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  2013, Vol. 43 Issue (3): 116-124    DOI: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-942X.2012.02.241
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Matthoeus Ricci's Change of Clothing and Alessandro Valignano's Cultural Accommodation Policy Revisited
Qi Yinping He Xianyue

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Abstract  

Matthoeus Riccis change of clothing from the Buddhist robe to the literatis gown has been the focus of scholars attention at home and abroad, as it is regarded as a landmark event with significant symbolic meaning in the history of the cultural communication between China and the West. Taking a new and wider perspective, the authors attempt to add the following to the description of the event:  First of all, Matthoeus Ricci and other Jesuits had changed their images by changing the style of clothing for more than once. As a matter of fact, shortly after arriving at Mainland China, Michele Ruggieri, S. J. had accepted the local officials advice and put on the Buddhist robe. The pressures from the social environment and survival needs played a decisive role in the Jesuits decision. Secondly, Matthoeus Riccis changes of clothing should not be regarded as a creative action but a borrowed idea from other Jesuits in Japan. In that period, the church in China was subordinated to the church in Japan, so similar arguments about the change of clothing in Japan paved the way for Matthoeus Riccis action in China. In a sense, the change of clothing of the Jesuits and the arguments surrounding that issue were examples of the common conflicts between different religions and cultures. Thirdly, Mattheous Riccis decision to change their clothes into literatis gown 12 years after his arrival in China was not only the result of the internal conflicts surrounding the missionary polices among the different religious orders, but also of the covert personal connections and conflicts among the highranking Jesuits. The complex personal connections and feelings made the decision for the change of clothing take on implications beyond that of a simple missionary policy. Fourthly, among all the elments mentioned above, the key figure was Alessandro Valignano, S. J., the Visitor of Missions and the orders Superior of the Society of Jesus in the Far East, who directly issued the instruction for the change of clothing of Mattheous Ricci and other Jesuits, making it the manifestation and model of his Cultural Accommodation Policy. Finally, numerous evidences show that Mattheous Riccis decision to wear the literatis gown was not intended as an acceptance of or submission to the traditional culture of China, but to facilitate his association with Chinese literati and communication with the Chinese officials. In this case, the change of clothing was in essence some kind of successful image building, and served as a kind of passport or periapt for the Jesuits to do missionary work in China. It is this preaching method which was elaborated on by scholars for centuries as ″Blending and Supplementing Confucianism.″ However, this beautiful prospect was not the original idea of Mattheous Ricci and it never came true, remaining just an unrealizable myth.

Key wordsMatthoeus Ricci      Alessandro Valignano      change of clothing      Cultural Accommodation Policy     
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Cite this article:   
Qi Yinping He Xianyue. Matthoeus Ricci's Change of Clothing and Alessandro Valignano's Cultural Accommodation Policy Revisited[J]. , 2013, 43(3): 116-124.
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https://www.zjujournals.com/soc/EN/10.3785/j.issn.1008-942X.2012.02.241     OR     https://www.zjujournals.com/soc/EN/Y2013/V43/I3/116
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