Abstract: Canton Conference (1667-1668) is regarded as an important event in the history of Christianity in China. The Conference was held by missionaries from three religious orders, namely, the Jesuits, Dominicans and Franciscans. Together they tried achieving something common to strive for the prosperity of the China mission. It is true that the background and atmosphere of the Conference was influenced and overwhelmed by the Rites controversy. However, another significant part that the conference covered, in a large portion, dealt with wide pastoral issues in the context of Chinese society. The forty two articles in this Conference demonstrate the open-mindedness and a fairly positive knowledge of an approach to Chinese custom. In addition, some recommendations remain open to further inquiries, in the sense that they were still finding a better way to cope with the indigenous affairs. Analysis of the articles as a whole gives light to various aspects of missionary work at that time beyond the controversial article forty-first.

Appendixes: 4.1 List of the missionaries assembled in Beijing for the imperial inquisition. 4.2 List of the missionaries who were not sent to Canton and remained in Beijing. 4.3 List of the missionaries excluded from the imperial inquisition and Canton exile. 4.4 List of the missionaries who were sent to Canton for detention. 4.5 List of the participants in the Canton Conference. 4.2 Excerpt of the Chinese text “Ordonnances de la sainte eglise” 《聖教規程》