Macao - Background

Background

    The early 16th century was a time of exploration for the Portuguese. They were the leading explorers in the world, establishing themselves in the trade of spices and other goods in the Far East. The Portuguese first landed in Malacca, part of the Spice Islands, in 1511, and two years later they reached the Pearl River in China. (Macao is located at the mouth of the Pearl River.) However, China was not warm to the idea of outsiders forming a settlement. It was not until 1557 that Portugal gained permission to form permanent settlements in Macao, a sort of 'thank you' present from China for the Portuguese defeat of the local pirates that had been disrupting trade.^1, ^2,^3,⁴ Soon, the Portuguese set up warehouses and Macao became the major port it is today.⁴ The backbone of its prosperity was in the trade of Japanese silver for Chinese silk, but in 1639 Japan decided to shut itself off to the world, ending the trade.³ Macao declined but still remains one of the biggest ports in China. If you want to visit China, Macao is the best place to go since it is the only location in China that has Europeans permanently living there.³

    The name Macao comes from A-mangao, meaning "Bay of the Goddess A-ma," who is the patroness of sailors and has many temples dedicated to her. ¹

     There has only been one major attack on Macao. That came not in 1622, when the Dutch, angry that the Portuguese had persuaded the Chinese in nearby Canton to prohibit trade, attacked the city.^2,⁴ The Portuguese, who were helped by the Chinese, were able to hold off the attackers.

    Macao is the site of numerous old temples, such as the Kuan Im temple, the Lin Fung Miu Temple, and the Ma Kok Miu Temple, as well as magnificent new and old churches, such as the Church of St. Lawrence and the impressive, awe-inspiring St. Paul's Church.^{5, 6} It also has a major hospital, St. Raphael's Hospital, which was built in 1569.