1613: Father Giulio Aleni (艾儒略)
Confucius of Europe
Father Giulio Aleni 艾儒略神父 [Zane Archives]
Giulio Aleni (艾儒略, 1582–1649) was an Italian Jesuit and Hebrew scholar. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1600 and was sent to China in 1610. He excelled in Mathematics and Theology and, above all, was an expert in cosmography.
Father Aleni adapted his clothing style and mannerisms to fit the local Han Chinese when he was in China. One of his most well-known works includes The Origin of Ten-thousand Things (万物真原), which was published in Chinese.
Father Aleni also continued the legacy of earlier Jesuit missionaries, producing eight rolls of the Record of Foreign Lands (职方外记), which depicted the geography of land beyond the Chinese Empire. It became the first global atlas available in Chinese.
Crucially, Father Aleni also wrote a biography on the life and journey of Father Ricci (利玛窦, 1552–1610).
These works, and more, contributed to him becoming known in China as the Confucius of Europe (欧洲孔夫子), a title not to be taken lightly.
First Jesuit to visit Kaifeng
In 1613, as per the Vatican’s (梵蒂冈) requests, Father Aleni visited Kaifeng. He was the very first Jesuit to call on this long-isolated Jewish diaspora. The Vatican hoped that Father Aleni's command of Hebrew would allow him to conduct far more in-depth research on the ancient scriptures kept in the Kaifeng Jewish synagogue.
Received warm welcome on arrival
For many years, the Great Ming's government had been sceptical towards foreigners due to foreign rule and imperialism in the preceding dynasty. Therefore, the Kaifeng Jewish community was wholly cut off from the international Jewish community for at least a century; this means a halt in all forms of communications and interactions. As a result, several generations of Kaifeng Jews never encountered Jews outside of their own city.
Since Father Aleni knew Hebrew well — even better than the Kaifeng Jewish community's rabbi — the congregation initially assumed he was Jewish. They were, therefore, ecstatic to learn more about their religion and potentially get the opportunity to clarify certain confusing passages in their own scriptures.
Father Aleni received a warm and wholehearted welcome and was invited into the synagogue cordially.
Request to see the Torah was denied
When Father Aleni requested to see the Torah, he was swiftly rejected. The rabbi refused even to draw back the curtain that surrounded their Holy Scrolls. Father Aleni altered his request to get one quick glimpse but was once again denied.
Father Aleni experience was in direct contrast to those of the two representatives sent by Father Ricci (利玛窦, 1552–1610) only six years prior. In fact, Father Ricci's representatives were granted permission not only to see the Torah but to copy the beginning and end portions of all five Books of Moses.
The catalyst for the community’s sudden change in attitude is unknown.
Some scholars have speculated that the old rabbi who interacted with Father Ricci had passed away within those six years. As a result, the new leaders of the community took a more sceptical approach when dealing with outsiders.
Meanwhile, others theorise that Father Aleni might have offered to buy portions of the Kaifeng Pentateuch, and, upon this request, the congregation's leaders quickly changed their opinion of him and began to treat him with more scepticism.
Left behind no writing regarding the visit
Father Aleni did not document his trip to Kaifeng.
Trip details captured by Father Semedo
In 1642, Father Alvare de Semedo (曾德昭) documented Father Aleni’s experience in Kaifeng and published the book, Chronicles of Great China (中华大帝国史).