Ad Maiorem Dei (Et Fransia) Gloria. The Lasting Impact of French Missionaries in China

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2017 in the subject History - Asia, grade: 95.0, Westminster College, language: English, abstract: As early as the mid-17th century, Protestant and Catholic/Jesuit missionaries negotiated their way into the secluded empire of China. These first missionaries were largely Portuguese and predominantly Roman Catholic. During this age, many European Empires were beginning to transition from colonial expansion via conversion and missionary work to a more commercial approach. This thesis proposes to answer the following questions: Why and how was French missionary work so important to international relations between France and China? In what ways did this missionary work alter Chinese society? Did the French missionaries pave the way for China’s future as a republic, and if so-how? What were the differences between France’s Catholic missionaries and France’s Protestant missionaries in China? Additionally, how might this missionary work compare to other notable examples, such as Spain’s missionary work in South and Central America? It is hoped that this thesis will be able to answer these questions, as well as any others that reveal themselves over the course of study.