MissiOnLine.org China A rich season for studies on Matteo Ricci Matteo Ricci, China, Taipei Fu Jen Catholic University A speech given by father Angelo Lazzarotto during the Symposium «The Genesis Development of East-West Dialogue». Taipei, April 19-22, 2010.

In recent decades, the personality and achievements of the first missionary and inter-cultural mediator of modern age with imperial China, Father Matteo Ricci, S.J. (1582-1610), have been investigated in a measure unknown before. Since 1742, due to the so-called “Rites Controversy”, silence was practically induced for almost two centuries on basic questions connected with Ricci’s strategic choices. That did not stop  Pietro Tacchi Venturi, S.J., from publishing, on the occasion of the third centenary of his death, a first edition of Fr. Matteo Ricci’s Opere storiche (Historical Works), adding to it a collection of his letters (in 1911-1913). Previously, Ricci's endeavour had been known in the West through the Latin work of  Nicolas Trigault, who used Ricci's manuscript and was long considered the main information source on the introduction of Christianity in China .
Only in December 1939, a letter of Propaganda Fide removed the strict limitations previously imposed on traditional Chinese practices, thus encouraging new studies about that period. And in the years 1942-1949 Fr. Pasquale D'Elia, S. J. produced the monumental edition (three volumes) of Fonti Ricciane sponsored by the Italian State, which remains to this day a classic source of documentation. But, unfortunately, the world was then ravaged by war, and in China the Red Army was fighting to gain power over the whole Country. With Mao Zedong's victory, the People’s Republic of China put up a “bambu courtain” which did not favour contacts with the rest of the world, and hampered research on the history of evangelization.
A renewed attention to Matteo Ricci developed in 1982-1983, recalling a basic step: four centuries before, Li Madou  leaving the Macau enclave with his Italian confrère Michele Ruggiero had succeeded in entering the Middle Kingdom, where foreigners were still un-welcomed. An international congress was organized for the occasion in Ricci's home town (Macerata) and at the Collegio Romano, the “alma-mater” where he received his basic Jesuit formation. This invited a fresh look at the exceptional man responsible for opening the way to a meaningful dialogue of Christianity and  Western culture and science with China .
By then, the People's Republic of China (PRC) had also deeply changed, enjoying Deng Xiaoping's ”modernization” drive and opening to the world. The decision of the Beijing authorities to restore and open to visitors Matteo Ricci's tomb showed a positive attention to the great symbol of foreign friendship and dialogue. Yet, unfortunately, no Chinese scholar was allowed to attend the event in Italy, although young researcher Lin Jinshui of Fuzhou, who had just completed a successful academic  work on Li Madou,  had been specially invited to Macerata and Rome.
Another memorable moment came in 2001, on the fourth centenary of the special privilege granted by Ming emperor Wanli to Li Madou  allowing him to reside in the imperial capital. At  the international conference held in Rome on that occasion, Pope John Paul II contributed an important message, which highlighted the growing international awareness of the unique role played by Li Madou in China .
Looking at the many recent studies on Ricci's personality and mission, special attention would deserve the Jesuit research Centres named after Matteo Ricci in several countries (Paris, San Francisco, Taipei,  Macao, Beijing). And one could not overlook basic studies, such as Jonathan D. Spence's The memory palace of Matteo Ricci (New York 1984; translated also in Italian, 1987). But my short paper will underline mainly the contributions in  the Italian language, which are usually less available to foreign scholars .
As we are now celebrating the 4th centenary of Ricci's death in Beijing, several new studies seem to underline his extraordinary appreciation of Chinese civilization and his efforts of dialogue with Chinese scholars. In Macerata, his home town, a specific Ricci Institute was established in 2002 by professor Filippo Mignini, who had initiated (with Quodlibet editor) a new series of translations and critical commentaries of  the Jesuit missionary’s original works. So, in the year 2000 Ricci's fundamental Della Entrata della Compagnia di Giesù e Christianità nella Cina appeared, followed  in 2001 by a collection of Ricci's Lettere (1580-1609), and in 2005 by Ricci's first Chinese production Dell'Amicizia (About Friendship).
Several other publications  that appeared  during the last decade deserve mentioning. Senator Giulio Andreotti's Un Gesuita in Cina, 1582-1610, Matteo Ricci dall'Italia a Pechino, (Milan 2001), gives a brilliant portrait of Ricci’s cultural and religious achievements. Well appreciated was also the research done by Michela Fontana, Matteo Ricci. Un gesuita alla corte dei Ming, (Milan, 2005); having lived in Beijing for some years, she was able to give a vivid description of the cultural gulf bridged by Xi-Tai, the great “Teacher from the West”.  Specific aspects of Ricci’s human and academic adventure were investigated in more than a university; for instance, G. Ricciardolo, Oriente  e Occidente negli scritti di Matteo Ricci, first published  in 2003, was re-edited in Napoli 2007.  A French publication by P. Dreyfus (Paris 2004) was  translated and published also in Italian: Matteo Ricci: uno scienziato alla corte di Pechino.
Filippo Mignini, who in 2003 published Padre Matteo Ricci. Europa alla corte dei Ming (Mazzotta edit.),  the following year portayed Li Madou’s life in a  historical novel with the suggestive title Il Chiosco delle Fenici (The Phoenix Kiosk). A convincing portrait of  the personality and spiritual dimension of Li Madou, by quoting from his letters, was given by Antonio Sergianni  in his Cristo fra i Cinesi -La figura di P. Matteo Ricci (Macerata 2006); a Chinese translation of this book was  published  in Beijing with an introduction of prof. Zhuo Xinping of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. Particularly important is Margherita Redaelli's Il mappamondo con la Cina al Centro. Fonti antiche e mediazione culturale nell'opera di Matteo Ricci S.J. (Pisa 2007); her original research done at the Pisa University looks in fact into the Jesuit formation programme in the middle of the 16th century helping to understand Ricci's broad cultural horizon and scientific preparation. A  valuable presentation is also Francesco Ochetta's Matteo Ricci. Il Gesuita amato dalla Cina, (Elledici, 2009) . Various studies on the different  works produced in China by Li Madou are due for publication in Italy.
In view of the 4th centenary of Ricci’s death, many initiatives were taken, particularly in his home country. The growing interest on Matteo Ricci is confirmed by articles appearing in various  magazines and journals in Italy, and by undergraduate students choosing specific aspects of his mission for their doctoral research. The Macerata Catholic diocese, which is actively sponsoring also the Beatification Cause of Father Matteo Ricci, has produced a 30 panel presentation of his missionary and cultural achievements, which, besides touring the province, has been made available also at the UNESCO headquarters and in other places ..
The Macerata University, which has recently established a new Ricci's  Research Centre, has been particularly active, sponsoring two conferences, one in Macerata and another in Beijing in cooperation with the Academy of Social Studies.  A third international Symposium was just held in Macerata from 4 to 6 March 2010 on “Science Reason Faith. The Genius of Father Matteo Ricci”, with fresh contributions of  well known scholars. This event was preceded (on 2 March 2010) by a one-day Conference  held  in Rome at the Gregorian University, on a theme suggested by Ricci’s correspondence: “In tutto mi accomodai a loro”, Padre Matteo Ricci plasmato dai Cinesi, (In all things, I adapted myself to them.  Fr. Matteo Ricci transformed by the Chinese).
Gjon Kolndrekaj  has produced an artistic docufilm  and book “Matteo Ricci, un gesuita nel Regno del Drago” (Matteo Ricci - A Jesuit in the kingdom of the Dragon”),  available in various languages including  Chinese. An official presentation was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Bruxelles on 17 February 2010. Macerata Diocesan Ricci Commission is spreading widely this important documentary work.
Of particular importance was an exhibition organized at the Vatican, with precious contributions from the Vatican Museums and the Jesuit Archives, entitled “Ai crinali della storia. Padre Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) fra Roma e Pechino” (At the history ridges. Father M.R. between Rome and Beijing) . Another outstanding exhibition is still visible in Treviso till 9 May 2010: “I segreti della Città Proibita. Matteo Ricci alla Corte dei Ming” (The secrets of the Forbidden City. Matteo Ricci at the Ming Court) . Even more significant is the exhibition “Matteo Ricci. Incontro di civiltà nella Cina dei Ming” (Matteo Ricci - Meeting of civilizations in the Ming China), organized by the Macerata Istituto Matteo Ricci; after having been presented in Ancona (Italy) it was  inaugurated at the Beijing Capital Museum on 8 February 2010; due to be also  presented at the Shanghai Museum from 2 April to 23 May 2010, and at the Nanjing Museum, from 4 June to 25 July 2010.
Most welcome is therefore the Taipei Fu Jen Catholic University initiative to commemorate Ricci’s anniversary. By recalling and analysing what has been written so far on Li Madou, it may be possible to show new  investigation areas still needing attention on the person and mission of this exceptional missionary and inter-cultural mediator.