The theory of crystalline sphere, which was closely related to Catholic doctrines, was the first cosmology introduced to late Ming China by Western missionaries. This article fully discusses the narratives about the theory and its Western origin, and its influence in late Ming and early Qing. Matteo Ricci’s translation, which originated from Christoph Clavius’ In Sphaeram Joannis de Sacro Bosco Commentarius, was the most comprehensive and influential. Although crystalline sphere theory was being washed out in Europe at that time, it was the earliest cosmology introduced to China and had extensive influence on Chinese literati. Even after the Western astronomy was largely transmitted, the theory still influenced the Chinese scholars who sought for the true structure of the cosmos, and played an important role in shaping the Chinese literati about the cosmos structure in late Ming and early Qing.