Description: (Italian Priest, Missionary and One of the Founding Figures of Jesuit China Missions)
Matteo Ricci SJ, an Italian Jesuit priest, played a significant role in the Jesuit China missions. Arriving in Macau in 1582, he dedicated himself to missionary work in China. Ricci became fluent in the language and writing system, eventually entering Beijing's Forbidden City in 1601. He worked closely with the Wanli Emperor, contributing to court astronomy and calendrical science. By emphasizing the similarities between Catholicism and Confucianism, Ricci converted notable Chinese figures to Catholicism and collaborated on translating important works into Chinese and Latin.