Missions in Vietnam

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Abstract

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Đại Việt (Vietnam) captured the imagination of European commentators. The region seemed to hold unprecedented promise for evangelism, as well as lucrative opportunities for trade. However, missionaries faced a complex political situation in the region, and would have to tread carefully to avoid offending local mores. This chapter explores the history and historiography of the early modern Catholic missions to Vietnam from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. It considers European fantasies and practical projects for the conversion of the region, and how these translated on the ground. Through the lens of the concept of ‘filial piety’ it explores the challenges and opportunities faced by missionaries and converts to implant Catholicism in a local context.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationA Companion to Early Modern Catholic Global Missions
EditorsRonnie Po-Chia Hsia
PublisherBrill
Pages269-302
ISBN (Print)9789004349940
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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