Influence of Confucianism in 17th century Europe

The works of Confucius were translated into European languages through the agency of Jesuit scholars stationed in China.The first was Michele Ruggieri who had returned from China to Italy in 1588, and carried on translating in Latin Chinese classics, while residing in Salerno Matteo Ricci started to report on the thoughts of Confucius, and father Prospero Intorcetta published the life and works of Confucius into Latin in 1687."Windows into China", John Parker, p.25, ISBN 0890730504 It is thought that such works had considerable importance on European thinkers of the period, particularly among the Deists and other philosophical groups of the Enlightenment who were interested by the integration of the system of morality of Confucius into Western civilization.The Eastern Origins of Western Civilisation, John Hobson, p194-195, ISBN 0521547245
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