Today is the 450th birth anniversary of Xu Guangqi, one of China's great men of applied science for whom Xujiahui is named. Zhang Qian reports on Shanghai's native son.

In the heart of Xujiahui area, the statue of a progressive Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) scholar-official and man of practical science looks out at the skyscrapers, glittering lights, snarled traffic and people in a hurry.

Today is the 450th birth anniversary of Xu Guangqi (1562-1633), for whom Xujiahui was named. He was a man who represented the spirit of science and progress that is epitomized by Xujiahui, and by Shanghai itself, famous as a city open to many cultures.

The Shanghai native was a mathematician, astronomer, agronomist and a friend and student of famous Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), himself a mathematician, astronomer, cartographer and a man who brought Western scientific ideas to China. Ricci taught Xu geometry, which was not known in China at that time.

The stone/metal statue of Xu wearing Mandarin robes stands at the intersection of Nandan and Caoxi roads.

In this 450th year since his birth, commemorative events will be carried out throughout the city. A number of other sites bear his name, Guangqi Park and Wending (Xu's posthumous title) Road in Xuhui District as well as Guangqi Road in Huangpu District.

Xu was buried at the convergence of three rivers - Zhaojiabang, Puhuitang and Fahuajing. And now it's the site of the Guangqi Park (17 Nandan Rd). His descendants prayed at his tomb, paid their respects and gradually settled and prospered in the city.

Shanghai, literally the "upper sea," is known for absorbing many different peoples and cultures. Learning from advanced culture and technologies and applying them in China has made the city famous over the years as the most advanced, trend-setting city in China.

From farm family

"Xu Guangqi was called Xu Shanghai by many people, not only because he was a Shanghai native, but also because of the great influence he had on Shanghai," says Huang Shulin, an official of Xuhui Culture Bureau. "His clear and open mind to all advanced knowledge and technology was very precious at his time and is still a legacy for Shanghai people today."

Born in today's Songjiang area, Xu came from a relatively poor farm family. He passed the county-level civil examination at age 19, and eventually passed the imperial examination at age 43.

He entered the Imperial Academy and was later appointed to senior positions in Beijing's imperial court, where he spent the second half of his life.

"Putting learning into practice was always more important than simple learning for Xu, though many scholars at the time only learned for the sake of earning official positions," according to Xu Chengxi, the 13th descendant of Xu.

His practical side and willingness to break with conventional wisdom was already demonstrated by Xu Guangqi in his teenage years.

Xu's family leased out farmland but it was returned to them by renters because of bad drainage and waterlogging.

Xu investigated the situation and dug ditches for drainage. Since the land was far from his family's house and could not be regularly cultivated, he didn't plant standard crops but chose willow, which is strong and grows well near water. Xu then encouraged his family to make baskets using flexible willow and sell them, and to use leftover branches as firewood.

"This change in farming made the family prosperous and Xu repeatedly cited this example to demonstrate the importance of keeping an open mind and being practical," his descendant Xu says.

And that open-mind was even more important in the great man's achievements and contributions to China after 1600 when he met Italian missionary Ricci, who was well-versed in many Western subjects.

Xu was amazed by all the new scientific ideas that Ricci, a student of Chinese language and culture, brought with him, and determined to learn them and apply them to his home country.

China in the Ming Dynasty was one of the most powerful countries in the world with a prosperous economy and great sense of superiority.

Though the emperor didn't place many obstacles in the way of Western missionaries, not many Chinese scholars were willing to learn from Westerners. Xu was undeterred and was one of Ricci's students who helped move China forward.

Together with Ricci, Xu introduced many Western scientific works to China. Their most influential achievement was translation in 1607 of the first six books of Euclid's "Elements," published as "Jihe Yuan Ben" ("Master Copy of Geometry").

"Chinese were good at arithmetic, but geometry was completely new to them," says Xu, the descendant. "Just with a quick look at the subject, Xu firmly believed that what seemed useless at the time would be very useful in the future. He predicted that everyone would be learning geometry in a hundred years."

Since it was a new subject, Xu Guangqi coined all the terms and most of those used in his translations are still in use in China today.

Xu was already in his 40s when he learned geometry. Ricci warned him it was difficult and asked why he was so determined to translate Euclid.

"To be lacking in any aspect of knowledge was shameful for a Confucian scholar and that explains why he never stopped learning throughout his life," says descendant Xu. He believed that any knowledge within reach is worth learning.

Xu Guangqi used Western geography and the Gregorian calendar as reference to reform the Chinese calendar, and he successfully predicted an eclipse of the sun in 1610. He also introduced the modern cannon from Holland, which was used in battle and later killed Manchu prince and general Nurhachi (1559-1625) who was fighting the imperial army.

Xu's "Nong Zheng Quan Shu" ("Complete Treatise on Agriculture)" covers wide range of topics, including farming management and administration, land reclamation, divination of seasons, hydraulic engineering, cultivation of cereals, vegetables and fruit trees. He developed new technologies in sericulture, cotton growing and cotton field management, and proper use of grafting techniques.

"For him, there were no boundaries between fields of knowledge; anything that could benefit the country and the public was worth learning and using," descendant Xu says. "That's embodied in the reform and opening up policy has enabled the city to prosper in recent decades."

Events spotlight Xu

? Seminar
Experts will discuss Xu Guangqi's contributions to cultural exchange, agriculture, water conservancy, astronomy, calendar reform and military advancement. Emphasis is on his scientific attitude, patriotism, pragmatism and open mind.
Date: May 11
Venue: 7/F, Post Hotel, 15 Nandan Rd

? Statue unveiling
Two more sculptures of Xu Guangqi will be unveiled in Guangqi Park, in addition to the two sculptures featuring Xu observing the stars and exchanging views with Matteo Ricci. The new statues will represent Xu's achievements in agriculture and military affairs.
Date: December 7, 9am
Venue: Guangqi Park, 17 Nandan Rd