In Our Time Matteo Ricci and the Ming Dynasty
Apr 16, 2015
Mary Laven, a Reader in Early Modern History, shares insights on Matteo Ricci's transformative mission in 16th-century China. Craig Clunas, an expert in the History of Art, discusses the cultural context of Ricci's innovative approaches, including his world map and translation of Chinese characters. Anne Gerritsen explores the Jesuits' adaptation to Confucian beliefs while navigating challenges in a complex spiritual landscape. Together, they highlight Ricci's profound impact on European perceptions of China and his legacy in fostering dialogue between East and West.
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Europeans Knew China Was Big But Not Its Heart
- By 1600 Europeans knew China as a vast, wealthy empire but lacked deep knowledge of its interior governance and cities.
- Early Portuguese trade reached only coastal edges, limiting European understanding.
China As A Target Of Global Catholic Ambition
- The Counter-Reformation framed China as a vast field of souls to be won for Catholicism and part of a global Jesuit mission.
- Ricci's mission fit into a larger Iberian and Jesuit strategy spanning the Americas, India and Japan.
Conquest Schemes Shaped Chinese Suspicion
- Europeans considered military conquest of China a feasible plan in the 1560s–1580s, sending schemes to Philip II.
- The Chinese perceived Europeans as potentially violent traders, shaping mutual suspicion.