Ajuda Library
With Macao as a bridge, the relations between China and Portugal have lasted for over four centuries and formed one of the longest and most significant chapters of European presence in Asia. We have enthusiastically accepted the invitation from the Macao Museum of Art to organise the exhibition Reflections of Maritime Connections: 16th – 19th Century Sino-Portuguese Cultural Exchange, which strengthens cooperation between our institutions and, therefore, between our countries.
From the 16th century onwards, the great Portuguese sea voyages, spurred by the search for new trade routes, inaugurated a crucial period of contact between the West and the East, marking the beginning of maritime connections between Portugal and China. In 1513, Jorge Álvares officially became the first European to arrive in China by sea. From 1553 onwards, the Portuguese established a permanent trading post in Macao, which became a gateway into the Chinese Empire.
Trade was a decisive factor in establishing these early relations. Portugal became a privileged intermediary in the China trade, exporting silk and tea to Europe while introducing European products and technical skills to China, including firearms, mechanical clocks, and navigation techniques. This exchange was enriched by the activities of Jesuit missionaries, who acted as mediators between the Imperial Court and the Kingdom of Portugal. Figures such as Matteo Ricci played a crucial role in this intercultural dialogue by embracing the local language, clothing, and philosophy, and translating European works into Chinese and vice versa.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Macao consolidated as a major centre of Sino-Portuguese coexistence, with diverse languages, beliefs, and social practices coexisting side by side. The city’s architecture reflects this dichotomy, with baroque churches adjacent to Buddhist and Taoist temples, and street decorations showcasing influences from both sides of the world. Some major examples include the A-Ma Temple, the São Lourenço Church, the Lin Fong Temple, the Guia Fortress and Chapel, the Madre de Deus College (Ruins of St. Paul), which illustrate the diverse religious and social functions.
During this period, several diplomatic missions took place, with varying degrees of success, to reinforce the ties between Portugal and China. On the part of Portugal, the most notable missions were those led by Manuel de Saldanha (1670), Bento Pereira da Silva (1678), Alexandre Metelo (1727), and Pacheco de Sampaio (1753). On its part, China sent its first mission in 1721, led by Father António de Magalhães, who had been appointed by Emperor Kangxi in 1720 as official representative of the Imperial Court to Portugal and the Vatican.
As the successor to the Royal Library, the Ajuda Library houses a vast collection of valuable testimonies of Sino-Portuguese relations, particularly the ‘Great Yellow Scroll’, which is remarkable for its diplomatic significance, as well as its uniqueness and beauty.
We believe that this partnership will be successful and significantly contribute to the promotion of culture and international exchange, thus further reinforcing our trust in future cooperation.
Cristina Pinto Basto
Head of Ajuda Library