晚明西学译词的文化转型意义--以"脑囊"、"几何"、"地球"、"契丹即中国"为例

晚明入华耶稣会士利玛窦等与中国士人徐光启、李之藻等合译西书 ,厘定的一批译词具有文化转型意义 ,如以“脑囊”取代“心”为意识及记忆器官的专名 ;将古典疑问数词改造成数学核心术语“几何” ;通过“地球”一词反映“地圆说” ,以救正传统的“天圆地方说” ;确认“契丹”即“中国” ,改变了西方人中世纪以来模糊的远东地理观念

Technical Terms Translation of Western Studies in Late Ming Dynasty & Their Significance in Cultural Transmission--Taking the Translation of Cerebra,Geometry,Earth and Khitan is China as an Example

The cluster of technical terms that Matteo Ricci,the Jesuit in China and Chinese scholars Xu Guang-qi and Li Zhi-zao translated in their co-translated westen works in late Ming Dynasty carried significant cultural transmission meaning.For instance,cerebra replaces heart as a special term refreeing to the organ of consciousness and memory.Classical Chinese interrogative numeral jihe is used to represent the Mathematical core term of geometry.Putting diqiu,meaning earth globe in English,to amend the traditional understanding of a hemispherical dome.Recognizing that Khitan refers to China,it clarifies the ambiguity in the western geographical concept of Far East since the Middle Ages.