Jesuit In The Forbidden City: Matteo Ricci 1552-1610

A Jesuit in the Forbidden City: Matteo Ricci 1552-1610

by R. Po-chia Hsia

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Matteo Ricci was an Italian Jesuit who traveled to China in the late 16th century. He spent the rest of his life there, working as a missionary and trying to spread the Catholic faith. He was also a skilled scientist and astronomer, and he made a number of important contributions to these fields. His work in China had a lasting impact on the relationship between the East and the West.

Early Life and Education

Matteo Ricci was born in Macerata, Italy, in 1552. He was the son of a wealthy merchant family, and he received a good education. He studied at the Jesuit College in Rome, where he excelled in mathematics and astronomy. In 1577, he was ordained a priest and sent to China as a missionary.

Arrival in China

Ricci arrived in China in 1583. He spent the next few years learning the Chinese language and culture. He also traveled extensively throughout the country, meeting with scholars and officials. In 1598, he was granted permission to enter the Forbidden City, the imperial palace in Beijing. He was the first Westerner to be allowed to do so.

Missionary Work

Ricci's primary goal in China was to spread the Catholic faith. He translated religious texts into Chinese, and he preached to both the Chinese people and the imperial court. He also established a number of churches and schools throughout the country.

Ricci's missionary work was not always easy. He faced opposition from both the Chinese government and the Buddhist clergy. However, he persevered, and he eventually made a number of converts. One of his most famous converts was the Chinese scholar Xu Guangqi, who became a close friend and collaborator.

Scientific Contributions

In addition to his missionary work, Ricci was also a skilled scientist and astronomer. He introduced Western science and technology to China, and he made a number of important contributions to these fields.

Ricci translated Euclid's Elements into Chinese, which helped to introduce Western mathematics to China. He also introduced the telescope to China, and he made a number of important observations of the solar system. He was the first to observe the sunspots, and he also correctly calculated the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

Legacy

Matteo Ricci died in Beijing in 1610. He was buried in the Jesuit cemetery in Beijing, and his tomb is still there today. Ricci's work in China had a lasting impact on the relationship between the East and the West. He was one of the first Westerners to learn the Chinese language and culture, and he helped to introduce Western science and technology to China.

Ricci's work also had a profound impact on the Catholic Church in China. He was one of the first Catholic missionaries to China, and he helped to establish the Catholic Church there. Today, there are over 10 million Catholics in China, and the Catholic Church is one of the largest religions in the country.

Matteo Ricci was a remarkable man who made significant contributions to both the East and the West. He was a pioneer in the field of missionary work, and he helped to spread the Catholic faith to China. He was also a skilled scientist and astronomer, and he introduced Western science and technology to China. His work had a lasting impact on the relationship between the East and the West, and he is still remembered today as one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity in China.

• Matteo Ricci on Encyclopedia Britannica
• Matteo Ricci on New World Encyclopedia
• Matteo Ricci: The Jesuit Who Opened China to the Gospel on the website of the Jesuits

A Jesuit in the Forbidden City: Matteo Ricci 1552-1610

by R. Po-chia Hsia

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2545 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	376 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE