Ricci In China Research Paper

Words: 1699
Pages: 7

China, a powerful country of Asia, has not always been powerful. The formation of China is a lengthy journey that started way before the 21st century. One of the strongest times of China was the Ming China. Ming China was a dynasty with great technology, which led to their great power. The technology, though was from a place far away, across the borders of China, in Europe. A Jesuit, Matteo Ricci, brought along the technology that would influence and change China. The question lies, “What is a Jesuit doing in China?”, “Why did Matteo Ricci come to China?”. The technology was not the only component that influenced China but so did the religion that Matteo Ricci brought over, Catholicism. Though Matteo Ricci is only a Jesuit from outside of China, through the Counter Reformation, the creation of the Jesuits, and Matteo Ricci’s mission, the arrival of Matteo Ricci along with western technology and religion made a powerful influence that strengthens China. The Counter Reformation was a crucial component for the arrival of Matteo Ricci in China. The Counter Reformation was started during the 16th and 17th centuries by the Catholic Church to fight Protestantism. The Counter Reformation led to the meeting, the council of Trent, which met several times to tackle the issues of reform that divided European Christians. The Council of Trent had a simple goal: to address the contentious