Reception and Acculturation of Western Scientific and Technical knowledge in Dai Viet from the 16th to 18th centuries: Identifying a process of intellectual interchange

Abstract

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Đại Việt underwent a period of engagement with and reception of Western scientific and technological knowledge through channels such as trade, missionary activity, and diplomacy—most notably via Jesuit missionaries. This article focuses on key domains including astronomy, medicine, military technology, navigation, and mechanics to elucidate how Western knowledge was introduced, evaluated, received, and internalized within Đại Việt’s distinctivepolitical and cultural context. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach and historical-cultural analysis, the study demonstrates that Western knowledge was not passively adopted wholesale, but rather selectively appropriated and adapted to local needs. This process reflects a proactive model of cultural and epistemic acculturation, contributing to laying the foundations of modern scientific thinking in Vietnam. The article offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between missionary activity, technology transfer, and the localization of knowledge in early modern East Asia.