Agenzia Fides

Taipei (Agenzia Fides) - A documentary film on Brother Giuseppe Castiglione (Milan 1688-Beijing 1766), the Jesuit painter at the court of the Chinese emperors, will be produced by Kuangchi Program Service (KPS), the television production studio of the Jesuits in Taipei (Taiwan) and will also be broadcast in mainland China. According to information sent to Fides Agency by the General Curia of the Jesuits, the Kuangchi Program Service has already produced documentaries on Paul Xu Guangqi, a disciple of Matteo Ricci, and Father Adam Schall, who had spikes of over 200 million viewers. Through the media, the Chinese perceive the missionaries reasons of the personalities and their contribution to the cultural and scientific development of China. The provisional title is "Giuseppe Castiglione in China, imperial painter, humble servant." A repeated and varied airing on China Central TV Equipment (CCTV) and other broadcasters in mainland China is expected. "While the majority of the Chinese - says Fr Jerry Martinson S.J., vice-president of KPS - know the names of Ricci, Xu and Shall, and can have a vague idea of their role in Chinese history, few people are aware of their religious motivations. Documentaries instead want to give a true and, as far as possible, complete picture of the best examples of the initial missionary activity of Jesuits in China. We believe that these productions have been successful in correcting and improving the perception that the majority of the Chinese have of the Catholic missionary activity." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 21/12/2012)