The Travels of Marco Polo · Character
Matteo Ricci
Also known as Ricci, Father Matteo, Matteo
- Minor
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 99
Matteo Ricci comes across as a patient observer, alert to the unexpected kinship between distant traditions and unfamiliar instruments. There is a quiet curiosity about him, the kind that makes the world feel larger rather than less strange.
- Gender
- male
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 99
- Books
- 1
Matteo Ricci appears as a Jesuit missionary whose observations include the ancient astronomical instruments at Nanking and similar devices at Peking. The account gives no fuller personal history or relationships, presenting him chiefly as a learned traveler and witness to the movement of knowledge across cultures.
Description
The text identifies Matteo Ricci as a Jesuit missionary but does not describe his face, complexion, build, age, hair, or eyes. His clothing may be rendered as understated Jesuit clerical dress appropriate to his period, with no unsupported colors or accessories. His presence is best conveyed through a measured, scholarly attentiveness rather than invented physical distinctions.
Story so far
BOOK 1The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1
Appearances
Meet Matteo Ricci in Bookworm
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