严嘉乐
Astronomer educationist linguist mathematician musicologist
Karel Slavíček was born in a house called Czechoslovakian: U Slunce ("By the Sun") on the main square in Jimramov, a small town straddling the historical border between Bohemia and Moravia. His father, Václav Vojtěch Slavíček, was a teacher and town councillor writer
Later he studied at Faculty of Philosophy and Faculty of Theology of Olomouc University. Later he went to Prague, where he studied Theology at Charles University.
Early life and studies in the Czechoslovakian lands
After finishing his studies, he stayed at the University as a teacher of mathematics and Hebrew language and history. He was ordained as a priest in 1707. Astronomy soon became his hobby.
During his studies in Prague Slavíček took part in making precise map of the capital.
In 1714 he went to Brno, where his work involved assisting his former Olomouc professor Jakub Kresa. Soon after this he decided to become missionary.
Because of his knowledge of mathematics as well as music, it was decided that he should be sent to China. In 1715 he left Brno for Prague, where he joined Ignaz Kögler.
On 13 March 1716 they left for China.
lieutenant took them 170 days to get there, surviving a major storm, during which many of their belongings were damaged. In China
After reaching Macao they acquired local clothes and adopted local haircuts. On 3 February 1717 Slavíček was introduced to the Kangxi Emperor in Beijing, who employed him as court musician.
(Slavíček was a Spinet player).
In 1717 Slavíček made the first precise map of Beijing, putting to use know-how obtained previously while working on the map of Prague. At the same time he clarified the latitude of Beijing.
Slavíček soon became ill and left Beijing in order to recover away from the city. Yongzheng ordered all the Jesuits in China to be accommodated in Beijing: consequently Slavíček had to return there.
Slavíček learned the Chinese language rather fast.
He worked on astronomy and mathematics and compiled a Treatise on Chinese music: however this treatise has not survived. Although forced to move back to Beijing, Slavíček did not become isolated. Indeed, he was in frequent contact by letter with European scientists, such as Stéphane Souciet and Guillaume de L"Isle.
Many of the letters have been lost, but those that survive provide insight to Slavíček"s life in China, and are now housed in the library of Strahov Monastery.
