← Explore on the interactive map

Ferdinand Verbiest

Type Figure Region Spanish Netherlands Time 1623–1688 Also known as courtesy name Dunbo、courtesy name Xunqing、posthumous name Qinmin

Ferdinand Verbiest (1623–1688) was a Jesuit from Flanders in the Spanish Netherlands, director of the calendar and head of the Astronomical Bureau in…

Timeline

  1. 1623–1660Pittem · FlandersA Fleming, he entered the Jesuit order in 1641. He arrived in Macau in 1658 and was first sent to Shaanxi to preach; in the 17th year of Shunzhi (1660) he was summoned to Beijing to assist Astronomical Bureau head Johann Adam Schall von Bell in revising the calendar.
  2. 1664–1669Capital (Beijing) · CapitalIn the third year of Kangxi, Yang Guangxian launched his attack and the Schall case arose; Verbiest was imprisoned and defended the paralyzed Schall on his behalf. After release he lived in seclusion in the capital until Kangxi seized Oboi and took personal rule, when he again contested the calendar using actual observations of sun shadows and stellar motions.
  3. 1669–1678Capital (Beijing) · CapitalIn the eighth year of Kangxi he proved by actual observation that the Western new method was superior to the old system; Yang Guangxian was dismissed, Verbiest was ordered to manage the calendar and promoted to head of the bureau. He rebuilt six instruments including the ecliptic armillary at the observatory, producing the Lingtai Yixiang Zhi; in the 17th year he presented the Kangxi Yongnian Lifa and was granted the title of Tongzhengshi.
  4. 1673–1688Capital (Beijing) · CapitalWhen the Revolt of the Three Feudatories broke out, Kangxi ordered him to design light cannons; after test-firing at Lugou Bridge they were mass-produced, and he was repeatedly promoted to Right Vice Minister of Works. In the 21st year he went to Shengjing to measure the north polar altitude. He died of illness in the 27th year and was posthumously named Qinmin, an honor unique among missionaries in China.

Sources