Friday
2006-09-08
Should have been Sunday September 10,
the day Ricci arrived in Zhaoqing in 1583....hence date on new plaque = 2006-09-10....
but ceremony was brought forward because main guest(s)
had another engagement on Sunday
Opening
ceremony of Matteo Ricci Exhibition (in this China-Italy Year)
at Zhaoqing's historic Hung Lau building.
The Exhibition is nothing short of breath-taking....details and drawings never
seen before....occupying every space of Hung Lau's two floors.
Congratulations indeed to main organizer Professor Xiao Jain Ling,
Director of Zhaoqing Musuem.
After this
ceremony, guests went to site where Ricci lived, next to tower on river,
for unveiling of new plaque commemorating Ricci
Plan is for
this whole exhibition to be re-located to this site, when site is redeveloped in
coming years, when funding is available. Site includes residence/temple of
Governor/chief Mandarin in Ricci's time (photo here of inside this
building....wooden frame is original....Ricci would have visited here....bricks
added later)
