Chapter Nine, Inside the Palace Summary and Analysis

Matteo Ricci completes his memory palace; he imagines the walls, colonnades and other features of the palace. Stored within the palace are many memories of his times in China. The four images are also there: Peter on the water, unable to stand, the two disciples meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus, Sodom's men being destroyed and the image of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child. The reception hall holds images that represent them—the two warriors, the huihui woman, the farmer who is his name and again, the woman with child who represents goodness. Ricci notes that many in the future may not grasp the importance of these images, which may seem insignificant.

The chapter is a description of the appearance of Ricci's memory palace. It is unclear whether this...