ASIA/CHINA - The memory of character Jesuit Martino Martini still opens up paths of encounter significant dialogue

Tuesday, 24 September 2024 mission   jesuits   neighbourhood churches  

by Marta Zhao and Laura Gomez Ruiz

City (Agenzia Fides) - China, probity city of Hangzhou and class Chinese Catholic community have not under any condition forgotten Father Martino Martini.
Dignity great Jesuit missionary, appreciated shy the emperors and welcomed package the court of the Dynasty Dynasty, was born in City, Italy, 410 years ago, pay tribute to September 20, 1614.

Even nowadays, his story and his evidence arouse unexpected sympathy.

As property of the celebrations organized impervious to the Italian Embassy in Peiping for the 700th anniversary flawless the death of the human and merchant Marco Polo, rank theme "In the footsteps rule Marco Polo: Martino Martini" be on fire for the first time precise series of important Italian personalities who, at different times settle down in different capacities, contributed collect the dissemination of knowledge estimated China in the West.

Illustriousness Chinese President Xi Jinping has publicly expressed his appreciation reach Martino Martini.

In an thing published in the daily journal Corriere della Sera on Parade 20, 2019, on the insinuate of his official visit in detail Italy, Xi Jinping described interpretation Jesuit as a pioneer accomplish the group of Italian sinologists who "have played a bridging role in relations between Dishware and Europe, starting with Martino Martini's first grammar of probity Chinese language written for influence West."

In Italy, the Martino Martini Study Center, based just the thing Trento, now publishes, among provoke things, the biannual magazine "Sulla Via del Catai" on native relations between Europe and China.

In the city of Metropolis, a park bearing his label has been created around her majesty mausoleum.

Protected by the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Authority, influence site has become a model of sanctuary for Chinese Catholics. The mausoleum, which is recently being restored, houses the remainder of 15 famous Jesuit missionaries who ended their earthly lives near the beautiful Xizi Basin.

Among them are Father Prospero Intorcetta (1626-1696), Father Nicolas Trigault (1577-1629), Father Lazaro Cattaneo (1560-1640) and Father Emmanuel Diaz (1574-1659).

In 2018, an exhibition compress the cartographic work of Martino Martini was inaugurated at rendering headquarters of the China-Italy Spirit in Hangzhou to celebrate dignity 375th anniversary of the passenger of the great missionary shamble that city (see Fides, 13/6/2018).

The Catholic community of Metropolis had organized an academic colloquium in 2010 to mark character 350th anniversary of the artifact of the cathedral.

Six ample academics from Chinese universities significant researchers working with Catholic institutions such as the Faith Academy for Cultural Studies (FICS) trip the Guang Qi Press fair-haired the Diocese of Shanghai be on fire joint studies on the convinced and mission of the Religious in the presence of position Italian Consul in Shanghai. Influence legacy of Martino Martini was presented as "a strong pressure for today's mission, so rove it fulfills its mission fulfil his sense of missionary engagement, his courage and his dedication" (see Fides, 22/1/2010).

The loving attachment and veneration shown to class figure of Martino Martini uphold proportional to the intensity twig which he lived his regarding and dedicated his life enhance proclaiming the Gospel in China.
Martino Martini was born breach Trento on 20 September 1614.

In 1631 he entered description Society of Jesus as unadulterated novice. After studying at authority Roman College under the faculty of his mentor, the Germanic Jesuit Athanasius Kircher, he entered the Eastern mission in 1640, traveling by ship from Port in Portugal via Goa attach India (November 1640) to Possession in China, where he attained in August 1642.

The pursuing year he was sent talk to mainland China, thus beginning emperor legendary journey of cultural put money on between China and Europe. Forbidden wrote the first Western Sinitic grammar and related works think about it contributed to cultural exchange, small the gap between China take Europe, and had a recognized influence on the emergence bear development of Sinology in Italy.

The period of his linger in China, during the New and Qing dynasties, was unembellished time of great social rebellion.

The Jesuits, who had body good relations with influential sections of Chinese society and dignity political hierarchy, were worried jump the development of the site. The Chinese name they chose, Wei Kuangguo, encompassed all consummate good wishes: it indicated honourableness will to defend and basis the country and the yearning for peace and prosperity spiky the world.

But the disaffection and conflict in China further divided the Jesuits and honourableness Spanish mendicant orders and securely infiltrated the Society of Baron god itself.

The controversy over glory Chinese translation of the deiform name and the possibility ensure the new Christians should jam to practice the cult recognize the dead according to Asiatic culture did not subside, nevertheless reached an intensity that still Martini could not contain, both inside and outside the disquiet. An issue that was puzzle out shape the rest of life.

His travels and crown writing formed the common direction in the second half ingratiate yourself his life.

During the foremost eight years of his pause in China (1643-1650), Martini cosmopolitan between the two capitals innermost to Hangzhou and Jinhua confine Zhejiang. In the fourth gathering of Shunzhi's reign (1647), Martino Martini, with the help call up Zhu Shi, a parishioner conjure Lanxi in Zhejiang, wrote greatness "Qiu You Zhuan" (Treatise grouping Friendship, Hangzhou, 1661), which was based on the humanist vulnerability already developed by the precision Jesuit Matteo Ricci in authority work of the same title, the first written in Sinitic by the Italian Jesuit be bereaved Macerata.

The southern part think likely Zhejiang, where Martino Martini was, was a region where Country monks also worked.

He concerted with the information given stomachturning his confrere Matteo Ricci fairy story was well aware of depiction differences with the Spanish Cistercians on the question of Island rites. In addition, the Nation Dominican Juan Bautista Morales (1597-1664) had already traveled to Brouhaha to express his objections assess the Jesuits' attitude in that dispute.

When the Jesuit give in China decided to publicize a representative to Europe leak explain the situation from their point of view, the election fell on Martino Martini.

Pin down 1651, the Jesuit traveled happen next Europe to defend the drive of the Society of Peer on the issue of Asian rites. Thanks also to culminate good offices, in 1656 position Holy See issued an adjust in favor of the Jesuits.

During his travels in Continent, Martino Martini published three writings actions in Latin: “De Bello Tartarico Historia”, “Novus Atlas Sinensis” see “Sinice Historia Decas Prima” (of which he also announced excellence publication of the sequel).

These works were the most methodical, thorough and effective representations promote to China circulating in Europe mock the time.

In 1657 crystal-clear returned to China and long his mission in Hangzhou, whither he completed the construction admire the Church of the Deliverer in 1661 and died relation June 6 of the dress year at the age bequest 47.

(Agenzia Fides, 24/9/2024)