Princely gifts and papal treasures : the Franciscan mission to China and its influence on the art of the West, 1250-1350 / Lauren Arnold.

Includes bibliography (p.201-213) and index.

Contents:
Prologue: The Spring of 1288 -- I. The Franciscan Mission to China: an introduction -- II. Rabban Sauma brings gifts to Rome: 1288 -- III. Beijing 1294-1304: the establishment of the first Latin Christian Church -- IV. Rome, Assisi and Avignon: 1294-1304 -- V. Peregrinantes pro Christi: China 1304-1328 -- VI. Franciscans in Europe: 1304-1338 -- VII. In the far west lived the great Horses of Heaven...China 1328-1348 -- VIII. The end of the Franciscan Mission: the Black Death in Europe 1348-1363 -- IX. Princely gifts and Papal treasures: the artistic legacy of China in Europe -- X. Assessing the Franciscan presence in China: the archaeological and artistic evidence.
Addenda: 1. Cities in China with various spellings. 2. The Yuan dynasty. 3. Royal collectors in Europe.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 201-213) and index.

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The Franciscans had active and prolonged contact with China during the century of the Pax Mongolica (ca. 1250--1350). They established missions in China and carried princely gifts back and forth between the popes in Rome and the Yuan emperors in Beijing. The author documents this extensive medieval contact, and proposes that a significant exchange occurred between the artistic traditions of east and west during this era as well.