利玛窦是意大利传教士,徐光启是我国明代著名科学家,两人的合作,在中国科技史上书写了光辉的一页。利玛窦生于嘉靖三十一年(1552年),原名玛太奥·利奇,意大利人。他自幼天资聪明,勤奋好学,对哲学、法学、文学、数学、物理学认真攻读,对天文学造诣颇深。万历九年(1581年),而立之年的利玛窦在神学院毕业,奉耶稣会的派遣,不远万里,来到中国。他先在南方传教,为便于和各界人士交往,他根据自己意大利文名字的发音,仿照中国人取名号的方法,自名利玛窦,号西泰。他身着中国服装,会客时按照中国的礼节打躬作揖;他刻苦学习汉字和中国文化,成为卓有成绩的汉学家。 Matteo Ricci is an Italian missionary. Xu Guangqi, a famous scientist and a co-author of the Ming Dynasty in China, wrote a glorious page in the history of science and technology in China. Ricci was born in Jiajing thirty-one years (1552), formerly known as Matthew Leach, Italians. He was a natural talent smart, hard-working studious, philosophy, law, literature, mathematics, physics, study conscience, deep attainments in astronomy. Nine years Wanli (1581), and in the thirties Ricci graduated from the seminary, sent by the Jesuits, not far from here, came to China. He first taught in the South, in order to facilitate contacts with people from all walks of life, according to his pronunciation of Italian name, modeled on the Chinese name of the method, the name Matteo, No. Xitai. He dressed in Chinese costumes, meeting in accordance with Chinese courtesy bowed; he painstakingly learned Chinese characters and Chinese culture, become outstanding sinologist.