Ivan Vreman: Difference between revisions

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'''Ivan Vreman'''<ref>{{Cite web sfn|last=Peng |first=Yuchao |date=2022-04-14 |title=The First Croatian to Arrive in China, Jesuit Ivan Vreman (1583–1620) |trans-title=Prvi Hrvat koji je stigao u Kinu, isusovac Ivan Vreman (1583–1620) |url=https://digital.zlb.de/viewer/metadata/1336040971/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=digital.zlb |language=en}}</ref> (in some sources '''Ivan Ureman''') {{post-nominals|post-noms=[[Society of Jesus|SJ]]}} (6 June 1583 – 22 April 1620) was a [[Croats|Croatian]] [[astronomer]], [[physicist]], [[mathematician]], [[missionary]], [[translator]] and [[Jesuit]] [[Catholic priest|priest]]. His work in the field of astronomy and mathematics means complementing and improving the work of those scientists from the [[Early modern era]] who used a mathematical approach to search for new insights and knowledge about understanding reality. It also presents his interests and contributions in the broader context of research and scientific conditions and opportunities at the very beginning of the [[17th century]]. As a [[Catholic missionary]],<ref>{{Cite web sfn|last=Ruiz de Medina |first=Juan |date=2023-09-01 |title=Ivan Vreman, Split 1583 - Nanchang 1620, a Croat among the Jesuit missionaries of Japan and China |trans-title=Ivan Vreman, Split,1583 - Nanchang, 1620, Hrvat među isusovačkim misionarima u Japanu i Kini |url=https://www.arts.kuleuven.be/chinese-studies/english/cct/database/index.php/Detail/objects/5636 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=arts.kuleuven |language=en2000}}</ref> he worked during the first Jesuit missions in the [[Far East]], so his activities can also be viewed from the perspective of the exchange of knowledge and the entire activities of the early intermediaries between [[Europe]] and countries like [[China]], [[Japan]] and [[India]].

Vreman was born on 6 June 1583 in [[Split, Croatia]],<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Znameniti isusovci u Splitu - Famous Jesuits in Split |url=https://www.isusovci-split.hr/znameniti-isusovci-u-splitu/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=isusovci-split.hr | publisher = Croatian Province of the Society of Jesus |language=hr}}</ref> at that time under [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] rule. There is very little information about his early life, but he most likely attended one of the schools in Split, as that town, like other major towns on the Croatian coast, had organized education for the younger generation. Thus, Vreman received a quality initial education that helped him to be sent to [[Rome]] in 1600 to the [[novitiate]] of the [[Society of Jesus]]. In 1602 he began his studies at the [[Collegium Romanum]]. He studied [[natural philosophy]], mathematics and astronomy. In 1607 he completed his studies in philosophy and became involved in scientific work, beginning to conduct astronomical researches. He was especially interested in studingstudying of [[lunar eclipse]], which occupied him all the the time during his life. His astronomical observations are preserved in letters he exchanged with his professors and other prominent scholars. From 1607 to 1609 he studied [[theology]].

Since the [[telescope]] was not yet available, Vreman made his observations without it, but therefore carried out them by devising special observational and [[methodical]] procedures. He made a detailed description of the lunar eclipse, as evidenced, for instance, by a letter he sent on 31 January 1609 to the Italian astronomer, cartographer and mathematician [[Giovanni Antonio Magini|Magini]],<ref>{{Cite web sfn|last=Borić |first=Marijana |date=2021-09-07 |titlep=Ivan Ureman — posrednik između kineske i europske znanstvene tradicije, str.502 |trans-title=Ivan Ureman — a Mediator between Chinese and European Scientific Tradition, p.502 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/383808 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=hrcak.srce |language=hr}}</ref> in which he enclosed a description of his observations.

In 1615 he set out on a voyage to Jesuit mission in [[Goa]], India, where he stayed for nine months.<ref>{{Cite web sfn|last=Borić |first=Marijana |date=2021-09-07 |titlep=Ivan Ureman — posrednik između kineske i europske znanstvene tradicije, str.505 |trans-title=Ivan Ureman — a Mediator between Chinese and European Scientific Tradition, p.505 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/383808 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=hrcak.srce |language=hr}}</ref> After that, he continued his voyage to another Jesuit mission, which was situated in the Portuguese colony of [[Portuguese Macau|Macau]]. That colony was an important location on the southern borders of China, because it was open to travellers, unlike China itself, where access was very difficult. Vreman stayed in Macau from 1616 for the next couple of years doing scientific work. There he also taught mathematics, studied Chinese astronomy and translated works of missionaries residing in [[History of Japan|Japan]].

It is known about his work and activities that he studied [[Euclid]]'s work "Elements", which was written in the [[4th century BC]] with the aim of laying foundations for the construction of [[geometry]]. Besides, Vreman's special interest was astronomy, where he needed mathematical knowledge in theoretical and practical work and the Euclidean methodology for conducting astronomical proofs. Mathematics is always present in Vreman's work in the field of astronomy and [[cartography]]. While researched, he used to solve an astronomical problems with planned observations. Then he applied mathematics in the [[analysis]] of his results.

In China he lived and worked in difficult conditions, like many other missionaries in the Far East, fell ill, gradually became very exhausted and [[Underweight|skinny]], and finally died on 22 April 1620 in [[Nanchang]], at the age of thirty six. He was buried in [[Nanjing]], 500 kilometers away, where there was a [[cemetery]] where deceased [[priest]]s had already been buried.<ref>{{Cite web sfn|last=Ruiz de Medina |first=Juan 2000|date=2023-09-01 |title=Ivan Vreman, Split 1583 - Nanchang 1620, a Croat among the Jesuit missionaries of Japan and China, p.7 |trans-title=Ivan Vreman, Split,1583 - Nanchang, 1620, Hrvat među isusovačkim misionarima u Japanu i Kini, str.7 |url=https://www.arts.kuleuven.be/chinese-studies/english/cct/database/index.php/Detail/objects/5636 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=arts.kuleuven |language=en}}</ref>

* [[List of Jesuit Sitessites]]

[[Category:Croatian humanists]]

[[Category:Croatian Roman Catholics]]

[[Category:Jesuit missionaries in China]]