Giulio Alenio

Background

He was born in 1582 in Leno near Brescia in Italy, at the time part of the Republic of Venice.

Career

In 1610, he was sent as a missionary to China. While waiting at Macau for a favorable opportunity to enter the country he taught mathematics to local scholars and published his "Observation sur l'éclipse de lune du 8 Novembre 1612, faite a Macao" (Mémoires de l'Acad. des Sciences, VII, 706. )

He adopted the dress and manners of the country, was the first Christian missionary in Jiangxi, and built several churches in Fujian. One of his converts, a scholar name Li Jiubiao, recorded Aleni's responses to the questions and speculations of his parishioners and compiled them into a journal.

Achievements

• Giulio Aleni was the first Christian missionary in Jiangxi who built several churches in Fujian.

Works

More photos

• book

  • "Vintage Poster - Kunyu Wanguo Quantu by Matteo Ricci Plate 1-3 - 24""x22"""

Membership

He became a member of the Society of Jesus in 1600.

References

• “Scholar from the West” Giulio Aleni S.J. (1582–1649) and the Dialogue between Christianity and China (Monumenta Serica Monograph Series)
• La Cina nella Cartografia da Tolomeo al XVII Secolo. I Mappamondi di Matteo Ricci e Giulio Aleni.
• Un solo cielo: Giulio Aleni S.J. (1582-1649) : geografia, arte, scienza, religione dall'Europa alla Cina (Italian Edition)