Mediating Humanism and Scholasticism in Longobardo’s ‘Resposta Breve’ and Ricci’s Reading of Confucianism

Author:

Canaris, Daniel

Format:

Journal Article

Year:

2021

Journal Title:

Renaissance Quarterly

Volume:

74

Issue:

2

Language:

English

Abstract:

The “Resposta breve” (Brief response, 1623–24) by Niccolò Longobardo was one of the most controversial documents ever penned in the Jesuit China mission. Longobardo criticized the use of indigenous Chinese vocabulary by Matteo Ricci to express Christian concepts as a perilous accommodation to diabolical monism. This article proposes a close reading of how Longobardo employed Scholastic, humanist, and Chinese sources to critique Ricci's disregard for the neo-Confucian interpreters in his reading of ancient Confucianism. It argues that Longobardo's polemic with Ricci was not theological in nature but reflected his distrust of philology in reconstructing the original meaning of ancient texts.

Who (Jesuits):

Ricci, Matteo, 1552–1610

Longobardo, Nicolò, 1565 (or 1559)–1655 (or 1664)

What (Subjects):

Controversies -- Confucianism

Philosophy -- Scholasticism

Where (Locations):

Asia -- China

When (Centuries):

17th century

16th century

Publisher URL:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/renaissance-quarterly/article/abs/mediating-humanism-and-scholasticism-in-longobardos-resposta-breve-and-riccis-reading-of-confucianism/A5B427B4666065A4D2052EE894867B6D

Page Range:

498-527

ISSN:

1935-0236

0034-4338

DOI:

10.1017/rqx.2021.4