利玛窦是用中国文化阐释基督教神学非常成功的传教士之一,他所取得的成功,与他对中国文化的认识密切相关,而对中国文化的认识,主要就是对中国儒学的认识。他将中国儒家分为宋明儒家和古代儒家,指出宋明儒家已经不是古代儒家了。他说:“我们试图驳斥这种哲学(指儒家附会的创造论,引者注),不仅仅是根据道理,而且也根据他们自己古代哲学家的论证,而他们 Matteo Ricci is one of the most successful missionaries to interpret Christian theology in Chinese culture. His success is closely related to his understanding of Chinese culture, while his understanding of Chinese culture is mainly based on his understanding of Chinese Confucianism. He divided Chinese Confucianism into Confucianism and Confucianism, and pointed out that Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties was no longer an ancient Confucian. He said: ”We tried to refute this philosophy (referring to Confucianism’s creationism, quoting) not only on the basis of reason but also on the arguments of their own ancient philosophers that they