The Posting of Matteo Ricci...(4/8)

Matteo Ricci is a name that I have heard of for long time since I was young at my school founded by Society of Jesus. Yet, it is until recently when I read about the modern history of China that I recognise the name again...I am not a religious follower, but the life and the dedication of Ricci to his preaching and missionary is actually quite interesting. Viewing from a perspective of career and aspiration, Ricci achieved a great work that not many people can do the same I believe. From the data and record I have read, Ricci should be a talented diplomat. He studied law, philosophy, theology, mathematics, cosmology and astronomy on top of his reglious studies during his youth, not to mention his geography and language skill. Clearly science, litterature and religion had been so closely correlated during his time. He made his first visit to China on 7 August, 1582 to Macau. At that time, Guangdong is the region where the western world could approach the dragon easier with their advanced troops. There had been quarrels and fights during these visits though. As a diplomat to visit and then stay in a strange but spacious continent, Ricci put his faith to his mission and managed to achieve his "business result". It's a bit like the role of astronaut nowadays I must admit. A foreigner (or "etranger") to arrive at a strange place and to carry out his belief and settle down in a new environment. He seemed easily get through the cultural barrier with the help of his handy belongings. The Chinese were amazed by his "toys and games" including the mechanical clocks, mathematical and astronomical instruments, light-refracting prisms and glasses, architectural plan and oil paintings etc. This is indeed a demonstration of culture shock to the Chinese people at that time. But after all, it was the "World Map" that drew much interest of the Chinese people. We the Chinese had been so innocent to the world. At the mid 16th century, people in China still thought that the world compose of China plus a marginal surrounding of sea...
History repeats itself, and when we look into the interesting life of Ricci, we resemble some experiences or plans of our own too. After centuries, we are still innocent about our world. People may use the word "universe" instead of the world (or the Earth), but there is no big difference in terms of our narrow understanding about the nature and our life. With a useful means to get the trust from the Chinese, Ricci smoothly established a relationship with the Chinese people, and more importantly the government officials, and he managed to establish churches and have his followers to God in the Guangdong area. He moved to Nanjing afterwards and finally spent nine years in Beijing. Tactically, this is the direction where he could reach moe influential people and facilitate his preaching work. He successfully produced the Chinese version of the Ten Commandments, and this broke through the language barrier for the Chinese too. This are all something not easy to achieve.
On top of the religious influence in China (and Hong Kong), Ricci bridged the intellectual exchange between China and the West, and the way of preachers and fathers like him set up an education model that benefits not only the people of their time, but also the nowadays generation like me. I did not really attend to any belief or doctrine of the religion but the education belief of Society of Jesus has much influence to myself. This is somewhat I feel thankful.
Earning my experience to work overseas now, I have more imagination of how difficult Ricci might have encountered for his mission. To adapt to an environment and get into the society need not be handy. I note that one must possess some sort of characters and open mind to understand a different culture or society. Well, interestingly history books actually note down case studies and doctrine of what we would encounter everyday. What a pity that I have not spent much time studying the past in the past...
But well, I feel like understanding a bit more about "R.I.C.C.I." Ricci now.