Unveiling Ding Weiliang's Impact on Cross-Cultural Discourse Between China and the West Through A cycle of Cathay
Abstract
Ding Weiliang, a late Qing-era missionary who dedicated over six decades to China, harbored a profound fascination with Chinese culture, driven by multifaceted motivations such as missionary endeavors, personal inquisitiveness, and political engagement. This scholarly exploration endeavors to dissect the contextual factors that compelled him to act as a conduit, introducing the richness of Chinese culture to the Western hemisphere. It succinctly delineates his pivotal role in the translation of Chinese cultural nuances and the facilitation of the assimilation of scientific and technological advancements. In doing so, it illuminates the nuanced contributions and inherent constraints Ding Weiliang encountered during a pivotal epoch marked by the convergence of Chinese and Western intellectual traditions. This article shows its understanding of Chinese culture through Ding Weiliang's missionary life. This article finds that Ding Weiliang has a profound impact on the development of Chinese scientific concepts.
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