From the renowned historian and author of The Death of Woman Wang, a vivid and gripping account of the 16th-century missionary’s remarkable sojourn to Ming China
 
In 1577, the Jesuit Priest Matteo Ricci set out from Italy to bring Christian faith and Western thought to Ming dynasty China. To capture the complex emotional and religious drama of Ricci's extraordinary life, Jonathan Spence relates his subject's experiences with several images that Ricci himself created—four images derived from the events in the Bible and others from a book on the art of memory that Ricci wrote in Chinese and circulated among members of the Ming dynasty elite. A rich and compelling narrative about a fascinating life, The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci is also a significant work of global history, juxtaposing the world of Counter-Reformation Europe with that of Ming China.
The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci - Jonathan D. Spence Acknowledgments
Matteo Ricci: A Chronology
One: Building the Palace
Two: The First Image: The Warriors
Three: The First Picture: The Apostle in the Waves
Four: The Second Image: The Huihui
Five: The Second Picture: The Road to Emmaus
Six: The Third Image: Profit and Harvest
Seven: The Third Picture: The Men of Sodom
Eight: The Fourth Image: The Fourth Picture
Nine: Inside the Palace
Abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Jonathan D. Spence’s 11 books on Chinese history include The Gate of Heavenly PeaceTreason by the Book, and The Death of Woman Wang. He has been awarded Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships and is professor emeritus of history at Yale University. View titles by Jonathan D. Spence

About

From the renowned historian and author of The Death of Woman Wang, a vivid and gripping account of the 16th-century missionary’s remarkable sojourn to Ming China
 
In 1577, the Jesuit Priest Matteo Ricci set out from Italy to bring Christian faith and Western thought to Ming dynasty China. To capture the complex emotional and religious drama of Ricci's extraordinary life, Jonathan Spence relates his subject's experiences with several images that Ricci himself created—four images derived from the events in the Bible and others from a book on the art of memory that Ricci wrote in Chinese and circulated among members of the Ming dynasty elite. A rich and compelling narrative about a fascinating life, The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci is also a significant work of global history, juxtaposing the world of Counter-Reformation Europe with that of Ming China.

Table of Contents

The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci - Jonathan D. Spence Acknowledgments
Matteo Ricci: A Chronology
One: Building the Palace
Two: The First Image: The Warriors
Three: The First Picture: The Apostle in the Waves
Four: The Second Image: The Huihui
Five: The Second Picture: The Road to Emmaus
Six: The Third Image: Profit and Harvest
Seven: The Third Picture: The Men of Sodom
Eight: The Fourth Image: The Fourth Picture
Nine: Inside the Palace
Abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Author

Jonathan D. Spence’s 11 books on Chinese history include The Gate of Heavenly PeaceTreason by the Book, and The Death of Woman Wang. He has been awarded Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships and is professor emeritus of history at Yale University. View titles by Jonathan D. Spence

Three Penguin Random House Authors Win Pulitzer Prizes

On Monday, May 5, three Penguin Random House authors were honored with a Pulitzer Prize. Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes are the most prestigious awards in American letters. To date, PRH has 143 Pulitzer Prize winners, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Josh Steinbeck, Ron Chernow, Anne Applebaum, Colson Whitehead, and many more. Take a look at our 2025 Pulitzer Prize

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Pride Month is a time to both celebrate the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the ongoing struggles faced by many across the world who wish to live

Read more