‘A window into perspective’- How three European missionaries viewed the fall of the Ming empire and the rise of the Qing dynasty

A new analysis of three travel writings offers a window into one of the most important moments in Chinese history

But it is more valuable for the European perspective of events, rather than strictly factual Chinese history

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A new paper details the stories of three European missionaries who saw the fall of the Ming empire firsthand. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:00pm, 5 Nov 2022Updated: 11:55am, 6 Nov 2022

It was one of the most important moments in Chinese history, when much of the 17th century was defined by war between the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and the Manchus, who in 1636 would officially become the Qing dynasty, China’s final imperial era.

The Manchu conquest would last for decades, and it would be inaccurate to say the Qing empire had gained control of China in 1636, with much of the south still under Ming rule for the following years.

During this transformative time, three European Christian missionaries living in China wrote about the transition of empires, offering both a glimpse into China and, probably more usefully, insights into how 17th-century Europeans viewed the Middle Kingdom.

“The best way to look at travel writing is as a ‘window into perspective’. The books show the reader some facts, but it depends on who wrote it and the circumstance under which it was written. Each writer will be stronger or weaker about certain events,” said Georg Schindler, a PhD candidate from the Ningbo campus of Nottingham University, who just published an article about the subject in the academic book Travel Writings on Asia.

Martino Martini was a major European presence in China during the 17th century. Photo: Wikipedia

The research focuses on three main characters: Martino Martini, a Jesuit from what would become Italy; Johann Adam Schall von Bell, from today’s Germany; and Domingo Navarrete, a Spaniard.