Giacomo Rho
Encyclopedia
Giacomo Rho was an Italian Jesuit missionary in China
.
at the age of twenty. While later proficient in mathematics, he was a poor student initially.
Following his ordination
in Rome
by Cardinal Bellarmine, he sailed for the Far East
in 1617 with forty-four companions. After a brief stay in Goa
he proceeded to Macao
. During the siege of that city by Dutch
forces, he taught the inhabitants the best use of artillery, and saved it from the attack. This service opened China to him.
Rho rapidly acquired a knowledge of the Chinese language
and in 1631 he was summoned to Beijing by the emperor to work on reform of the Chinese calendar
. Together with Johann Adam Schall von Bell
, he occupied himself on this task until the end of his life seven years later, in 1638. Numerous Chinese officials attended his funeral.
Rho left works relative both to the correction of the Chinese calendar and to other astronomical
and theological
questions.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Life
The son of a jurist, Rho entered the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
at the age of twenty. While later proficient in mathematics, he was a poor student initially.
Following his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by Cardinal Bellarmine, he sailed for the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
in 1617 with forty-four companions. After a brief stay in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
he proceeded to Macao
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
. During the siege of that city by Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
forces, he taught the inhabitants the best use of artillery, and saved it from the attack. This service opened China to him.
Rho rapidly acquired a knowledge of the Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
and in 1631 he was summoned to Beijing by the emperor to work on reform of the Chinese calendar
Chinese calendar
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...
. Together with Johann Adam Schall von Bell
Johann Adam Schall von Bell
Johann Adam Schall von Bell was a German Jesuit and astronomer. He spent most of his life as a missionary in China and became an adviser to the Chinese emperor.- Life :...
, he occupied himself on this task until the end of his life seven years later, in 1638. Numerous Chinese officials attended his funeral.
Rho left works relative both to the correction of the Chinese calendar and to other astronomical
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
questions.