Tomb of Xu Guangqi

Tomb of Xu Guangqi

The tomb of Xu Guangqi is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

The tomb of Xu Guangqi is located within Guangqi Park on Nandan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai.

Xu Guangqi (1562–1633), styled Zixian and also known as Xuanhu, was a native of Xujiahui, Shanghai, and a renowned scientist of the late Ming Dynasty. In 1600, he met the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci in Nanjing. In 1603, he was baptized and converted to Catholicism, and in 1604 he passed the imperial examination to become a jinshi (advanced scholar). That same year, he was selected as a shujishi (probationary official) of the Hanlin Academy, eventually rising to the positions of Vice Guardian of the Heir Apparent, Minister of Rites, and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion. In the capital, he studied European scientific knowledge under Matteo Ricci and collaborated with him to translate the first six volumes of Euclid’s Elements in 1607. Later, they co-translated one volume of Measurement Techniques and Xu himself wrote one volume on Right-Angle Triangle Geometry. Together with Johann Adam Schall von Bell (Xiong Sanba), he translated Brief Explanations of the Astrolabe. In 1612, based on Schall's lectures, the Treatise on Western Water Methods was compiled. Xu Guangqi authored the Complete Treatise on Agriculture. He advocated military training and the equipping of armies with advanced firearms, making him a pioneer of modern science in China. Throughout his life, he made outstanding contributions to summarizing traditional Chinese science and disseminating Western knowledge, and stands as a landmark figure in the history of Chinese science and culture.

After Xu Guangqi’s death, he was buried at the confluence of Fahua Stream and Zhaojia Creek in Shanghai. His descendants later settled in the area, which eventually became known as “Xujiahui.” The tomb site was renovated in 1957 and features a granite statue of Xu Guangqi in front of the grave. To the east is a stele corridor, displaying 12 stone carvings including Xu Guangqi’s portrait, handwriting, and biographical inscriptions. During the Cultural Revolution, the original memorial archway and ornamental columns were damaged. In 1978, the site was turned into Nandan Park. In 1981, an oval-shaped main tomb was built in the northern part of the park, covering an area of 300 square meters and standing 2.2 meters high. The tombstone bears the inscription “Tomb of Xu Guangqi of the Ming Dynasty,” written by the famous mathematician Su Buqing. After 1982, further renovations were carried out. In 1983, to commemorate the 350th anniversary of Xu Guangqi’s death, a stele corridor was added at the tomb site, along with a statue of Xu Guangqi in front of the grave. The pedestal of the statue is inscribed with text by Zhou Gucheng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and a historian. The small path in front of the tomb was expanded into a 150-square-meter granite platform, and a new half-torso granite statue of Xu Guangqi wearing the robes of a first-rank official was erected. The area was landscaped with dragon cypresses and evergreen trees. To the east of the tomb, a stele corridor displays some of Xu’s handwritten works, such as the preface to Euclid’s Elements and the preface to Analysis of the Classic of Poetry. The back side of the corridor features a biography of Xu Guangqi written by the late Ming–early Qing scholar Zha Jizuo, and a portrait of Xu painted by the modern artist Cheng Shifa. To the west of the tomb stands a stone horse. Cement benches surround the front of the grave, and the area is planted with many trees. (As of now, all of the above have disappeared and are instead exhibited in the newly built “Nanchunhua Hall” Memorial Hall.)

To commemorate the 350th anniversary of Xu Guangqi’s death, Nandan Park was renamed Guangqi Park. In 1988, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.

Address: No. 17 Nandan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai (near Wending Road)

Type: Memorial Hall

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 hour

Phone: 021-64689252

Opening Hours:

Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–16:00 (Closed on Mondays)

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Xu Guangqi (April 24, 1562 – November 10, 1633), a scientist, agronomist, and statesman of late Ming China, was one of the pioneers in East-West cultural exchange. Styled Zixian and also known as Xuanhu, with the Christian name Paul, he was of Han ethnicity. A native of Shanghai County, Songjiang Prefecture, Nanzhili (present-day Shanghai), he was a Catholic and honored as one of the “Three Pillars of Catholicism.” He passed the imperial examination in 1604. Well-versed in astronomy, calendrics, and firearms, he engaged in scholarly discussions with the Italian Matteo Ricci. In 1604, he served as an editor of the official almanac and collaborated with the missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell in developing astronomical instruments... [More detailed information on Xu Guangqi++]

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units