The China Mission in the Early Seventeenth Century: The Link between Higher Administration and On-the-Ground Missions

Abstract

Adopting an accommodationist strategy with a positive attitude, the mission in China had a breakthrough when Matteo Ricci reached the Ming Court in 1601. Valentin Carvaglio’s Lettre de la Chine de l’an 1601 reports on this historical moment and testifies that the Jesuits’ intelligent, discreet, and humble presence under the guidance of the policy was an effective strategy. However, after Ricci’s death, the high profile adopted by the mission and tensions between Carvaglio and Nicholas Longobardi caused setbacks. This article seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how new mission directions and tensions between the administration from above and missions on the ground can impact mission.