Portuguese Jews in Early Modern Macao, China

Timeline of Key Events

  • 1513: Portuguese arrive in the Pearl River delta in a junk hired in Malacca
  • 1516: First recorded trade between Portuguese and Chinese merchants in Macau
  • 1517: Portuguese diplomatic mission sent to the Chinese emperor
  • 1520s: Chinese government executes Portuguese envoys due to the conquest of Malacca
  • 1540s: Portuguese-Chinese relations improve as Portuguese help eliminate coastal piracy
  • 1557: Chinese government officially approves Portuguese settlement in Macau
  • 1567: Birth of Lianor da Fonseca in Macau, later accused of being Jewish
  • 1590s: Inquisition visits Macau to investigate the Fernandes d’Aires complex
  • 1616: António Nunes de Paz, a Portuguese Jew, arrested in Macau for practicing Judaism
  • 1622: Dutch attack on Macau repulsed

Portuguese Jewish Presence in Early Modern China

The presence of Portuguese Jews and New Christians in early modern China, particularly in Macau, is a subject of historical interest but little evidence.

Early Portuguese-Chinese Relations

Portuguese exploration and trade in China began in the early 16th century. The first recorded Portuguese arrival in the Pearl River delta was in 1513, followed by trade with Chinese merchants in Macau in 1516. However, initial diplomatic efforts were hampered by geopolitical tensions, particularly the Portuguese conquest of Malacca, a Chinese ally and vassal state.

Establishment of Macau

Relations improved in the 1540s when the Portuguese assisted in combating coastal piracy. This led to the official approval of the Portuguese settlement in Macau in 1557, establishing a crucial trade hub and staging post for the route to Nagasaki, Japan.

Evidence of Jewish Presence

While Jewish communities are not documented, there is evidence of individual Portuguese Jews and New Christians in Macau and elsewhere in China:

  1. António Nunes de Paz: Arrested in Macau in 1616 for practicing Judaism, as documented in Inquisition records (de Sousa, 2015).
  2. António Díaz d’Almeida: Accused of Judaizing practices in Macau in 1587, according to Portuguese Inquisition records from Goa (Lourenço, 2012).
  3. Lianor da Fonseca: Born in Macau in 1567, she was later accused of being Jewish. Her case was part of the Inquisition’s investigation into the Fernandes d’Aires complex in the 1590s (Boyajian, as cited in the provided information).
  4. New Christian Merchants: Historian Jonathan Goldstein notes that some Portuguese New Christians fled to Macau to escape persecution, though specific numbers are not provided (Goldstein, 2011).
  5. Canton Visitors: Benjamin Isidore Schwartz mentions Portuguese Jewish merchants visiting Canton (Guangzhou) in the 16th century (Schwartz, 1984).

The Inquisition in Macau

The Portuguese Inquisition made a rare visit to Macau in the 1590s, investigating the Fernandes d’Aires complex. This investigation included the case of Lianor da Fonseca and her family, providing insight into the presence of individuals with Jewish heritage in the region.

Lianor da Fonseca, was the wife of Marçal Fernandez (possibly the same person as Pêro Fernandes d’Aires) and daughter of Manoel Teixeira and Ines Gomez. She was born in Macau in 1567, and accused of being a Jew. Her first husband, Miguel Correa had died. Her sisters included Meçia Leitoa and Francisca Teixeira.

The Old Christian Alvares Botul family also figure. The article by Miguel Rodrigues Lourenço contains a family tree.

Books referencing Portuguese Jews in Macao, China

  1. de Sousa, L. (2015). The Early European Presence in China, Japan, the Philippines and Southeast Asia (1555-1590). Macau: Macau Foundation.
  2. Lourenço, M. R. (2012). Macau e a Inquisição nos Séculos XVI e XVII. Macau: Universidade de Macau.
  3. Goldstein, J. (2011). The Jews of China: Historical and Comparative Perspectives. Routledge.
  4. Schwartz, B. I. (1984). The Jews of China. M.E. Sharpe.
  5. Boyajian, J. C. (2008). Portuguese Trade in Asia Under the Habsburgs, 1580–1640. JHU Press.
  6. Lourenço, M. R. (2012). Macau, porto seguro para os cristãos-novos? Problemas e métodos sobre a periferia da Inquisição de Goa. Cadernos de Estudos Sefarditas, 10-11, 451-500. Retrieved from http://www.redalyc.org/redalyc/pdf/361/36122836006.pdf
Portuguese tiles with an image of Macau