It
may be common knowledge for current and former students of The Chinese
University of Hong Kong that the earliest student hostel ever built on campus
is called the Adam Schall Residence. But perhaps the person Johann Adam Schall
von Bell, in honor of whom the hostel was named, is not too familiar a figure
for many, students or otherwise.
Johann
Adam Schall von Bell was a German Jesuit missionary born in Cologne. In 1619,
at the age of 28, he arrived Macau with a few other Jesuit missionaries, planning
to enter China to spread Christianity, only to find themselves stranded in the
Portuguese Settlement, as it was the Chinese policy then to curb foreigners’
entry. So Schall von Bell decided to settle down in Macau and learn Chinese and
continue with his mathematics studies.
A
few years later, in 1622, he unexpectedly got embroiled in Portuguese Macau’s
military defense against an attack by the Dutch Calvinists, which attack was
instigated by trade disputes. The Dutch (i.e. the Dutch East India Company) had
for a long time been jealous of Macau’s lucrative intermediary position on the
China-Japan trade route (silk in exchange for silver) and wanted to capture the
Settlement. Schall von Bell and his fellow Jesuits went up to the citadel to man
cannons that fired on the invading Dutch soldiers, and a shot accidentally hit
an explosive dump near their camp. The defense was victorious and the Dutch
were chased out.
When
news of this reached the Ming Emperor’s ears, he invited Schall von Bell to
Court and asked him to produce cannons for use against the invading Manchus.
But the Jesuit’s skill at weaponry was clearly eclipsed by his knowledge in
astronomy and his work in the calendar reform.
After
the Ming Empire transitioned into the Qing Dynasty, Schall von Bell rose to
prominence as a key adviser in Shunzhi Emperor’s reign. His influence on
Shunzhi and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was profound. After Shunzhi died, Schall
von Bell’s envious Chinese colleagues initiated a depraved false accusation
against him, which led to a death sentence. Although ultimately exonerated, his
prison ordeal took a toll on his already frail health and he died shortly after
regaining freedom. This roller-coaster phase of his presence in China was
nothing short of dramatic and is one of the sub-plots in my upcoming novel.
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