Wanli Xinming

Chapter 242 Bell Tower
Geng Ding was just one of the representatives of many defenders of Taoism who were angry and angry at the intentional suppression of Neo-Confucianism by the emperor.Among the millions of people in the capital, how many people really care?
Ever since Zhu Xi wrote, "What kind of knowledge is there between plants, trees and utensils! It's like cooking sand and wanting to make rice." Although his theories were in the official philosophical status in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Zhu Yijun was bound to dismiss them and then quickly.

Of course, as a cadre of later generations, Zhu Yijun attached great importance to the work in the ideological field.

His "respect for Confucianism and disrespect for Zhu" in Southern Taiwan was a decision made after careful consideration.Although the empire is from south to north, a cub called "capitalism" is growing under his care, but before it grows its fangs and shreds the Ming's farming economy and its superstructure with wild power, it has The "Confucianism" that penetrated into the blood of the Chinese people, even the emperor did not dare to take it lightly.

But after all, the wind is still rising. Many articles published by Li Zhi and others are just the end of Qingping.

Many thinkers who can grasp the context of the times, facing the crumbling reality of Neo-Confucianism, are looking up at the world, overlooking the national economy and people's livelihood, thinking about the changes that have not happened in China in a thousand years, and want to occupy the high ground of new ideas.

"Neo-Confucianism 'loses its deer', and the world can conquer it" is the greatest significance of the Southern Taiwan Conference in the history of Chinese thought, culture and all history in this time and space.Its convening is a time node that cannot be bypassed in this time-space world history, and the audience with the Holy See mission three days before its convening is a wonderful coincidence in the process of nurturing a new civilization.

When the three missionaries received the appointment letter from Beijing Normal University, their joyous heads were dizzy.Fan Li'an repeatedly asked Matteo Ricci what he had discussed with Xu Guangqi that afternoon.Matteo Ricci said: "I didn't, I didn't say anything. I just talked about the education I had received, and Earl Xu Guangqi also asked about the experience of the two of you. I can swear that we can be hired as professors, and I It has nothing to do with Xu Guangqi's communication."

Fan Li'an was born in a famous family, and he was a fellow villager with Pope Paul IV, and he was deeply loved by the Pope.At the age of 19, he received a doctorate in law from the University of Bardo, and later entered St. Andrew's University, where he studied theology, mathematics, physics and philosophy.

Luo Mingjian, who was called the "Father of Western Sinology" in later generations, received two Juris Doctor degrees during his studies in Italy.What is even more amazing is that at this time, he has completely mastered Chinese and can write in classical Chinese, and his thinking has been partially sinicized.

Matteo Ricci was born in Macerata, Italy, and his family runs a Ricci Pharmacy, which is also a famous local family.After graduating from middle school, he studied arithmetic under the tutelage of the mathematician Krau, and at that time Fan Lian also served as his teacher.Matteo Ricci has a wide range of studies, including astronomy, mathematics, geometry, geography, etc. He has mastered Greek, Latin, Spanish and Portuguese, and is studying Chinese in depth.

These three missionaries did not know their important position in Zhu Yijun's mind.On the contrary, because of the cold reception he received all the way north, before meeting the emperor, he had lowered his expectations several times. In the end, Fan Li'an told himself that as long as the emperor could meet him, it was the highest achievement of the mission, and he hoped that other gods would not. Forgive yourself for your greed.

The more disappointment at that time, the more luscious the fruit obtained at this time.The trio never expected that the emperor would even send a big gift package: he was about to send a embassy to visit the Holy See; he was rewarded with land to build a church, and he even gave him a teaching post at Beijing Normal University!

Such a kindness conquered the hearts of the three missionaries at once.In their missionary career, they have never been treated like this. Even Fan Li'an, a successful missionary in Japan, had red eyes with excitement after receiving the letter of appointment from the Ministry of Education.

The Jingshi University, which is under construction, covers an area of ​​[-] acres. It was rebuilt from the West Factory, which had been abandoned for many years. The north gate faces the Lingji Palace.In the capital where every inch of land was worth the money, nearly [-] households were relocated and an institution [-] times bigger than Guozijian was built. The position of Jingshi University in the emperor's mind can be imagined.

Occupying a large area, the building is almost meaningless.Because cement and white ash have been mass-produced, most of the buildings in Beijing Normal University are made of masonry, which is similar to the sloping roof tile houses that have begun to appear in the north at this time, except that the glass windows are large and many, and the indoor lighting is better.

The classrooms and student dormitories are simple, but the professors live in a high-end atmosphere.Especially the palace specially built for Zhu Yijun is even more beautiful.In addition to these places, Jingshi University also has a bell tower built with strips of stone. It was built under the guidance of Portuguese craftsmen in Macau. It is the first European-style building in Jingshi.

Of course, at this time, there is no technical problem for Chinese craftsmen to build masonry towers. Zhu Yijun instructed the construction of a large bell tower at Beijing Normal University, which was based on the idea of ​​"inclusiveness", so that teachers and students can understand the importance of cultural exchanges between China and the West. is what the emperor wants.

The three missionaries couldn't hold back their excitement. Accompanied by the general secretary of Honglu Temple and an interpreter, they walked around the Jingshi University where the finishing work was still underway.Matteo Ricci had sharp eyes and saw the spire from a distance. He rubbed his eyes because he couldn't believe it.

Hongbao layman Tu Long pointed at the bell tower from a distance and said, "This bell tower is the work of the Chief Secretary of Guangdong. It was designed and built by a Portuguese craftsman from Macau. You Europa people should be familiar with this style."

Fan Li'an put his hand on his forehead and stammered, "My God, is this a clock tower?"

Several people walked briskly for a quarter of an hour before they reached the bottom of the clock tower.The closer you get, the more magnificent the building becomes.The bell tower covers an area of ​​nearly one acre, with a height of nearly [-] feet. There are dials on all sides at the top. The architectural style is the Jesuit Baroque style that began to rise in Europe. The double-column, smooth sloping top, scroll pattern, solemn and noble, elegant and generous, quite There is a breathtaking beauty.

Tu Long introduced: "The construction of this bell tower started when the imperial court decided on the planning of Jingshi University. It took three years to complete and cost 4 taels—it is the most expensive building in the entire Jingshi University." Fan Anli and others were full of admiration.

While everyone was admiring, the clock came to ten o'clock in the morning, and the big bell rang, loud and melodious, and several missionaries were dumbfounded.Tu Long waited for the bell to stop, and then introduced: "My emperor built this clock tower, one is to facilitate the people of the capital to grasp the time, and it is also used to verify a major event."

Matteo Ricci pointed to the bell tower and asked in half-familiar Chinese, "What's the name of this bell?" Tu Long was dumbfounded and didn't understand what it meant. Bell'." Matteo Ricci nodded.

Fan Li'an asked, "I don't know what His Majesty wants to verify?" Tu Long smiled and said, "Come in with me."

Stepping up the steps of the bell tower, Matteo Ricci discovered that there were actually two Ming soldiers standing guard under the university bell.

Tu Long took out the waist badge of the Ministry of Rites and exchanged a few words with the Ming army standing guard. The Ming army pushed open the heavy wooden door and signaled that their group could enter.

Fan Li'an and the others followed Tu Long into the building. The first thing they saw was the smooth white marble floor.

Going forward, you can see a round copper railing, with a spherical copper pendulum in the middle of the railing, and a thin long needle below the pendulum.Beneath the long needle is a white sand table, around which is inlaid a measuring angle with copper bars.

Naturally, when everyone saw the steel rope on the copper pendulum, they looked up along the steel rope, and then all the missionaries took a long breath.

Matteo Ricci asked, "Is this clock tower not layered?" Tu Long had been here once before, and introduced with a little pride: "No, the top is five feet down, it is the place where the big bell is installed, the big bell mechanism. The pendulum is at the bottom. Did you see the spiral staircase? Apart from the pendulum, there is only this staircase in the building."

"Your Majesty said, although this clock tower is expensive, it is worth spending ten times more money to accommodate this big pendant!"

Fan Li'an smiled and said, "What is your majesty trying to prove with this big pendant?" Tu Long laughed, stood outside the sand table, picked up a long copper pole, and said to Matteo Ricci, "Mr. Hook the copper pendulum over." After he hooked it, Tu Long asked him to put a hook on the railing on the edge of the sand table over the copper pendulum.

Matteo Ricci did as he said, and Tu Long said: "Mr. Li, you are standing at the zero degree of the sun, you said, if you open that button and open the pendulum, the pendulum should be between zero and 180 degrees. Swing in a straight line."

Matteo Ricci carefully inspected the large copper pendulum and ruled out any human intervention.Fan Li'an and Luo Mingjian didn't know why, so they also checked with Matteo Ricci.

Matteo Ricci said: "Yes, this pendulum should swing in a straight line." Tu Long smiled: "Then you can let it go."

Matteo Ricci pressed the switch, and the big pendulum was swung out from in front of it, and the long needle that was swayed drew a clear trajectory on the white sand table.Matteo Ricci said, "What does this mean?"

Tu Long said: "Let's go up the stairs and look at the universal shaft at the top of the big pendulum, and then we can see obvious results when we walk down."

An hour later, several missionaries looked at each other in dismay. The measuring angle and sand table under their feet proved irrefutable that the pendulum had been deflected by about ten degrees, and a clear and symmetrical pattern of petals was drawn on the sand table.

Tu Long said: "Although this official rarely reads the Grid Periodicals, I still read it when it was completed, and I also waited for two hours."

"This pendulum rotates once every 37 new hours, which proves that the earth under our feet is also rotating."

(End of this chapter)