The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven (T'ien-chu shih-i) / [by Matteo Ricci] ; Translated with introduction and notes by D. Lancashire and P. Hu Kuo-chen 胡國楨.
Chinese-English edition edited by Edward Malatesta.
Also published: Taipei : Institut Ricci (physical state differs, xviii, 481, [71] p.).
Taipei ed. includes Ricci's Latin summary and Chinese appendix with related articles excerpted from Shenxue lunji 神學論集. Chinese and English on opposite pages, with summary in Latin.

"Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) pioneered the modern cultural and religious encounter between China and Europe. The present volume allows us to read for the first time in English a translation of Ricci’s most famous work of Christian apologetics."

Bibliography: p. 469-478. Includes index.
Title: Tianzhu shiyi 天主實義.

The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven (Tien-chu shih-i) / [By Matteo Ricci] ; Translated with introduction and notes by D. Lancashire and P. Hu Kuo-chen 胡國楨.
Chinese-English edition edited by Edward Malatesta.
Also published: Taipei : Institut Ricci (physical state differs, xviii, 481, [71] p.)
Taipei ed. includes Ricci's Latin summary and Chinese appendix with related articles excerpted from Shenxue lunji 神學論集.
Chinese and English on opposite pages, with summary in Latin.

"Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) pioneered the modern cultural and religious encounter between China and Europe. The present volume allows us to read for the first time in English a translation of Ricci’s most famous work of Christian apologetics."

Bibliography: p. 473-482. Includes index.
Dig.pdf. local access [Ricci-TrueMeaning.pdf]

Editor's preface – Introduction: The life of Matteo ricci – History of the composition and publication of The true meaning of the Lord of Heaven -- The present English translation – Ricci’s viewpoint and the contents of the work – A detailed outline of The true meaning of the Lord of Heaven -- The terminology – Reactions to Ricci’s work – A contemporary evaluation -- The true meaning of the Lord of Heaven : the Chinese text, English translation, and notes -- Appendix : Ricci's Latin summary of The true meaning of the Lord of Heaven.

"For two thousand years explorers, merchants, missionaries, and diplomats have been building bridges between China and the West. In the late sixteenth century, Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit, initiated a more direct encounter between Chinese culture and Western Christianity, which has continued ever since. One of Ricci's most famous works, The true meaning of the Lord of heaven, was written in Chinese in form of a dialogue. In it, Ricci attempted to introduce Chinese literati to some of the fundamental ideas of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Based upon conversations Ricci had with Chinese scholars, this work allows us to get a sense of how he explained to his Chinese friends Western views about the purpose of life, human nature, and the existence of God. This revised bilingual edition of the first translation of Ricci's text into English (St. Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1985) helps us, by means of a substantial introduction and footnotes, to situate Ricci's dialogue in its religious and cultural context.."-- Back cover.

Local access dig.pdf. [Ricci-Meynard-True Meaning.pdf]