Chapter Five, The Second Picture: The Road to Emmaus Summary and Analysis

The second picture for Cheng Dayue depicts the story of Christ encountering two disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection. The passage has many hidden meanings, and Ricci cannot explain these intricacies to the Chinese easily, if at all. So he alters the story in order to make it palatable to the Chinese. Many details are left out; the main focus of the picture is three men in intense conversation but who also seem still and frozen. The Chinese will see two men accepting the resurrection of God and the third preparing for His return to heaven.

Ricci is one of seven children in Macerata in the year 1559. The Jesuits in Rome publish their first book in this year as well. They are...