Who was the first translator to translate the four books into Latin

Ricci was the first to translate the Four Books into Latin.

There were many learned men among the missionaries who came to China during the Ming and Qing dynasties. They lived in China for many years and wrote a large number of writings, journals, letters, and reports, which showed the Europeans a magnificent picture of Chinese history and colorful scenes of social life. The missionaries were enthusiastic about the translation of Chinese texts and the study of Confucianism, and made great achievements, which also had far-reaching influence in the European thought world.

The Portuguese Jesuit Alvaro Semedo, who came to China in the early days, authored a work called "The Great China Journal," which was published in 1642. Once published, this work was translated into many languages and was well received by European Orientalists. Having spent 22 years in China, Zeng Dezhao should be said to have understood China, which was then at the end of the Ming Dynasty, more thoroughly, and his "Great China Journal" provided a more detailed account of China's social history and human geography than Ricci's work.

The Great China Journal says that Confucius had a very high status in China, "Confucius, the great man, was greatly revered by the Chinese people, and the books he wrote, and the maxims he left behind him, were so highly valued that the people regarded him not only as a saint, but also as a forefather and a doctor, and his words were regarded as oracles, and temples honoring him were built in all the towns and cities of the country. towns and cities temples were built in his honor, and solemn ceremonies were regularly held there to show their reverence for him."

He also said of the Confucian "Four Books" and "Five Classics," "the commentaries on which they were required to study diligently, memorize, and make every effort to understand the difficulties, so that they might acquire all sorts of discernment, and thus regulate their behavior, and to formulate ways of governing the country. This is done on the basis of maxims and aphorisms found therein."