This paper aims to explore Matteo Ricci’s arguments for the existence of God in The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven and analyse their philosophical origins. Traditionally, scholars have regarded Ricci’s theory of proving God’s existence as being deeply influenced by Thomas Aquinas, particularly his “Five Ways” of proving God’s existence. However, this study seeks to further demonstrate that Ricci’s arguments not only inherit Aquinas’ ideas but also integrate other philosophical traditions, particularly those from ancient philosophy (such as Cicero and Aristotle), while following the apologetic style of 16th-century Iberian missionaries (such as Luis de Granada, O.P.).
By comparing The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven with Summa Theologiae, Summa Contra Gentiles, and Introducción del Símbolo de la Fe, this paper attempts to illustrate that Ricci’s argumentative strategy exhibits a “syncretic” character. He adopts Aquinas’ “final cause” proof, draws on Cicero’s “commonsense” argument and the rhetorical structures of 16th-century missionary writings, adapting them to fit the Chinese cultural context. Furthermore, this paper explains why Ricci’s theory of God’s existence should not be regarded as a mere imitation of Aquinas’ ideas. Instead, it represents a unique argumentative model that blends multiple philosophical and theological traditions while adapting to the East Asian cultural milieu. This syncretic approach is reflected not only in textual structure and content selection but also in the adaptation and transformation of argumentation methods. It highlights both the diversity of Ricci’s philosophical sources and the historical specificity of his apologetic style.