Matteo Ricci

For centuries, China resisted the spread of Catholicism in their country. Although efforts to introduce Catholicism in China began as early as the 7th century, it was not until Matteo Ricci traveled to China that the Christian faith truly made its mark. But how was Matteo Ricci successful in his missionary works in China, when so many priests before him failed?

Matteo Ricci Early Life and Education

Matteo Ricci was born in 1552 in the Italian city of Macerata, within the territory called the Papal States. At the time, Italy was at the height of its Italian Renaissance, and so Ricci received a remarkable education. At the age of 19, Ricci joined and learned with the Jesuits, also called the Society of Jesus. He studied astronomy, mathematics, and theology, all of which would be instrumental in his later teachings.

Fig. 1- Art depicting Matteo Ricci.

As a practicing Jesuit, Matteo Ricci studied at the Roman College (or Collegio Romano) under Christopher Clavius, a renowned German astronomer and fellow member of the Jesuit order. In 1578, Matteo Ricci traveled to Lisbon in Portugal, where he planned to make a missionary expedition into the far east. Although China had a population in the hundreds of millions, it was still a distant and mysterious land to Europeans, especially Christian missionaries. In August 1582, Ricci arrived in Macau, a Portuguese colony in China.

Matteo Ricci's Mission to China

Once in Macau in Southern China, Matteo Ricci studied the Classical Chinese language and cultural traditions under fellow Italian Jesuit priest Michele Ruggieri. At the time, Jesuit missionary work was restricted to Macau. In 1583, both Ricci and Ruggieri departed Macau to preach their faith within mainland Ming Dynasty China.

Fig. 2- 17th-century map depicting Matteo Ricci's travels from Macau to Beijing in China.

Matteo Ricci in Zhaoqing

In Zhaoqing, a city just north of Macau, Matteo Ricci and Ruggieri served the governor Wang Pan for over six years and found acceptance by the Chinese people. Matteo Ricci offered his skills in mathematics and cartography to the Chinese Governor, creating a map called the "Complete Map of the Great World" using the Classical Chinese written language. The map included five continents and displayed many different civilizations, illuminating the size of the world to the relatively isolated Chinese people.

While also in Zhaoqing, Ricci and Ruggieri compiled a Portuguese-Chinese dictionary, further bridging the gap between the Western and Eastern Eurasian cultures. The two Jesuit priests were expelled from Zhaoqing in 1589 following the death of Governor Wang Pan, but their mission in China did not end.

Matteo Ricci in Beijing

After over a decade of roaming between Chinese cities, Matteo Ricci was invited by the Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to come to the Forbidden City in Beijing, for recognition of his skills in astronomy. Famously, Ricci utilized astronomy and mathematics to predict when the next solar eclipse would be. Matteo Ricci began his service in the royal Chinese court, advising government officials while converting them to his Christian faith.

Fig. 3- Modern-day picture of the Forbidden City's Meridian Gate.

Although Matteo Ricci never met the Wanli Emperor, his direct service to the Chinese ruler from 1601 to 1610 was undoubtedly recognized. The Wanli Emperor allowed Ricci to begin construction of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing, the first and now oldest Catholic Church in the city. Upon Matteo Ricci's death in 1610, the Jesuit missionary was buried with honor in Beijing near a Buddhist monastery.

Matteo Ricci Accomplishments

What separated Matteo Ricci from many of his contemporaries was his knowledge and understanding of the Chinese language and cultural traditions. Matteo Ricci tried to explain that Christianity was closely intertwined with Confucianism, the dominant school of thought in Ming Dynasty China, and that conversion to Catholicism was only a natural progression from what many Chinese people already practiced. Ricci's veneration of Chinese dress, customs, and language certainly assisted in this endeavor.

Fig. 4- Art depicting Matteo Ricci and a prominent Chinese man.

Matteo Ricci's best-known accomplishment, still standing today, is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing, where Catholic Chinese still practice the faith today. His mastery of the complexities of Classical Chinese, with little precedence to follow, is lauded by historians, as well as his introduction of innovative European sciences into Chinese society.

The Significance of Matteo Ricci

Matteo Ricci is regarded as the most influential historical figure in introducing Catholicism into China. Today, the Jesuit priest is considered a "Servant of God" (a person who is being considered for canonization into Catholic sainthood).

Fig. 5- Statue of Matteo Ricci in Beijing.

Perhaps more interestingly, Matteo Ricci's teachings were met with great controversy by his Church. When spreading Catholicism to people in China, Ricci integrated important Chinese religious ideas of ancestor worship into Catholic doctrine. The Catholic Church was not enthusiastic about this, to say the least, and the Church condemned Ricci's integration of Chinese ancestor worship after his death. The Catholic Church was quick to reconsider the flexibility of Jesuit missionary practices.