A red poster placed outside his residence in Wenzhou saved Martino Martini from Qing dynasty troops, signaling his identity as a western scholar rather than a political combatant. This tactical maneuver allowed the Jesuit missionary to continue his research in China, documenting the empire's vast geography and history while navigating the chaotic transition between the Ming and Qing regimes.
Academic Foundations and Missionary Appointment
Born in Trento in 1614, Martini completed his secondary education before entering the Society of Jesus in 1631. His formal training included classical literature and philosophy at the Roman College, followed by intensive studies in astronomy and mathematics under Athanasius Kircher. After obtaining approval from Superior General Mutius Vitelleschi, he traveled to Portugal for theological training and received ordination in Lisbon in 1639.
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Arriving in Macau in 1642, Martini mastered the Chinese language before settling in Hangzhou in 1643. His tenure in the country involved extensive travel through seven Chinese provinces, including visits to Beijing and the Great Wall. Following the collapse of the Ming Dynasty in 1644, Martini remained in the region, initially working with the Southern Ming administration before securing his position under the new Qing rulers through strategic displays of European scientific instruments.
European Cartography and Intellectual Diplomacy
In 1651, Martini departed for Rome as a delegate for the Jesuit mission, embarking on a protracted journey through the Philippines, Norway, and various European hubs. During his travels, he collaborated with scholars like Jacobus Golius in Leyden to confirm that China and the fabled Cathay were geographically identical. He successfully lobbied the Holy Office in 1656 to permit the Chinese Rites, a controversial practice allowing Christian converts to maintain ancestral veneration.
Final Years in Hangzhou
Returning to China in 1658, Martini resumed his pastoral duties in Hangzhou. Between 1659 and 1661, he oversaw the construction of a prominent three-nave church, which was noted for its aesthetic significance within the region. He died in 1661 at the age of 47, shortly after completing the structure. While his death is attributed to cholera, historical accounts also note that complications from a rhubarb overdose may have contributed to his final illness.
Fast facts
- Born: 1614, Trento
- Died: 1661, Hangzhou
- Occupations: Missionary, historian, geographer, cartographer
- Primary Religion: Catholicism
- Languages known: Latin, Italian, Chinese
- Known travel regions: India, Java, Sumatra, Philippines, South Africa
- Notable encounter: Eusebio Kino (cousin)
- Significant achievement: Obtained 1656 papal decree favoring Jesuit missionary methods
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the poster Martini displayed in Wenzhou?
It identified him as a doctor of divine law from the West, which persuaded Qing commanders to protect his mission rather than treat him as an enemy.
How did Martini confirm China and Cathay were the same place?
He compared calendar and time-keeping terminology learned in China with descriptions found in Persian astronomical texts, finding them to be an exact match.
Achievements
- Recorded as cartographer, historian and writer
