xu and Matteo Ricci are equal, so are east and west. They are in dialogue with each other. Since 1670, when this painting appeared in published paintings and books in Europe, Europeans have assumed that there was such a relationship. Xu Guangqi and Ricci were talking about the knowledge of 'Heaven' in an equal way. We call it the 'Xu-Ricci Talk'."
"The friendship between these two people and the business they have started are very beneficial to our development today," Li said of the combination of Chinese and Western elements they represent. The relationship between these two people, like the painting, is equal and reciprocal. I once read a book and found that the contemporary British and American philosopher Taylor once proposed that the relationship established 400 years ago by Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi should be an example for human beings. Western culture and Chinese culture are different from each other, but when they intersect with each other, the two sides emphasize close cooperation rather than entanglement. This cooperation is not only a mutual study but also a sharing of faith. This relationship not only preserves diversity but is more positively universal, which is the best inspiration both of them have given to contemporary people."
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
2020年8月15日，《海派之源·徐家汇源》上海书展新书首发仪式将在上海展览中心举行，复旦大学出版社、多位学者和艺术家一同出席，探讨和怀念几百年前明朝的士大夫徐光启与天主教来华传教士第一人利玛窦的相遇对上海和海派文化产生的穿越时空的影响力。徐光启的第十三世孙徐承熙也出席了此次首发仪式。
讲起海派文化，不得不提“徐家汇源”，这也是近年来上海着力打造的旅游文化景点。上海西南区的中心“徐家汇”之名来源于明代天主教徒徐光启。徐光启曾在此生活、建业、著书，其子孙亦聚于此，先名“徐家厍”。因这里原是肇嘉浜、蒲汇塘、法华泾三水的汇合处，又是徐家聚居的地方，遂又名“徐家汇”。在这里可以看到徐光启家族最开始经营这一块地方时的许多历史遗迹。正是因为有当初徐光启家族在这里的开垦，为后来的上海建设打下最初的基础。
因此，徐光启是公认的近代上海人的代表。复旦大学哲学系宗教研究所教授、朱维铮先生的弟子、在中西文化交流史方面著述颇丰的李天纲曾细致梳理徐光启的功绩，并将徐光启称为“四百多年来最杰出的上海人”。
此次上海书展新书首发仪式的主办方介绍说：“上海在400年前已经成了中西文化交流的桥头堡，这种传统非常深厚。我们在2007年就提出“徐光启是中西文化交流第一人”，远比林则徐早，学得也更好。在今天的徐家汇源，我们可以看到一段非常奇妙的历史，更能感受徐光启和利玛窦在新时代再一次相遇的现实意义。由方世忠主编，复旦大学出版社出版的《徐家汇源》，展现了上海中西文化交流重镇“徐家汇源”诸多景点的前世今生。为新时代开启了新导引，为上海城市精神，注入了新内容。本书还辑录了众多专家、学者的相关研究成果和讲坛演讲的精彩片段，为进入徐家汇源、阅读“海派之源”，提供了多元视野和多重发现。”
去年4月，《徐家汇源》一书的特约编辑、作者，复旦大学教授李天纲与徐光启第十三世孙徐承熙对谈《中西合璧进行时——徐光启和利玛窦：新时代再相遇》。
李天纲说到：“徐光启从小立志，他认为做人应该立身行道，从正辟邪，学习知识，保境安民。他的八股文不太好，但“经世致用”的学问很好。他做官也是要为社稷黎民贡献力量，所以他以天下事为己任，对自己要求很高，他一直认为，“一物不知，儒者之耻”，一个人有不懂得的知识应该觉得不好意思，他的求知求新的欲望很强。于是，他行万里路、读万卷书不算，还服膺学问，追求真理。从现在来看，他超越了同时代的知识分子，比同时代的官僚要清廉许多。”徐承熙回忆先祖也说到：“尽管在去世之前，他已经做到了文渊阁大学士，位居“一人之下、万人之上”，但他生活非常清贫，在70岁生日的时候，他拒绝所有人为他祝寿，一生两袖清风，清正廉明。但是他又追求人格独立，满怀宗教悲悯情怀，心系家国黎民，他的精神也是我们家族的传家之宝。”
两人还谈到很著名的一张徐光启和利玛窦两人谈道的历史性绘画。李天纲说：“画中徐光启、利玛窦两个人，差不多高矮。我们并不知道利玛窦、徐光启的实际身材高矮，我认为这是画家的设计，把两个人放在平等的地位，一个中，一个西，一个戴着明朝的乌纱帽，一个戴着中国的儒冠，穿的是布衣。徐、利是平等的，中、西也是平等的，他们是在对话，有这样好的格局。从1670年开 始，这幅画出现在欧洲出版的书画里，欧洲人就认定有这样的一个关系，徐光启和利玛窦两个人在对等地谈论‘天’的学问，我们称它是‘徐利谈道’。”
说到这两人所代表的中西合璧对今天的启发，李天纲表示：“这两个人所结成的友谊，他们开展的事业，对我们今天的发展非常有益。两个人的关系就像那幅画作一样，是平等、对等交流的。我读到过一本书，发现当代最重要的英美哲学家泰勒曾经提出：利玛窦、徐光启在400年前建立的这样一种关系，是人类应该去做到的。西方文化和中国文化原来不同，但它们相互交叉在一起的时候，双方强调的是密切合作，而不是相缠相斗。这种合作，不但是知识上相互学习，而且在信仰上也共享共融。这种关系不但保存‘多样性’，而且更加积极地‘普适性’，这是他们两人给当代人的最好启示。”
《海派之源·徐家汇源》上海书展新书首发 纪念徐光启与利玛窦的相遇影响力
On August 15, 2020, the book launching ceremony of Shanghai book fair for The Origin of Shanghai School: Xujiahui Origin was held in the Shanghai Exhibition Center. Scholars, artists and the press from Fudan University recalled the influence on Shanghai and Shanghai culture of the meeting between Ming dynasty scholar Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci, the first Catholic missionary to China. A 13th generation descendant of Xu, Xu Chengxi, also attended the ceremony.
When talking about Shanghai culture, one needs to mention "the Origin of Xujiahui", which is a tourist and cultural attraction that Shanghai has made great efforts to build in recent years. Xujiahui, in the center of southwest Shanghai, was named after Xu Guangqi, a Catholic who lived during the Ming Dynasty. Xu Guangqi lived, built property and wrote books here. His descendants also gathered here, and the place was first named Xujia Village. As it was at the confluence of the Zhaojiabang, Puhuitang and Fahua rivers, it was also the place where the Xu family lived, so it was also known as "Xujiahui." Here you can see many of the historical sites from when the Xu Guangqi’s family first started running the place. It was their reclamation here that laid the initial foundation for the later construction of Shanghai.
Xu Guangqi is recognized as representative of modern Shanghainese. Li Tiangang, a professor at the Institute of Religion and Philosophy of Fudan University and a disciple of Zhu Weizheng, has written extensively on the history of cultural exchanges between China and the West. He combed through Xu's achievements and called him "the most outstanding Shanghainese in the past 400 years."
"Some 400 years ago, Shanghai became a bridgehead for cultural exchanges between China and the West, a city with a rich tradition of cultural exchanges," said an organizer of the launch of the new book at the Shanghai Book Fair in 2007. "We proposed that ‘Xu Guangqi was the first person to conduct cultural exchanges between China and the West’, much earlier than Lin Zexu and he learned better. In today's Xujiahui Origin, we can see a very wonderful history and feel the practical significance of the meeting between Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci in the new era. Xujiahui Origin, edited by Fang Shizhong and published by Fudan University Press, shows the past and present life of many scenic spots in Xujiahui Origin, an important place for cultural exchange between China and the West in Shanghai. It opens a new guide for the new era and injects new contents into the city spirit of Shanghai. The book is also a collection of the research achievements of many experts and scholars, as well as the highlights of lectures on the forum, providing a diverse perspective and multiple discoveries for entering the Origin of Xujiahui and reading "the origin of Shanghai School."
In April last year, Fudan University professor Li Tiangang, contributing editor and author of the book Xujiahui Origin, talked with Xu Guangqi's descendant Xu Chengxi about The Integration of China and the West——Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci: Meeting again in a New Era."
"Xu made up his mind as a child," Li said, "He believed that a person should be upright in conduct, ward off evil thoughts, study, and protect the country and the people. His eight-part essay was not very good, but he had a good knowledge of the practical application. As an official, he also wanted to contribute his strength to the country and the people. Therefore, he took the national affairs as his duty and set high demands on himself. He always believed that "the thing a Confucian doesn’t know brings shame on him" and that a man should feel ashamed if he does not know something. So he traveled ten thousand miles and read ten thousand books, and he was also devoted to learning and pursued truth. Today, we know that he was ahead of the intellectuals of his time and much more honest and upright than the bureaucrats of his time. Xu Chengxi recalled his ancestor, "Although before his death, he received a bachelor's degree from the Imperial Library, ranking ‘below one person and above ten thousand people’, he lived a very poor life. On his 70th birthday, he refused to celebrate his birthday with anyone, so that he could live a clean and honest life. At the same time, he pursued personal independence, was full of religious compassion, and was close to the people of the country. His spirit was also the treasure of our family."
The two also talked about a famous historical painting that depicts Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci talking about Dao (The origin and rules of everything). "Xu Guangqi and Matteo Ricci are about the same height," Li said, “ We do not know the actual height of Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi. I think it is the painter's design to put two people on an equal footing. One represents the East, one represents the West; one is wearing a black gauze cap of the Ming Dynasty, the other is wearing a Confucian crown and cotton clothes. Xu and Matteo Ricci are equal, so are east and west. They are in dialogue with each other. Since 1670, when this painting appeared in published paintings and books in Europe, Europeans have assumed that there was such a relationship. Xu Guangqi and Ricci were talking about the knowledge of 'Heaven' in an equal way. We call it the 'Xu-Ricci Talk'."
"The friendship between these two people and the business they have started are very beneficial to our development today," Li said of the combination of Chinese and Western elements they represent. The relationship between these two people, like the painting, is equal and reciprocal. I once read a book and found that the contemporary British and American philosopher Taylor once proposed that the relationship established 400 years ago by Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi should be an example for human beings. Western culture and Chinese culture are different from each other, but when they intersect with each other, the two sides emphasize close cooperation rather than entanglement. This cooperation is not only a mutual study but also a sharing of faith. This relationship not only preserves diversity but is more positively universal, which is the best inspiration both of them have given to contemporary people."
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
New Book on Origin of Shanghai School Released at Shanghai Book Fair
