The topic of relations and exchanges between the West and the East
has recently gained increasing significance and interest, leading
to ongoing research. In medieval history, however, interest has
remained limited to a few documents, such as the travel accounts
of Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, Odorico da Pordenone, William
of Rubruck, and, of course, Marco Polo’s Il Milione. Other histories
and documents, however, have not received the same attention.
A prime example is the letter sent from China to Europe in 1326
by Andrea da Perugia, a minor friar and bishop of Zaiton, and his
tombstone discovered in 1946. This paper therefore analyses the
letter sent by the friar to the Father Guardian of the convent of San
Francesco al Prato in Perugia, highlighting aspects related to the
journey he undertook and the sentiments he expressed toward his
homeland. It also examines his missionary work in China and his
relationship with institutions, and focuses on his religious thought
and closeness to the Franciscan and spiritual message. Finally, it
provides a brief analysis of the tombstone, a key element in the
study of the Christian presence in China, which concludes the
life cycle of Andrea da Perugia. In conclusion, this paper aims
to present a new analysis of two well-known egodocuments that
deserve greater prominence in studies of East-West relations.
