L’insegnamento della lingua cinese in Italia: una storia che viene da lontano

The study of the Chinese language in the West began on the Italian peninsula: it is a fascinating story that all those interested in Chinese language, literature, or culture should know. Throughout the western world, Michele Ruggeri, Mat- teo Ricci, and Martino Martini are considered pioneers of Chinese language study and knowledge. With the exception of Naples, the study of the Chinese language in Italy had to begin afresh in the nineteenth century, after a long- lived missionary tradition had been completely forgotten. I intend to trace the history of Chinese language studies in Italy, paying particular attention to the establishment of the major sinological schools at the universities of Rome, Na- ples, and Venice, as well as the diffusion of the language into Italian schools in recent years.