RICCI, MATTED, a celebrated Italian, founder of the Jesuit missions to China, was horn at Macerata., in the marches of Ancona, Cet. 6, 1552; and after studying law at Rome. entered the society of Jesus in 1571. Six years later he accompanied to India pere Valistnan, " inspector-general of the eastern missions." On account of his fine com bination of zeal and tact. he was chosen by his superior to introduce a knowlede.e of the Christian religion into China, and after preparing himself for the arduous undertak ing by a study of the Chinese language at thePortugnese settlement of Macao, he endeav ored to effect an entrance into the empire. But his first efforts were vain, and it was not till 15S3 that the Jesuit fathers obtained permission to settle at Tehao-king-fu. Ricci quickly sew that it was hopeless to attempt the conversion of the Chinese except by acconnnodating himself to their intellectual tastes and beliefs, as far as the principles of his religion permitted. Aware of the value which the ruling class—the mandarins— attached to literary skill, he executed and published a Chinese Map of the World, and also a little Catechism, in which he set forth only such nortions of Christianity as embody the general principles of morality. These two productions won Ricci a high reputation among the Chinese literati; the most illustrious mandarins came to visit him, and expressed their esteem for his character and talents. In 1595 he boldly resolved to go to Pekin, believing that lie could accomplish far more as a religious propagandist in the metropolis than elsewhere. Having obtained permission from his superiors to assume the dress of a Chinese scholar, he set out in the train of a mandarin, who did not allow him, however, to proceed further than Nankin. Expelled thence, he was obliged to return
homeward; but at Nan-tchang-fu, the indomitable and adroit priest composed two treat ises, entitled the Art (f 3/canmf,and a bialogac oh Miendship, in imitation of which so pleased the taste of the Chinese that they ranked them along with their most esteemed books, and the fortunate author was allowed to proceed north. He reached Pekin. and although lie could not obtain an interview with the sovereign, he was permitted to fix his residence fit Nankin, the second city in the empire, where his fame as a scholar increased from day to day. In 1600 lie and his companions were allowed to settle at Pekin, and even to build a church. Ile spent the remainder of his life in teaching mathematics and other sciences, in writing works of a secular as well as a religious kind, and in using his great influence with the king, the court, and the learned classes gen erally to obtain a favorable attention to the claims of that religion which he represented. Ricci made several striking conversions, and through his zeal missionary establish ments were set up in the principal cities of China. He died May 11, 1610. and was universally mourned. In the annals of the Chinese empire he is designated some times Li-ma-teen, and sometimes Si-thai. The most important (for us) of his numerous writings, are his memoirs, published by pore Trigau]t, under the title of De Chrbstiana Erpeditione aped Sinus euseepta ab Societate Jest, ex M. _Medi Cammentarils Librz V. (Augsb. 1615; Lyons, 1616), which contains a vast number of valuable observations on the geography and history of China. The family of Ricci possess 66 interesting letters of the great missionary.