Ricci's approach to missionary work included deep acquaintance with local customs, and especially, with the Confucianism dominant at that time.
和一般傳教士相較，利瑪竇最難能可貴的，是他非常尊重中國的傳統文化及風俗習慣。舉例來說，他深知中國人重視孝道、崇尚儒學，故率先主張中國天主教徒可以保存「祭祖、敬孔」的禮儀。