From evangelist to sinologist: Matteo Ricci’s secularization in post-unification Italy

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current discourse on Matteo Ricci often focuses on his remarkable contributions to sinology and his role as a bridge between Chinese and Italian cultures. However, it is important to note that this perspective has not been constant throughout history. Over the years, Ricci’s image has undergone significant changes, and only recently has he been recognized as someone who embodies values that go beyond the strictly Catholic dimension. This article examines a crucial moment in this transformation, which occurred towards the end of the nineteenth century within the academic circles of post-unification Italy. During that period, the discussion around Ricci expanded to encompass his identity as a sinologist, that overlapped or ran alongside his identity as a missionary.