In Ming China, foreigners were barred from entry—until Matteo Ricci found another way in.

Edwin Kong brings to life the extraordinary journey of Matteo Ricci, the Italian Jesuit whose daring mission to China reshaped the course of East-West relations. Sent by the Pope in the late sixteenth century to convert the Chinese Emperor, Ricci faced an impenetrable barrier—Ming Dynasty China was closed to foreigners. But armed with knowledge and an unmatched mastery of memory techniques, he found another way in.

Disguised as a Buddhist monk, Ricci captivated scholars, officials, and eventually the imperial court, introducing Western science while immersing himself in Chinese culture. His thirty-year odyssey from rural villages to the heart of the Forbidden City proved that engagement, rather than conquest, could bridge civilizations.

Told in the form of a screenplay, Cross and Dragon is a gripping historical drama with urgent contemporary resonance, exploring the power of faith and cultural exchange in the face of division.

Edwin Kong is an international content developer for film, television, and publishing. A Hong Kong native, he has produced critically acclaimed documentaries, including Rising Sun, on the Sino-Japanese War. In the mid-1980s, he founded Hong Kong’s first art cinema and played a key role in launching the city’s inaugural cable television company. Currently, he operates a publishing joint venture with Japan’s Shogakukan Inc. and Peace Publishing House in Beijing, with recent projects including an illustrated history of Neolithic China.

2 Foreword
4 Introduction
6 The Story
8 Historical Settings
16 Main Characters
27 Part I: Leaving Home
51 Part II: Building the Church
125 Part III: Fall and Rise
153 Part IV: Becoming a Mandarin
235 Part V: Converting the Emperor
302 Postscript
304 Illustrations
305 Acknowledgements