João Rodrigues "Tçuzu": the Jesuit interpreter who wrote the first grammar of Japanese and spent his last years in Macau

A Portuguese Jesuit, interpreter and linguist, nicknamed "Tçuzu" (the Interpreter) for his command of Japanese. He compiled the first printed grammar of the Japanese language, a milestone of early East-West linguistics. After leaving Japan in 1610 he lived in Macau for over twenty years, teaching at St Paul's College and taking part in Sino-Portuguese diplomacy, and died and was buried in Macau.

An "Interpreter" who first set Japanese into a grammar — and gave his last years to the small city of Macau.

João Rodrigues, nicknamed Tçuzu ("the Interpreter"), was a Portuguese Jesuit, interpreter and linguist.

Profile

• Chinese Name: 陸若漢
• Western Name: João Rodrigues (nicknamed Tçuzu)
• Born: c. 1561/1562 (Portugal)
• Died: c. 1633 (Macau)
• Domains: Culture · Religion · Language
• Subject type: Historical figure · Jesuit · Interpreter

Background

João Rodrigues was born around 1561 in Portugal and sailed to Japan as a youth, joining the Society of Jesus there. Fluent in Japanese, he served as interpreter to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, earning the nickname "Tçuzu" (the Interpreter).

Career

I. The first grammar of Japanese

Rodrigues compiled the first printed grammar of the Japanese language (Arte da Lingoa de Iapam), printed at Nagasaki between 1604 and 1608. Its systematic treatment of Japanese grammar and pronunciation was a milestone of Japanese studies and of early East-West linguistic exchange.

II. The Macau years and a mission into China

Expelled from Japan in 1610, Rodrigues made Macau his home for over twenty years, teaching at St Paul's College and taking part in Sino-Portuguese trade and diplomacy. In later life he was sent into China to help the Ming introduce Western artillery against the rising Manchu power, travelling as far as Beijing and Shandong. He died in Macau around 1633 and was buried at St Paul's church — whose ruins are today's Ruins of St Paul's.

Key Achievements

• Compiled the first printed grammar of Japanese (1604–1608)
• Interpreter to Hideyoshi and Ieyasu; nicknamed "Tçuzu"
• Lived in Macau from 1610, teaching at St Paul's College
• Helped the Ming adopt Western artillery; buried at St Paul's church

Information compiled from publicly available sources (Wikipedia, Macao Magazine and Jesuit historical records). If anything is inaccurate or needs updating, please contact us — we aim to respond within 48 hours.