Research
At the Verbiest Foundation, we conduct and support research on the history of Christianity in China. Our research program is carried out both by our own researchers and by external scholars working on designated projects. We collaborate with researchers from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, whose expertise and commitment enrich this field.
All research projects are sponsored by the Verbiest Foundation and are grounded in our unique collection of archival materials, which include records of CICM missionaries in Northern China. The Foundation encourages research that focuses on the history of the Chinese Catholic Church and the role of missionaries, particularly those from the Low Countries. This work often involves translating and publishing the writings of CICM missionaries active in Northern China, Mongolia, and Xinjiang, while examining their methods, influence, and the local reception of their message.
Through these studies, we contribute to the broader historiography of Sino-European relations and preserve the legacy of the Catholic Mission in China, especially that of the CICM congregation. By fostering this kind of research, the Verbiest Foundation promotes mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures, building bridges between history and contemporary society.