| Volume 6, Number 4, October 2009 |
The Background of Matteo Ricci, the Shaping of His Intellectual and Scientific Endowment
by Gianni Criveller 柯毅霖 |
Clash or Harmony of Civilizations Through
the Eyes of Macau (1)
by Gary M.C. Ngai 魏美昌
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ON August 15th 1571, 19-year-old Matteo Ricci, arrived at the door of the St. Andrea novitiate at the Quirinale in Rome and was welcomed by Alessandro Valignano. Valignano had come to St. Andrea’s as a one-month replacement for the master of novices, Fr. Fabio de Fabii. Thus, the two future founders of the China mission met for the first time.
A strong bond of mutual esteem, friendship and solidarity was formed. They had a common vision and plan for the evangelization of China, and a human, religious and intellectual accord that is quite uncommon in modern missionary history. To them we owe the definitive foundation of the Catholic Church in China.
Matteo Ricci has been praised by J. Needham as “one of the most remarkable and brilliant men in history”, “the most outstanding cultural mediator between China and the West of all time” (W. Frankle) and a “a monumental figure” (D. E. Mungello)...
[ Read more ] |
MANKIND has been troubled by the clash of civilizations among different tribes, religions and nations, from ancient history until recent times, from local conflicts to world wars, bringing destruction to human and natural resources that knows no end. The question seems to remain the same: Is there any way of reducing clashes and increasing harmony among conflicting civilizations? How could our common dream of eternal peace come true?
Macau might give you the answer. Macau, almost invisible on the world map, might provide a feasible solution. Why Macau? I have to start from history.
1. Macau’s unique bridging role in history
In Chinese history, Macau, a tiny fishing enclave of not more than 2.5km2 (2) on the West coast of the Pearl River, only became known to the world after the Portuguese settled it in the mid-sixteenth century, when the Middle Kingdom still closed its doors from developing external relations...
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| Issue 6.4 |
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World Mutation or
Epochal Challenge?
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