Contemplating the Ancients-A Dedication to My Ancestors Xu Guangqi and Ji Yun

The Renwen Society has invited China Institute's own Dr. Agnes Hsu for a special talk, held in English, memorializing two preeminent figures in modern Chinese history, Hsu Kuang-Ch'i (Xu Guangqi) and Chi Yun (Ji Yun).

The Renwen Society has invited China Institute’s own Dr. Agnes Hsu for a special talk, held in English, memorializing two preeminent figures in modern Chinese history, Hsu Kuang-Ch’i (Xu Guangqi) and Chi Yun (Ji Yun). As a descendent of the Hsu and Chi families, Dr. Hsu will talk about her paternal family’s Catholic origins tracing back to Hsu Kuang-Ch’i’s conversion in 1603 under the influence of Matteo Ricci, and colorful tales of her maternal great-great- grandfather, Chi Yun, Chief Editor of China’s most important literary encyclopedia, Siku quanshu (Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature).

Xu Guangqi (1562–1633), simply known in Ming history as “the Grand Minister” for his illustrious service, was an agricultural scientist, astronomer, and mathematician. Xu was a colleague and collaborator of the Italian Jesuits Matteo Ricci and Sabatino de Ursis; together they translated several classic Western texts into Chinese, including part of Euclid’s Elements. Xu was one of the “Three Pillars of Chinese Catholicism,” and is known in Vatican history by his baptismal name Paul Hsu; his legacy includes Shanghai’s Xujiahui (District of the Xu clan). Ji Yun (1724–1805), best known by his sobriquet Ji Xiaolan, was a statesman and leading intellectual in Qing dynasty, most notably as the incorruptible and fearless advisor to the Emperor Qianlong. Ji’s life was chronicled in a popular TV series in 2001 and a sequel is scheduled for 2011.

Dr. Hsin-Mei Agnes Hsu is Resident Scholar and Director of Arts & Culture at China Institute, and a consulting archaeologist to UNESCO and Discovery Channel’s Ancient Manmade Marvels series.