Xu Guangqi and intercultural dialogue

Xu Guangqi (1562-1633), one of the three pillars of Chinese Catholic Church, is usually regarded as a converted Confucian scientist who was deeply involved in transmitting European science to late Ming China to save the empire from decline. After having revisited his writings within the context of his life-experience, this article highlights the indispensable relation between the spiritual and the material dimensions of the reality indicated in Xu's thought. In his view, it is equally important to improve both human material and spiritual life. The two are of the same value that the vulgar utensils do goods to human body and the subtle morality liberates human soul. The significance of his assertion: "Complementing Confucianism and Replacing Buddhism" (Bu Ru Yi Fo) in Chinese intellectual history is not only the importing of European scientific knowledge but to establish a metaphysical foundation for human life on earth by means of the Sino-European intercultural dialogue.