Matteo Ricci (Macerata, 1552 - Beijing, 1610) was the first Westerner to establish a deep reciprocal relationship of knowledge and friendship between Europe and China. He still remains today, for the two civilizations, a symbol and a model of mutual relations. This volume proposes new studies in three research areas. The first deals with new or unpublished documents in Chinese concerning Matteo Ricci and his interlocutors. The aim of this investigation is to provide a more nuanced and precise reconstruction of Ricci's experience by relying on a full knowledge of events and records. Secondly, the volume suggests new ways of analysing Ricci's works by examining a number of topics that have never been explored before, or by focusing on writings that still need to be properly understood. The third theme of the volume is the effort in self-understanding among European scholars prompted by Ricci and later Jesuits, as well as by other religious orders, especially during theseventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As a whole, the volume is an essential reference work for those who want to have a better understanding of Matteo Ricci and of the first significant encounter between Europe and China.

New Perspectives in the Studies on Matteo Ricci

L'esame delle relazioni storiche trale due civiltà mostra quale legameprivilegiato vi sia tra di esse. Il confronto con la Cina imponeall'Europa di scegliere: unitàpolitica o dissolvimento. IT. L'unificazione politica è la condizione assoluta affinché l'Europa continuiad avere voce e ruolo nell'attuale contesto mondiale. Diversamente, l'Unione e gli Stati che la compongono sono destinati a una crescente irrilevanza politica e culturale. Il testo assume a dimostrazione emblematicai rapporti tra Europa e Cina. L'esame delle relazioni storiche tra le dueciviltà mostra quale legame privilegiato vi sia tra di esse; l'analisi delleattuali relazioni rende evidente la necessità dell'unificazione politica europea e di uno sguardo libero da pregiudizi sulla Cina. Infine, l'esigenza dicontribuire congiuntamente al benessere del pianeta pone l'esigenza diun confronto sistematico sui principî delle rispettive civiltà. EN. Political unification is the absolute condition for Europe to continue tohave a voice and role in the current world context. Otherwise, the Unionand its component States are destined to witness growing political andcultural irrelevance. The text assumes as an emblematic demonstrationthe relations between Europa and China. The examination of the historical relations between the two civilizations shows what privileged relationship there is between them; the analysis of current reports makesclear the need for European political unification and a free gaze on China. Finally, the need to contribute jointly to the well-being of the worldpoints to the need for a systematic comparison concerning the principlesof the respective civilizations.

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