Reminiscences of a Friar in China: the Letter and Tombstone of Andrea da Perugia

The topic of relations and exchanges between the West and the East has recently gained increasing significance and interest, leading to ongoing research. In medieval history, however, interest has remained limited to a few documents, such as the travel accounts of Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, Odorico da Pordenone, William of Rubruck, and, of course, Marco Polo’s Il Milione. Other histories and documents, however, have not received the same attention. A prime example is the letter sent from China to Europe in 1326 by Andrea da Perugia, a minor friar and bishop of Zaiton, and his tombstone discovered in 1946. This paper therefore analyses the letter sent by the friar to the Father Guardian of the convent of San Francesco al Prato in Perugia, highlighting aspects related to the journey he undertook and the sentiments he expressed toward his homeland. It also examines his missionary work in China and his relationship with institutions, and focuses on his religious thought and closeness to the Franciscan and spiritual message. Finally, it provides a brief analysis of the tombstone, a key element in the study of the Christian presence in China, which concludes the life cycle of Andrea da Perugia. In conclusion, this paper aims to present a new analysis of two well-known egodocuments that deserve greater prominence in studies of East-West relations.