In April of the tenth year of Wanli, this date appeared repeatedly in the general textbooks of later generations. Marked by the emperor's reception of the Portuguese envoy, the Ming Dynasty, the oldest empire, once again set its sights on the ocean, which occupies 71% of the planet; marked by the "Yingtai Selection Conference", this empire set off a "change in history" Ideological renaissance."
First, the anxious Portuguese envoy who was waiting in the capital was allowed to meet the Ming Emperor Zhu Yijun in Bailu Palace in Xiyuan.
Because Portugal was not a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, the Christian mission was also an informal official delegation, and the Ministry of Rites also took great pains in the interview etiquette. In the end, Yang Junmin, the Minister of Rites, came up with an idea that was adopted: Hanshan, the president of the Religious Association, as a representative of the Ming Dynasty’s religious circles and the emperor, greeted the Portuguese Christian mission outside the gate of Bailu Palace, and the two sides met with their respective religious etiquette— - Han Shan put his hands together and Fan Li'an made the sign of the cross on his chest.
After both parties entered the palace, they stood facing each other from east to west. At that time, the official announced the arrival of His Majesty the Emperor. The Emperor came out from the back of the palace and stood behind the throne. Everyone bowed and bowed. The Emperor gave him a flat body and everyone thanked him. He gave him a seat and tea and everyone thanked him. The ceremony was completed.
Tu Long, the general manager of Honglu Temple, told Fan Li'an about this plan, and everyone in the envoy looked at each other in shock. Luo Mingjian disagreed: "Our teachings do not allow us to kneel down to any god or person other than the only true God."
Tu Long said "Oh", looked at them with a half-smile, and asked: "Are you sure you don't want to kneel down and worship His Majesty?"
Matteo Ricci said to Valiant in Portuguese: "As soon as Peter entered, Cornelius greeted him. He fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter pulled him and said, 'Get up, I am also a human being.' St. Peter still did this. ..."
Ines interrupted: "Your Excellency Fan Li'an, I think it's best for us to follow the rules of the Ming Dynasty. I heard that Buddhists also kneel to worship the emperor, and it's okay for us missionaries to kneel down." Matteo Ricci listened. With these words, Ines glared at him.
Fan Li'an hesitated for a long time and tentatively said to Tu Long: "Well...can you please allow us to respect our beliefs -"
Tu Long didn't wait for him to finish, and sneered: "Everyone, we Chinese believe that His Majesty the Emperor is the 'Son of Heaven', the lord of 'Heaven, Earth, Man, and God'. Apart from Heaven, His Majesty the Emperor is the greatest! If you Religion cannot resolve the question of who is more noble, your God or His Majesty the Emperor - just go home."
Luo Mingjian listened on the sidelines, and before Fan Li'an could speak, he shouted: "Sir, I think this etiquette is not a problem for us!" After saying this, sweat broke out on his forehead, and he made the sign of the cross on his chest.
Seeing Luo Mingjian's face pale, Fan Li'an took over the conversation and said: "Master Tu, we are willing to kneel before His Majesty the Emperor out of our respect for the tradition of your country. But please be sure to tell your Majesty that this is not the etiquette that Christians should have. "
When Tu Long heard that they had surrendered, he also softened his tone and came up with an idea: "I don't think you need to dwell on this. Chinese Buddhists did not worship the emperor before. But they solved this problem by saying 'the emperor is the living Buddha'."
When Matteo Ricci heard what the interpreter said, his lips trembled with fear. Make the sign of the cross on your chest. Although Fan Li'an knew that Tu Long had good intentions, he could only smile bitterly after hearing his idea, because this was completely unfeasible in the Catholic Church. There is only one "living Buddha" in Christianity, and that is Jesus the Son.
In any case, once the etiquette issue was resolved, the biggest obstacle to meeting the emperor was lifted. After repeated etiquette drills, the Ministry of Rites informed the mission that on the 26th of this month, Fan Li'an, Luo Mingjian, Matteo Ricci and Ines would have the honor of meeting the emperor.
On the night of the 25th, Fan Li'an, who was excited about meeting the emperor, could not fall asleep until midnight, so he could only go out for a walk in the garden.
The decoration of the foreign guest hotel is a typical Chinese garden. Although it is late at night, the glass oil lamps hanging everywhere decorate the garden beautifully. Fan Li'an walked half a circle among the pavilions and pavilions, and suddenly found that Matteo Ricci was also in the garden. He was sitting on a wicker chair with his head bowed, as if praying.
Fan Li'an approached lightly, and sure enough he heard him confessing: "Loving Heavenly Father... you redeemed me, and you chose me when I was still a sinner. But the sin in my heart has always been there. Entangled in me, please cleanse my heart with your precious blood, and please let the Holy Spirit be with me and help me. Allow me to understand your truth and obey your will. When I am rebellious and unwilling Please discipline me as I submit. May your will be done in me...Lord, Lord..."
He prayed repeatedly, and his voice was full of pain, which made Fan Li'an's eyes well up with tears. Only then did Fan Li'an realize that in the mind of Matteo Ricci, a young missionary, tomorrow's violation of doctrine would be a heavy pressure on his faith, allowing him to experience for the first time the pain that must be experienced in the process of missionary work.
He listened quietly for a while. In the devout prayers of Matteo Ricci, the excitement of meeting the emperor gradually faded, and a holy and sacred feeling rose from his heart, which in turn gave him an almost divine feeling. Awe-inspiring tranquility.
After a long time, he coughed slightly, interrupting Ricci's prayer. After Matteo Ricci greeted him, Fan Li'an said with a smile: "Dear Father Matteo Ricci, our eyes and hearts were fascinated by the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty along the way, and we lacked communication. This is my mistake. Is there anything you want to tell me?"
Matteo Ricci hesitated for a moment, and as if he had made up his mind, he picked up a sixteen-page booklet from the wicker chair.
He handed it to Fan Li'an and said: "Father Fan Li'an, I have been learning Chinese these days. I should have some talent in language and learn it very quickly. But, today I saw this booklet."
Fan Li'an took the book and walked a few steps to the brightly lit place next to it. Then he saw the title in simplified official script on the book: "Nature (Volume 1)".
He opened it casually, and then his brows tightened, as if a bright light pierced his eyes: Chapter 1 - The world we live in. At the bottom is a model of the solar system with six planets.
Fan Li'an's lips also trembled, and he said in a trembling voice: "Did Giordano Bruno's heretical doctrine spread to China?"
Matteo Ricci whispered: "No, the orbit drawn by the Chinese is elliptical. They have proved mathematically that the moon is a satellite of the earth. If you turn back, there is a picture of the moon with bumps on the next page. "
Fan Li'an swallowed, feeling that the spring night in Beijing seemed to be hotter than he had imagined, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to comfort the young missionary. I just felt that under the illumination of the oil lamp, the garden that was so beautiful just now was full of shadows with snarling teeth and claws everywhere. A gentle breeze blew by, and the rustling of the leaves sounded like the whisper of a devil.
Then his firm will made him straighten his waist. He wiped his sweat and let out another long breath. He whispered: "Matteo Ricci, 'I caused those who did not seek me to find me; those who did not visit me, I revealed myself to them.' What you see is what the Lord lets you see; what you tell me is The Lord let me know.”
Matteo Ricci raised his lowered head, his eyes shining with admiration, looking at this pioneer who had been preaching in the East for nearly twenty years. Listen to him continue: "'According to His own good purpose, He made known to us the mystery of His will, in order that in the fullness of time all things in heaven and on earth might be gathered together in Christ, according to His plan. one.'"
Matteo Ricci murmured: "Ephesians Chapter 1, verse 9." Fan Li'an nodded.
He added: "Matteo Ricci, how can we speculate on God? How can we know that what we insist on is actually an unbreakable truth? What missionaries pursue is to let those who have not sought and seen Christ hear the Lord's message. The Gospel, this is what we are here for. Do you understand, my son?"
Matteo Ricci's eyes were moist, and Fan Li'an hugged him and kissed his forehead. "It's too late. We should all go to bed. Tomorrow - tomorrow is the day arranged by the Lord. Go."
When Matteo Ricci walked away, Fan Li'an looked at the shadows in the garden and murmured in a low voice: "We also have an inheritance in Him. This is the One who works all things according to the counsel of His will and has been predestined according to His will." .”
...
On April 26, the tenth year of Wanli, the four heads of the Portuguese mission entered Xiyuan in a carriage under the guidance of the officials of Honglu Temple.
There is no need to elaborate on the dazzling experience along the way. After entering Bailu Palace, the buildings and ceremonial guards that showed the majesty of heaven made the four of them feel even more insignificant as "human beings". Matteo Ricci looked at the glittering golden palace in front of him and thought to himself: "Although the person living here is not Jesus, he must be someone like King Solomon."
...
"King Solomon" is a young man with a strong body but a somewhat thin face. He had a short beard on his lips and a smooth shave on his chin. He was different from the Ming people the mission had seen.
The emperor was also holding a three-year-old boy in his arms. The child was as handsome as jade. At this time, he was staring at several Portuguese people with his dark eyes.
After the ceremony was completed, the emperor granted everyone a life. Shen Shixing, the Minister of Etiquette who accompanied him, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Fan Li'an, the envoy of the Roman Church in Europe, and others are here to pay homage to the Holy See."
Emperor Yuyin replied: "That's all, the Yi people don't understand Chinese etiquette, so they don't have to be polite."
Shen Shixing bowed and accepted the order: "Yes. Thank you."
According to the previous drill procedures, everyone in the envoy bowed five times and kowtowed three times to express gratitude; the emperor called Ping Shen, gave him a seat and tea; everyone in the envoy still bowed five times and kowtowed three times to express gratitude.
After three bows, the ceremony is completed. Fan Li'an and others had a layer of sweat on their foreheads. Before Zhu Yijun could say anything, Prince Luo in his arms suddenly touched Zhu Yijun's cheek and asked, "Father, are you wearing different clothes?"
Zhu Yijun ignored the people in the envoy, Wen Yan held Prince Luo's hand and said, "Yes. My father told you. This world is a big place, there are many countries, and their people dress and speak differently from us. They are Portuguese and they wear clothes like this.”
The king of Luo County was only four years old in his imaginary age and only two and a half years old in his first year. Hearing this, I only seem to understand. Fan Li'an was very surprised when he saw the emperor holding the child out to receive him. This shows that the ceremonial nature of this meeting is not very heavy, and it is likely that the emperor will talk to them about some more in-depth topics.
But the emperor did not speak. They could only smile and watch this scene, with expressions of joy and admiration on their faces.
When Zhu Yijun raised his head and said: "It's not easy for the envoy to come from afar, you all have worked hard."
Only then could Fan Li'an answer. He first thanked the emperor in an exaggerated tone for taking the time to meet him, which was a great honor for the mission; then he expressed his praise for the richness and civilization of the Ming Empire in an extremely exaggerated tone - Shen Shixing was listening. , a sense of pride arises in my heart.
The emperor listened with a smile, occasionally lowering his head to coax Prince Luo. Fan Li'an finished his praise and asked with a smile: "Your Majesty, is this the King of Luo County?"
Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile: "Yes." After speaking, he raised the child and said: "He is my eldest son. In the future, he will become the master of all nations in the world." King Luo Jun didn't know why, because Zhu Yijun was lifting him, he stretched out his hands to kick his legs. Let out a giggle.
Shen Shixing, who accompanied the emperor, trembled - this was the first time the emperor made a political statement that he would establish Prince Luo as crown prince after his birth. But why did the emperor come out with Prince Luo in his arms when receiving the Portuguese envoy, and why did he make a declaration? His mind was racing, but he couldn't find the answer for a while.
