MACAO'S HISTORY IN PORTUGAL TRENDS OF RESEARCH AND FUTURE PROJECTS

INTRODUCTION

I would like to express my enormous gratitude to the University of Macao -- and especially to Professor Kai Cheong Fok· and Dr. Jorge Santos Alves -- for the invitation to participate in this important scientific event. Unfortunately, imperative academic reasons prevent me from traveling to Macao at this moment, in order to be present at the Symposium. The organizers of this reunion, kindly accepting my justification, were also generous enough to welcome my suggestion of a written paper, to be delivered, I think, by Dr. Santos Alves. I sincerely hope that the meeting will be an enormous success, and I beg of the participants not to blame the bearer of this message for any shortcomings that I alone may be accountable for. My main concern, then, will be with the research and publishing that took or is taking place in Portugal, as it is expected that the specific contributions of Macanese historiography will be dealt with separately during the Symposium. **^[p.19]

§1. THE HISTORY OF MACAO IN THE PAST TENSE

To begin with, let's take a glance at the Blibliografia Macaense, 1 compiled by Luís Gonzaga Gomes, one of Macao's foremost historians. A brief survey through the pages of this essential reference work will show that, in the last hundred years or so, the most significant research and publishing on the history of Macao has been done outside Portugal's European borders, either in the territory of Macao itself or elsewhere in Europe and America. This statement will seem paradoxical, when we take into account the fact that the Portuguese were the first European power to approach the Chinese shores, where they maintained a steady presence after 1513. 2 An equally quick glance through sundry catalogues of research institutions will deepen the sense of perplexity, because it will reveal that Portugal's archives and libraries hold a virtually inexhaustible and largely unexplored supply of primary sources, dating as far back as the first years of the sixteenth century, on the history of Macao and on the history of the Portuguese Far Eastern expansion.

This feeble historiography interest in Macao seems to be chronologically concentrated on two separate periods. On the one hand, the turn of the century witnessed the appearance of important contributions to the knowledge of the history of Macao, coming from distinguished scholars such as the Viscount of Santarém, who wrote a well known 'Memory'3 about Portuguese possession rights over the Territory; Bento da França, who produced one of the oldest monographs on the global history of Macao; 4 João Feliciano Marques Pereira, who edited the celebrated "Ta-Ssi-Yang-Kuo",·5 which was, apparently, the only periodical exclusively concerned with the Far East ever published in Portugal; and João de Freitas, who devoted so many efforts to the unraveling of the origins of Portuguese presence on the China coast. 6 The rivalry with other European imperialistic powers seems to have contributed more than a share to this awakening of national interest in Macao, the farthest of Portuguese possessions in Asia.

On the other hand, the historiography of Macao had another outburst around 1940, when the Portuguese state was investing a large amount of resources on the so-called 'double celebration of independence.'

Important works from such government sponsored researchers as Manuel de Múrias, 8 António da Silva Rêgo and Eduardo Brazão date back from those years. 9 It seems clear that this last period witnessed a global official policy of research and publication in the field of the history of Portuguese Expansion, which must be noted, however questionable the government's motives.

The main criticism that can be formulated about the body of historiography work produced in Portugal before 1974 is, perhaps, its excessive positivism, concerned almost exclusively with political and administrative facts, and its overwhelming nationalism, that is, the obsessive preoccupation it showed with the Portuguese roots of Macao, putting aside the global historical and geographical Far Eastern context. 10 Marginally, one could also stress the almost total lack of a sinological tradition in Portugal, which, now it seems obvious, seriously impaired all the efforts to understand Macao's reality. In fact, China's realities --"as cousas da China" mentioned as far back as 1570, in the title of the first treatise ever to be published in Europe11 —deserved little or no attention from the most of Portugal's based historians, convinced as they were that it is possible to understand Macao through the eyes of Portugal only. 12

§2. THE HISTORY OF MACAO IN THE PRESENT CONTINUED

The evolution of Macao's historiography in Portugal, in the last twenty years, is intimately connected with the enormous political, economical and social changes brought about by the 25th of April Revolution, which had, as would be expected, consequences of enormous magnitude, namely in the restructuring of Portugal's cultural and educational priorities. Quite suddenly, Portuguese historiography was released from the constraints imposed by government censorship, while, at the same time, it awakened to the winds of change that had long been blowing from Europe, and especially from Paris, where Vitorino Magalhães Godinho had been setting the bases of an enormous and far-reaching 'revolution' in the history of Portuguese expansion. 13

The study of Macao's history, however, and paradoxically, did not benefit immediately from the renovation of Portuguese historiography. First of all, because the administrative status of the territory remained unchanged, and diplomatic relations between Portugal and the People's Republic of China were immensely improved. Then, because Portuguese historians suddenly discovered that vast new fields of research were opening up before them, in Portugal proper, but also in Africa. In times of such turmoil, when drastic changes were taking place both in Portugal and in its former African colonies, Macao seems to have fallen into oblivion, as a Far Eastern oasis of peace and quiet.

As a result of this situation, when we search through lists of books and articles published in the years that followed 1974, Macao and China seem to have been forgotten. Not only the Portuguese scholars did not produce any innovative work in this field of research, but they also abandoned the editing of important sources to their more diligent colleagues. 14 So, the most relevant work was done outside Portugal, mainly in the territory of Macao itself.

The situation began to change only five or six years ago, in the late 1980's, as a result of three different, but closely connected, factors.

2.1. First of all, the Portuguese University went through a period of enormous growth and modernization in recent years, which resulted in the spectacular development of post-graduate studies in every conceivable field of study, including, of course, the history of Portuguese Expansion. MA and Ph. D. candidates and graduates from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (New University of Lisbon) and from the Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon), among other institutions, have been producing a steady flow of research, some of it dealing with the history of Macao. 15 The options made in terms of research matters do not seem to follow an identifiable pattern, being based, in most cases, on individual preferences and motives. But, nonetheless, some general lines of research are being emphasized by this new generation of historians.

The studies now being produced in Portuguese universities tend to overcome the limited nationalistic visions of the past, trying to integrate Macao's history in its global Chinese and Asiatic context. To point out just an example of such procedure, it is not possible to describe Macao's emergence as a maritime emporium in sixteenth century history without a previous knowledge of general conditions on the China coast and on the South China Sea, and, namely, without taking into account the wokuo· phenomenon, the arrival of the Portuguese at Tanegashima, the political and military situation in Japan, and so forth. Although many researchers are now turning to Asiatic sources, Chinese materials pose a more serious problem, due to excessive language complexities, aggravated as they are by the absence of a sinological tradition in Portugal.

Apart from this opening-up of perspectives, Portuguese historians are also trying to diversify the questions they ask their sources, focusing attention on such problems as the cultural contacts between different civilizations, the Portuguese impact on Chinese society, and vice-versa, the Portuguese attitudes vis-à-vis the Chinese, and so on. In this context, literary sources like the Tratado das cousas da China (Treatise on Things Chinese) by Gaspar da Cruz, the Peregrinação (Pilgrimage) by Fernão Mendes Pinto, and many others, are now being reassessed, because they harbour large and unexpected quantities of data on these knew problems now being dealt with.

Also, a new trend of international exchanges seems to be unfolding. Portuguese historians, now more than ever, are paying considerable attention to research work being done in Europe, America and Asia, often participating in scientific events abroad, as well as inviting their foreign colleagues to be present at corresponding national events. 16 This exchange is proving to be very fruitful research-wise, namely in the reassessment of methodologies, the knowledge of previously hidden sources, and the discovery of new concepts and fresh issues in the study of Macao's history.

2.2. The second factor which contributed to the renewing of Portuguese interest in Macao's history was the appearance of the Fundação Oriente (Orient Foundation), a private institution based in Lisbon, that has been investing important resources on a vast cultural program, which includes research grants, publications and even specifically commissioned works. In recent years, the Fundação Oriente has welcomed research projects presented by MA and Ph. D. candidates, which, it is expected, will soon be materialized in book-form.

On the subject of printed matter, the Fundação Oriente launched in Lisbon an edition of the Obras Completas (Complete Works) of Charles Ralph Boxer, Europe's foremost expert on the history of Expansion, 17 and is currently sponsoring other publications connected with the history of the Far East. 18 Other projects are under way, such as the recently commissioned History of Macao, which is now being prepared by a team of historians under the leadership of A. H. de Oliveira Marques. The first volume, dedicated to the Portuguese activities in the Far East during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, will soon go into print. Subsequent volumes, which will bring the history of the Territory up to the present, are said to be forthcoming. 19

2.3. Thirdly, the history of Macao in recent times has greatly benefited from the launching of the Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses (National Commission for the Portuguese Discoveries Celebration), a government board officially charged with the coordination of all events associated with the celebration of the Fifth Centennial of Portuguese Discoveries. The Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses has been funding a large number of research projects, through a series of yearly grants and long-term contracts. In addition, its permanent staff and large net of collaborators have been delivering a steady flow of conferences, scientific meetings, exhibitions and publications, many of them having some sort of connection with the history of Macao. 20 The Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses as part of its program, also sponsors the publication of books dealing in any way possible with the history of Portuguese Expansion and, naturally, the history of Macao falls into this category.

The combined efforts of the above mentioned institutions have produced, in the last five or six years, a multitude of activities where the history of Macao, if not dominant, has been constantly present. But this brief sketch of Portugal's interest in Macao would not be complete without mentioning to some other public institutions. The Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (Tropical Sciences Research Institute), besides its regular editorial effort, 21 organized a few years ago, an extremely important exhibition that had Macao as its main subject. 22 The Missão de Macau (Mission of Macao) in Lisbon offers frequent exhibitions about the Territory, and gives on a regular basis the only course on the history of Macao. The Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo (National Archive of the Torre do Tombo) held an interesting documented exhibition, where many of its valuable treasures in any way connected with Macao's past were displayed for the first time. 23 The SEMINÁRIO INTERNACIONAL DE HISTÓRIA INDO-PORTUGUESA (INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON INDO-PORTUGUESE HISTORY), that takes place on a regular basis every other year, has already offered invaluable contributions to a better knowledge of Macao's past. Maybe some names, institutions and events have been left aside, but the global picture will have clearly emerged. 24 Therefore a number of conclusions are now in order.

§3. THE HISTORY OF MACAO IN THE FUTURE PERFECT

Maybe it's too soon to characterize the main trends of research on Macao's history in Portugal, but it seems that the fragmentary nature of the titles published in recent years would suggest that the time for overall studies has not yet arrived. Besides, most of the work done is clearly motivated by conjectural circumstances. On the other hand, there appears to be a good deal of investment coming from a large range of public and private institutions, without, however, no general coordination whatsoever, resulting perhaps in a significant waste of energies and resources.

The study of Macao's history in Portugal is not a strategic goal from the point of view of official institutions, and neither is there a global program prepared to deal with the territory's past. The events that occasionally take place— exhibitions, scientific reunions, etc. — are motivated by limited and welllocated ephemerides. The publications that go into print seem to owe their existence mainly to their respective authors resourcefulness in finding proper official sponsoring. Exceptions to this apparent lack of organization, for motives readily understandable, will be found in the activities of the Missão de Macau and of the Fundação Oriente.

In any event, those few projects that really go forward are mainly concerned with the history of Macao in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries— and I am thinking mainly about MA and Ph. D. dissertations, whose subjects are chosen exactly on account of a lack of significant studies in the area. 25 Maybe there is a special fascination with this early period, when the first encounters between the Far East and Far West took place. But, in any case, Portuguese historians tend to avoid the subsequent periods of Macao's past. One thing is clear, though: the study of Macao will never again be seen as an independent subject; on the contrary, it seems to be definitely established that future research will have to take into account the global Chinese and Asiatic context. And, as soon as possible, it would be interesting to explore Chinese sources, either in translation or directly.

But if Macao is not a priority area of study in Portugal, now that Portuguese administration over the Territory is coming to an end, when will it become one? Portuguese authorities, as they often do, will probably be late in preparing a global program for the research and divulgation of the history of Macao. For, simultaneously to all measures being implemented in the territory itself, it would be logical to create in Portugal some basic structures responsible for the future management of the common Sino-Portuguese memory. The drawing to a close of Portuguese administration over a city where the Portuguese have dwelt for more than four centuries implies an even greater cultural and historical responsibility for Portugal.

Urgent tasks for the near future will have to include:

1. the inventory of all manuscript sources on Macao, China and the Far East, existing in national archives and libraries; 26

2. the publication of documentary sources (through a sort of Documenta Sinica, to be published in succeeding volumes, over the years);

3. the critical edition of the most important narrative sources, many of which lie untouched in Portuguese and European archives; 27 and

4. the global study of the history of Macao and of the Portuguese activities in the Far East (on the basis of a large program, including specific themes, geographic areas, products, biographies, periods, etc.). Other alternative measures would be editing of a specialized review (a sort of an up-to-date "Ta-Ssi-Yang-Kuo") and the systematic translation of foreign works pertinent to the knowledge of Macao's past. 28

In the absence of a general official policy, maybe the logical solution, in order not to waste valuable efforts and resources, would be the foundation of a research center based in Portugal, an institution that would be responsible for the development of studies on the history of Macao and on the history of Portuguese activities in the Far East. After all, it is impossible to separate Macao from Timor, Japan, the Philippine, and many other neighbouring areas. French authorities, on the basis of a less important presence in the Far East, from a chronological point of view, that is, established in Paris the École Française d'Êxtreme Orient, which could be used as a model. Such a research center, besides historiography work, could also organize a vast linguistic program, oriented towards the recovery of all wasted time in the field of sinology, establishing itself, in the very near future, as the main interlocutor of Macanese and Chinese similar institutions.

There are just a few basic suggestions. But it seems clear that Portugal's present and past cultural responsibilities in Macao, and in the Far East in general, would recommend a much more consistent interest in the history of Macao on the part of Portuguese authorities, a larger investment on the preservation of Sino-Portuguese memory, and also a sharper vision of the cultural problems and alternatives that lie ahead of us, after 1999. ***

**Revised paper presented at the SIMPÓSIO INTERNATIONAL SOBRE INVESTIGAÇÃO E ENSINO DA HISTÓRIA DE MACAU / INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON RESEARCH AND TEACHING ON MACAU HISTORY, Macau, 10-11 February 1995 — [Oral communication].

***See: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY — for the following authors and further titles for authors already mentioned in this article.

ARAÚJO, Maria Benedita de Almeida; As Ruínas de S. Paulo — Um Monumento para o Futuro; AZEVEDO, Rafaela Ávila de; BOURDON, Léon; BOXER, Charles Ralph; COATES, Austin; COOPER, Michael; COSTA, João Paulo; ALBUQUERQUE, Luís de; COSTA, José Pereira da; COUCEIRO, Gonçalo; d'INTINO, Raffaella; ESTORNINHO, Carlos; FLORES, Jorge Manuel; LESSA, Almerindo; LOUREIRO, Rui Manuel; MAGALHÃES, Joaquim Romero de; MATOS, Manuel Cadafaz de; "Oceanos"; PEREIRA, Fernando António Baptista; PEREIRA, Galiote; PINTO, Fernão Mendes; PTAK, Roderich; RAMOS, João de Deus; RÊGO, António da Silva; SOUZA, George Bryan; "Stvdia"; TORRÃO, João Manuel Nunes; WILLIAM, Lea E.; WILLS Jr., John E.

NOTES

1 GOMES, Luís Gonzaga, Bibliografia Macaense, Macau, Imprensa Nacional de Macau, 1973 [ fac-simile 2nd editon: Instituto Cultural de Macau, 1987].

2 Perhaps with a small gap between 1522 and 1533.

3 SANTARÉM, Visconde de, Memória sobre o estabelecimento de Macau. Abreviada relação da embaixada que el-rei D. João V mandou ao Imperador da China e Tartaria. Relatorio de Francisco de Assiz Pacheco de Sampaio a el-rei D. José I dando conta dos sucessos da embaixada a que fora mandado à corte de Pekim no anno de 1752, Lisboa, Imprensa Nacional, 1879.

4 FRANÇA, Bento da, Subsídios para a História de Macau, Lisboa, Imprensa Nacional, 1888.

5 "Ta-Ssi-Yang-Kuo: 《大西洋國》: Archivos e Annaes do Extremo Oriente", [ fac-simile 2nd edition: 4 vols., Macau, Direcção dos Serviços de Educação Cultural - Arquivo Histórico de Macau, 1984—1889-1900; fac-simile 3rd edition: 3 vols, Macau, Direcção dos Serviços de Educação e Juventude - Fundação Macau, 1995 —1863-1866 and 1889-1900].

6 FREITAS, Jordão de, Macau: Materiaes para a sua história no século XVI, in "Archivo Historico Portuguêz", Lisboa, 5, 6, 7 (8) 1910 [reprint: Macau, Instituto Cultural de Macau, 1988].

7 The early 1940's witnessed the celebration of the Eighth Centennial of Portugal's Independence (1143) and the Third Centennial of Portugal's Restoration (1640).

8 Apud MÚRIAS, Manuel, ed., Instrução para o Bispo de Pequim e outros documentos para a história de Macau, Lisboa, Agência Geral das Colónias, 1943 [reprint: Macau, Instituto Cultural de Macau, 1898].

9 RÊGO, António da Silva, A Presença de Portugal em Macau, Lisboa, Agência Geral das Colónias, 1946; BRAZÃO, Eduardo, Apontamentos para a História das Relações Diplomáticas de Portugal com a China, Lisboa, Agência Geral das Colónias, 1949.

10 Vitorino Magalhães Godinho, Portugal's senior historian in the field of Portuguese expansion, would speak about a "complexo histórico-geográfico", a concept that can be loosely translated as an "historical and geographical frame".

11 CRUZ, Gaspar da, Tractado em que se contam muito por estenso as cousas da China com as suas particularidades e assi do reyno Dormuz composto por el R. Padre Frey Gaspar da Cruz Ordem de Sam Domingos Dirigido ao muito poderoso Rey Dom Sebastam nosso Señor impresso com licença, Evora, Andre de Burgos, 1569-1570 [2nd edition: Lisboa, Typographia Rollandiana, 1829; English translation in: BOXER, Charles Ralph, ed., in "South China in the Sixteenth Century", London, Hakluyt Society, 1953, pp.44 - 239].

12 The most notable exception to this bleak scenery was, of course, the publication in Lisbon, in 1960 of The Great Ship from Amacon, Charles Ralph Boxer's celebrated mono-graph on the history of the Macao-Japan trade. But unfortunately, the well-known historian can not be said to represent Portuguese historiography. A Portuguese translation was printed in 1988, in Macao, by the Instituto Cultural de Macau - Centro de Estudos Marítimos de Macau.

13 GODINHO, Vitorino Magalhães, Os Descobrimentos e a Economia Mundial, 4 vols., Lisboa, Presença, 1981-1983 — The original French version was released in Paris, in 1958.

14 Some examples of relevant sources to the history of Macao published in Portugal, but by foreign researchers, will include the História de Japam by Fr. Luís Fróis (edited by Josef Wicki, 5 vols., Lisboa, Biblioteca Nacional, 1976-1984); the Cartas de Fernão Mendes Pinto e outros Documentos (edited by Rebecca Catz and Francis M. Rogers, Lisboa, ed. Presença, 1983); and the Enformação das cousas da China (edited by Rafaella d'Intino, Lisboa, Imprensa Nacional - Casa da Moeda, 1989). The only exception I can think of is Aníbal Pinto de Castro's edition of Fr. Gaspar da Cruz' Tractado das cousas da China (in Fernão Mendes Pinto, Peregrinação, Porto, Lello & amp Irmãos, 1984, pp.775 - 896).

15 The first results of this new trend of research have been emerging— like the tip of the iceberg, it is hoped— in scientific meetings and in historiographic publications. A brief glance through the Selected Bibliography appended at the end of this issue will reveal some of the new names that will probably have to taken into account in the near future.

16 Among many others, mention should be made of such historians as Donald F. Lach, Edwin J. Van Kley, Pierre-Yves Manguin, Kai Cheong Fok, John E. Wills, Roderich Ptak, Michel Cartier and Leonard Blussé, all of whom, in recent years, have produced a significant bulk of research on Sino-Portuguese history.

17 BOXER, Charles Ralph, Estudos para a História de Macau, Lisboa, Fundação Oriente, 1991; BOXER, Charles Ralph, Macau na Época da Restauração, Lisboa, Fundação Oriente, 1993.

18 See: Selected Bibliography (RCI. 27-28).

19História de Macau é tema de ciclo de conferências-Lecture cycle on the history of Macao, in "Fundação Oriente: Boletim— Newsletter", Lisboa, (5) 1992, pp.6-7.

20 The Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses edits a biannual scholarly review ("Mare Liberum", Lisboa, nos 1-7, 1990-1994 [cont.]) and a lavishly illustrated trimestral magazine ("Oceanos", Lisboa, nos 1-20, 1989-1994 [cont.]).

See: Selected Bibliography (RCI. 27-28).

21 Relevant materials on the history of Macao have been published in the Instituto de Investigação e Ciêntifica Tropical's semestral review "Stvdia", Lisboa.

See: Selected Bibliography (RCI. 27-28).

22 Um olhar sobre Macau, Lisboa, Instituto de Investigação Ciêntífica Tropical - Fundação Oriente, 1991.

23 Macau e o Oriente na Torre do Tombo: Séculos XVI a XIX, [Catalogue: Arquivo Histórico de Macau de 16 de Novembro a 16 de Dezembro 1992], Lisboa - Macau, Arquivos Nacionais/Torre do Tombo - Instituto Cultural de Macau - Fundação Oriente, 1992.

Also see: SANTOS, Isaú, Macau e o Oriente nos Arquivos Nacionais da Torre do Tombo, Macau, Instituto Cultural de Macau, 1995.

24 As a final remark we must not forget that the commemorative conjuncture opened the way to the translation and publication in Portugal of important works on the history of Macao produced by foreign historians such as Charles Ralph Boxer, George B. Souza, Austin Coates and Michael Cooper.

25 For myself, I have been studying Portuguese relations with China and its textual by-products in the sixteenth century; Rui d'Ávila Lourido and Jorge Manuel dos Santos Flores are doing research on Macao's seventeenth century history, and the city's connections with Manila; and Ana Maria Leitão is preparing a thesis on the Macao 'nau do trato' ('black ship').

26 A large part of that work has been done in the past by such researchers as José Maria Braga, Horácio A. de Almeida e Silva, M. L. Pinto de Souto, Maria Augusta Veiga e Sousa e Isabel Cid.

27 A list of sources will include, for instance, such seventeenth century authors as Fr. António Gouveia and João Rodrigues Tçuzzu.

28 Important historiographic classics such as T'ien - Tsê Chang's Sino-Portuguese Trade from 1514 to 1644 (Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1969) and Albert Kammerer's La Découverte de la Chine par les Portugais au XV^ème Siècle (Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1944) are still unavailable in Portuguese.

* MA in History from the Faculdade de Letras (Faculty of Arts), Lisbon. Secretary of the Centro de Estudos Gil Eanes (Gil Eanes Research Centre), Lagos, Algarve. Member of the Academia da Marinha (Naval Academy).