Fr. de Rada came to the Philippines as a missionary in the early 1560s. In light of the Spanish interest in China, he traveled there in 1575 to observe the local customs, summarizing his findings in his work "Relaçion verdadera de las cosas del Reyno de Taibin". A man of great erudition, he collected a number of Chinese books on a variety of topics ranging from medicine to mathematics to religion to better understand the ideas of the people in the Celestial Empire. Some researchers consider his journey the first scientific exploration of China by a European.
Fr. de Rada showed himself open-minded towards societal norms in China, permitting his delegation to do the "kowtow" prostration before the viceregent. He argued that such a sign of respect could contribute to the conversion of this great empire, "which the demon held in its power".
There are some claims on the internet that he proposed the armed conquest of China, but I have found no source to corroborate this. His goals appear to have been strictly missionary.
To celebrate the election of our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, I plan to write more extensively about the Augustinian missions in China (and possibly beyond) soon.
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