Kids in Ancient China: Kangxi The Emperor (Part 3)

Here's the next part in the series. We have one more part and then we'll finish it.  

Calendar

“Why do you need a calendar, your majesty?” Asked one of the advisors to the emperor.

“Because I do. The system we had for keeping track of time doesn’t work for me. I need something better. Can you help me?” The Kangxi Emperor asked one of the Jesuit Missionaries who came from Europe.

“Of course. I would love to help you. As I explained to you before, our calendar in Europe has 12 months a year,” started the European man. His Chinese was good, not fluent, but good enough. However, when he tried to explain all of the details of the calendar they used back in Europe to the Emperor, he found the language to be very hard. “Your majesty, can I go home, talk to some of the other European men who are here, and can bring them with me later? I’m sorry, your majesty, but I’m afraid that my Chinese isn’t good enough.”

“Yes, yes, go ahead. Come back tomorrow for breakfast. I want to get started on this right away,” said the emperor.

The next day a group of European men walked to the Forbidden City to meet with the emperor over breakfast. They all had notes with them for Chinese words that they didn’t know but might need to use in their talk with the emperor. For many of them, this wasn’t their first meal with the emperor, but for some of them it was their first breakfast with the emperor. There was so much food:  steamed buns, porridge, lots of fruit, some vegetables, and tea. Although it was a nice breakfast, some of the European men missed their French and Italian breads with butter in the mornings. (Of course they didn’t tell the Emperor that!).

“You have all come here this morning to help me make a new calendar. Tell me about the calendar you use in Europe,” the Emperor started.

“It has 12 months a year. We have four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.”

“Yes, that is a good idea,” said the Emperor. They talked a little more and the emperor said, “I need some time to think about all of this.” 

The emperor wanted a calendar that would work for him and the people of the country. The new calendar was well liked by everyone in the country.