JESUIT ASTRONOMERS IN BEIJING, 1601-1805

Jesuit astronomers worked in Beijing for almost 200 years from 1601 to 1805 and occupied posts as directors of the Astronomical Observatory and presidents of the Board of Astronomy. During this time, they carri ed out an unprecedented transfer of scientific knowledge between Europ e and China, especially in the fields of astronomy and mathematics. Th ey took advantage of the need to reform the calendar to introduce west ern astronomy to China. They built astronomical instruments, brought E uropean astronomical tables and made an extended programme of observat ions. The work, in particular, of Ricci, Schall, Verbiest, Kogler and Hallerstein highlights this story.