The Chinese Rites controversy was a dispute among Catholic missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries over the religious significance of Confucianism and Chinese rituals. The Jesuits argued that these rites were social rather than religious, while other Catholic orders believed they were pagan and incompatible with Christianity. This controversy highlighted misunderstandings of customs and cultures, methods of evangelization, and politics, and resulted in clashes between two cultures. Despite efforts to understand and incorporate Chinese teachings, some missionaries believed that Christian practices should be prohibited in order to maintain the purity of the faith. The controversy also sheds light on the importance of rituals in Chinese culture, which is often referred to as "a state of ritual courtesy."