Under the Western-educated Kangxi Emperor, Chinese mathematics enjoyed a brief period of official support. At Kangxi's direction, Mei Goucheng and three other outstanding mathematicians compiled a 53-volume "Shuli Jingyun" Essence of Mathematical Study (printed 1723) which gave a systematic introduction to western mathematical knowledge. At the same time, Mei Goucheng also developed to "Meishi Congshu Jiyang" Compiled works of Mei. "Meishi Congshu Jiyang" was an encyclopedic summary of nearly all schools of Chinese mathematics at that time, but it also included the cross-cultural works of Mei Wending (1633-1721), Goucheng's grandfather. The enterprise sought to alleviate the difficulties for Chinese mathematicians working on Western mathematics in tracking down citations.