In Ming China, foreigners were barred from entry—until Matteo Ricci found another way in. Edwin Kong brings to life the extraordinary journey of Matteo Ricci, the Italian Jesuit whose daring mission to China reshaped the course of East-West relations. Sent by the Pope in the late sixteenth century to convert the Chinese Emperor, Ricci faced an impenetrable barrier—Ming Dynasty China was closed to foreigners. But armed with knowledge and an unmatched mastery of memory techniques, he found another way in. Disguised as a Buddhist monk, Ricci captivated scholars, officials, and eventually the imperial court, introducing Western science while immersing himself in Chinese culture. His thirty-year odyssey from rural villages to the heart of the Forbidden City proved that engagement, rather than conquest, could bridge civilizations. Told in the form of a screenplay, Cross and Dragon is a gripping historical drama with urgent contemporary resonance, exploring the power of faith and cultural exchange in the face of division. "The history, cultural, and personal events related to Father Matteo Ricci over 400 years ago, sit at the heart of the problems that China has today with the West and the rest of the world. Today, as before, China and the West look at each other without understanding but with great curiosity. Through his translations of the Chinese Confucian classics into Latin, Ricci introduced Europe to the depth, complexity, and diversity of Chinese civilization. This caused profound cultural change in the West, including influence on the Enlightenment." -Francesco Sisci, Italian Sinologist "The screenplay has something of the qualities of theatrical masterpieces such as Bertolt Brecht's Galileo, John Osborne's Luther and Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons, while also calling to mind great films such as Martin Scorsese's Silence and Bolt's The Mission. It will be certain to generate widespread discussion and debate, causing a renewed interest in the possibilities of a deeper understanding between China and the world." - John Minford, Australian National University "The script is rich in content not only because Ricci's 'adventure' was so heroic. I particularly like the way the richness of the Chinese cultural world is highlighted. He meets some of the most fascinating personalities of Ming China, and touches, and is touched by, their minds and souls." -Elizabeth Sinn, University of Hong Kong Edwin Kong is an international content developer for film, television, and publishing. A Hong Kong native, he has produced critically acclaimed documentaries, including Rising Sun , on the Sino-Japanese War. In the mid-1980s, he founded Hong Kong’s first art cinema and played a key role in launching the city’s inaugural cable television company. Currently, he operates a publishing joint venture with Japan’s Shogakukan Inc. and Peace Publishing House in Beijing, with recent projects including an illustrated history of Neolithic China.