Nicolas Standaert Livres

Confession in early modern Europe has been the subject of several studies. But what happened to the confessional practice when it moved to other cultures? This is the major research question of the present book as applied to late Ming and early Qing China. The origin of this research can be traced back to the Handbook of Christianity in Volume One (635-1800) (Leiden 2000) compiled by researchers of the K.U. Leuven, in collaboration with an international team of circa twenty scholars. As a reference work, the Handbook comprehensively presents many different aspects of Christianity in China, including sciences, arts and crafts. But there was one major ritual, which is often considered essential for understanding China. A first step in filling this gap was the organisation of an international workshop on "Chinese and Christian Rituality in Late Imperial China" (Leuven, June 2004). The present volume includes the revised contributions by Eugenio Menegon and Erik Zürcher and a reworked version of an article by Liam Brockey as well as the edition of the primary source he used for his article, a confessional manual composed by Jose Monteiro S.J. (1646-1720). These articles portray from different angles one of the sacramental rituals, viz. that of confession.

Focusing on the intersection of cultures, this book examines the rituals surrounding the death of Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit in China, and highlights the blending of Chinese and European funeral practices. It illustrates how these rites facilitated cross-cultural exchange and understanding during the early 17th century. Through detailed analysis, the author, Nicholas Standaert, a professor of Sinology, reveals the complexities of ritual interactions and their significance in the context of Jesuit missions in China.