SINA LATNA

Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Georgics, II, 120-1

Virgil (70 B.C. 19 A.D.), Romes greatest poet, mentions the Sres as producers of silk in a
section of his didactic poem the Georgics (`On Farming) where he talks about the different
products of different regions. Although Sres did certainly come to mean specifically the
Chinese, it is possible that in this and other classical authors the reference is to another
people somewhere along the Silk Road. The Georgics were probably completed in 29 B.C.,
two years after Augustuss defeat of Anthony and Cleopatra at Actium ended the civil wars.
quid nemora Aethiopum moll cnentia ln,
what-of groves of-Aethiopians with-soft being-white with-wool

uelleraque ut folis dpectant tnuia Sres?

and-fleeces how from-leaves- comb-off thin Seres

Pomponius Mela I, 9-11

The Roman geographer Pomponius Mela (died c. 45 A.D.), born in Spain, which was by then
highly Romanised, probably published his De Situ Orbis (`Overview of the World) in 43
A.D., as he refers to an imminent military expedition to Britain, almost certainly the invasion
ordered that year by the Emperor Claudius. His knowledge of regions remote from the
Mediterranean was rudimentary and, like his contemporaries, he believed that the Caspian
Sea was linked to the Arctic Ocean.
[9] Tribus [Asiam] partibus tangit ceanus, ita nminibus ut locs differns, us ab oriente,
Three Asia out-of parts

touches Ocean

thus by-names as by-places different Dawn from east

merdi Indicus, a septentrine Scythicus. ipsa ingent ac perpetu fronte versa ad orientem
from south Indian from north

Scythian

itself with-huge and continuous front turned to east

tantum ibi s in ltitdinem effundit quantum Europe et Africa et quod inter ambs pelagus
as-much there itself in breadth

pours-out

as

Europe and Africa and which between both sea

inmissum est. inde cum aliqutenus solida prcessit, ex ill cean quem Indicum dximus,
inserted

is from-there when some-way uninterrupted has-advanced from that ocean which Indian we-called

rabicum mare et Persicum, ex Scythic Caspium recipit; et ideo qu recipit angustior, rursus
Arabian

sea and Persian

from Scythian

Caspian receives and therefore where it-receives narrower again

expanditur et fit tam lta quam fuerat. dein cum iam in suum fnem alirumque terrrum
is-expands and becomes as broad as it-had-been then when already in its end and-of-other

lands

cnfnia dvenit, media nostrs aequoribus excipitur, reliqua alter corn pergit ad Nlum,
boundaries has-arrived in-centre by-our

waters

is-received remainder at-one extremity continues to Nile

alter ad Tanain. [10] ra eius cum alve Nl amnis rps descendit in pelagus, et di scut
at-another to Don

shore of-it with channel of-Nile river along-banks descends into sea

and for-long as

illud incdit, ita sua ltora porrigit; dein fit venient obviam, et prmum s ingent ambit
it

falls-in thus its coast extends then becomes to-it-coming meeting and first itself in-huge bend

incurvat, post s ingent fronte ad Hellsponticum frtum extendit; ab e iterum obliqua ad

curves

afterwards itself on-huge front to Dardanelles

strait

extends from it again

at-angle to

Bosphorum, iterum iterumque ad Ponticum ltus curva, aditum Maetidos trnsvers margine
Bosphorus

again

and-again to Black-Sea coast curving entrance of-sea-of-Azov with-traversed edge

adtingit, ipsam gremi ad Tanain usque conplexa fit rpa qu Tanais est. [11] in e prms
touches-on sea-itself in-its-bosom to Don up-to having-embraced becomes bank where Don is

in it first

hominum ab oriente accipimus Inds et Sras et Scyths. Sres media ferme Eae partis
of-men

from East

we-encounter Indians and Seres and scythians Seres middle roughly of-eastern part

incolunt, Ind et Scythae ltima: ambo lt patents neque in hoc tantum pelagus effs.
inhabit

Indians and Scythians extremes both widely extended and-not to this only sea

spread-out

spectant enim etiam merdiem Ind, ramque Indic maris, nisi quoad aests inhabitbilem
look-upon for

also south

Indians and-shore of-Indian sea, except so-fas-as heat uninhabitable

efficiunt, di continus gentibus occupant. spectant et septentrinem Scythae, ac ltus

render

long with-continuous tribes they-occupy look-upon also the- north

Scythicum, nisi unde frigoribus arcentur,

Scythian

Scythians and shore

usque ad Caspium sinum possident.

except from-where by-cold they-are-kept-away as-fas-as to Caspian

gulf

they-possess

Lucan, Pharsalia, X, 287-294

Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (39 65 A.D.) is best known for his Pharsalia, an epic poem on the
civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, which ended the Roman Republic and climaxed
in Caesars victory at the Battle of Pharsalus (48 B.C.). Lucan was ordered by the emperor
Nero to commit suicide at the age of 25 because of his involvement in a conspiracy against
him. In these lines, he addresses the River Nile, describing how its source remains unknown
to those who live on its banks, even to the `Seres, the first people it flows past, and to the
Ethiopians who live further downstream! The geographical confusion may have arisen
because the word `Aethiopes was apparently applied by some ancient authors to a supposed
ethnic group in East Asia as well as to Ethiopians proper.
medi cnsurgis ab axe;
middle

ausus

you-rise from region

in ardentem rps attollere Cancrum1

having-dared into burning banks raise Cancer

in Borean s rctus aqus mediumque Boten

into North you-go straight with-waters and-middle-of Botes

(cursus in occsus flex torqutur et orts,

1

290

The constellation of Cancer here represents the south and Botes in the next line the north.

course into sun-set in-a-bend is-twisted and sun-rise

nunc Arabum populs, Libycs nunc aequus harns),

now of-Arabs to-peoples to-Libyanm now partial sands

tque uident prm, quaerunt tamen h quoque, Sres,

and-you see

first

seek

however these also

the-Seres

Aethiopumque fers alin gurgite camps,

and-of-Ethiopians you-strike with-alien stream fields

et t terrrum nescit cui dbeat orbis.

and you of-lands knows-not to-which it-owes world

Pliny the Elder, VI, 20

Gaius Plinius Secundus (23 79 A.D.) was a military officer and all-round scholar, whose
Naturalis Historia is a compendium of information on geography and many other subjects.
His general conception of Eurasia is similar to Melas a generation before but he provides
much more detail, including a rather irreverent account of the production and
conmnsumption of silk. He died during the eruption of Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii and
Herculaneum in August 79 B.C. and a detailed account of his final hours has been left by his
nephew, Pliny the Younger.
20. [53] Caspi mar Scythicque ceano in <>um cursus inflectitur, ad orientem
from Caspian sae

and-Scythian ocean to east

course is-bent towards orient

conversa ltorum fronte. inhabitbilis eius prma pars a Scythic promunturi ob nivs;
having-been-turned of-shores front uninhabitable of-it first part from Scythian promontory because-of snow

proxima inculta saeviti gentium. Anthrpophagi Scythae nsident hmns corporibus

next {part} uncultivated through-savagery of-tribes cannibal

Scythians there-dwell on-human bodies

vscents; ide iuxt vastae slitdins ferrumque multitd, haut dissimilem hominum
feeding

therefore nearby vast wildernesses and-of-wild-beasts multitude not

dissimilar of-men

inmnittem obsidns. iterum deinde Scythae iterumque dserta cum beluis usque ad iugum
brutality

surrounding again then Scythians and-again desert with beasts right-up to range

incubns mar quod vocant Tabim. nec ante dmidiam ferme longitdinem eius rae, quae
brooding-over sea which they-call Tabis and-not before half

almost length

its of-shore which

spectat aestvum orientem, inhabittur illa regi. [54] prm sunt hominum qu nscantur
faces

summery

orient

is-inhabited that region

first

are of-men who may-be-recognised

Sres, lnici silvrum nbils, perfsam aqu dpectents frondium cnitiem, unde
geminus
Seres by-wool of-woods noble

soaked

in-water combing-off of-leaves white-covering from-where double

feminis nostrs labos redordiend fla rursusque texend: tam multiplic opere, tam longinqu

for-women our

labour of-unravelling threads and-again weaving such by-multiple work such from-distant

orbe petitur ut in pblic mtrna trluceat.2 Sres mts quidem, sed et ips fers simils
world it-is-sought that in public lady may-shine-through Seres gentle indeed but also they to-savages similar

coetum reliqurum mortlium fugiunt, commercia exspectant. [55] prmum erum nscitur
company of-remaining

mortals they-shun

trade

wait-for

first

of-then is-known

flmen Psitharas, proximum Cambar, tertium Lanos, a qu prmunturium Chrys 3, sinus

river

Psitharas

next

Cambari

third

Lanos from which promotory Chryse

gulf

Cirnaba, flmen Atianos, snus et gns hominum Attacrum4, aprcs ab omn noxi adflt
Cirnaba

river

Atianos gulf and race

of-men

of-Attaci

by-sunny from all harmful wind

sclsa collibus, edem, qu Hyperborei dgunt, temperi. de <i>s prvtim condidit

cut-off by-hills in-same in-which Hyperboreans live

climate

about these separately produced

volmen Amometus, scut Hecataeus de Hyperboreis. ab At<t>acrs gents <Ph>un et

volume

Amometus

as Hecataeus about Hyperboreans from Attcori

peoples Phuni and

Thocar et, iam Indrum, Casir intrrsus ad Scyths vers hmns corporibus vescuntur ,
Thocari and, now of-Indians, Casiri on-inner-side towards Scythians turned on-human bodies

Nomades quoque Indiae vagantur. <s>u<nt> qu

Nomades

they-feed

ab aquilne conting ab ipss Ciconas

also of-India wander-abot there-are those-who fro the-north to-be-bordered by these Cicones

dxre et Brisars.
Have-said and Brisari

Adam Schall, Immensa Caeli Machina

This poem in honour of Adam Schall(, 1592-1666), the Jesuit astronomer who
supervised the Imperial Observatory in Beijing for many years, was written by the first Qing
emperor of China, Shunzhi (, reg. 1644-1661), or perhaps rather by a court poet, and
then translated by Schall himself into Latin The text in both languages, downloaded from
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/harada/latin/poet1.html on 8/6/13, was originally published in the
journal (vol. 221996153-170) by Professo H. Harada who added a
Japanese translation and believes this may be the earliest example of a Latin translation of a
poem in classical Chinese. The website includes recordings of the poem in Windows Media
Player and Real Player versions.

Referring to the near-transparency of silk, which Roman moralists believed showed too much of a
womans body.
3
Referring probably to the Malay Peninsula.
4
This is perhaps a reference to Uttarakuru (`northern Kuru), one of the continents recognized by
traditional Hindu geography. This sometimes appears to be a purely mythical region but at others was
located north of the Himalayas and, though Pliny appears her to be locating them in SE Asia or
southern China, one theory is that a people of that name once lived in Sinkiang. See the discussion at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttarakuru

Immnsa caeli mchina

immense machine of heaven

numquam rotand dficit,

never in-rotating fails

planta quisque propriumplanet

eund mtum cnficit.

Hinc omne quod coel subset hence all which heaven is under

ortum exitumque postulat;

ars cuncta deinde mchins all

observat atque supputat.

Eurpa nbs hospitem

submsit isthc inclytum,

sunt astra et hrum calculusare

each special

in-going motion completes

origin and end requires

art then by-machines

observes and calculates

Europe to-us guest

has-sent from-there famous
stars and calculation

of-them

statim reducta in integrum.

at-once reduced into a-

whole

Ut mneris sc Nminis

obltus haud unquam su,

forgetful not ever his

dum debitum signs sacrs

while due to-signs sacred

templque cultum praeparat.

as-of-duty thus of-Deity

and-to-temple worship he-

prepares

Dum sdulus servit DE

while ponstaking he-serves

et mnus exaequat suum,

and duty fulfills his

Chinnsibus et Tartars

tum frma vvit actuum.

GOD

for-Chinese and for-Tartars

Then form lives of-acts

Athanasius Kircher on crossing the Himalayas

From the account in Athanasius Kirchers China Illustrata (1667) of the journey of two Jesuit
missionaries from Beijing via Lhasa and Kathmandu to Patna in India in 1661-62. The
priests took the overland route through Tibet and this extract describes the crossing of the
mountains on the Nepal-Tibet border.Kircher never visited China but was an immensely
learned man and his book was one of the most widely-read of early European works on China
and central Asia.

 Lass sve Barantl sub 29 grduum. 6 mintrum levtine Pol cnstitt, usque ad
From Lahsa or Barantola under 29 of-degrees 6 of-minutes

elevation of-Pole situted

right-up to

rdcem montis Langur quatridu vnrunt. Est autem Langur mns omnium altissimus, ita ut
base

of-mountain Langur in-four-days they-came is moreover Langur mountain of-all highest

so that

in summitte eius viatrs vix resprre ob aris subtilttem queant, neque is ob vrulentas
on summit

of-it travellers scarcely breathe becase-of airs thinness

can

and-not this because-of virulent

nnnullrum herbrum exhltins aestv tempre, sine manifest vtae percul transr
of-some

plants

exhalations

in-summer time without clear

to-life danger

be-crossed

possit. Per hunc montem ob horrenda praecipitia et scopulss tracts, neque currus neque
can

through this mountain because-of horrendous precipes and rocky

tracts neither carriage nor

imentum trnsre potest. Sed pedestr itinere ttum iter cnficiendum

est, spti fer

pack-animal to-cross is-able but by-foot journey whole journey needing-to-be-completed is with-interval about

mnstru usque ad Cth prmam Regn Necbl urbem: quamvs autem .sit trnsit difficilis,
of-a-month right-up to Kuthi first

of-kingdom Nepal city

although moreover it-is to-pass-over diffiult

prvdit tamen natura d magn aqurum undique ex montium caverns rumpentium tam
provided however nature from great of-waters from-all-sides from of-mountains caves bursting-out

both

calidrum quam frgidrum cpi, necnn piscium pr hominibus, pscurumque pr

hot

and

cold

abundance and-also of-fish for men

and-of-pastures for

iments bertte......Ex Cth qunque dirum itinere perventur ad urbem Nest, Regn
pack-animals richness

from Kuthi five

of-days by-journey it-is-reaced to city Nesti of-kingdom

Necbl, in qu omns dlotrae tenebrs involt sine ull Christinae fid sign vvunt;
Nepal in which all of-idolatry in-darkness wrapped without any of-Christian faith sign

live

abundat tamen rbus omnibus ad vtam sustentandam necessris, ita ut 30 aut 40 gallnae pr
abounds however in-things all

for life

being-sustained necessary so that 30 or 40 chickens for

n sct passim vndantur (c.3, II, 3-4e, p.65)

one scutum everywhere are sold

Julius Mohl (ed.), Y-king: Antiquissimus Sinarum Liber (Stuttgart & Tuningen 1834),
Praefatio, p. v-vii.
Julius Mohl (1800 1876) was a German Orientalist, but spent much of his career in France,
where he died in 1876, a few years after the end of the Franco-Prussian War. He was a major
figure in the development of Sinology in the West, though also heavily involved in research
into other Asian languages and cultures. The full text of his edition of the I-Ching is at:
http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=ZKo-AAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Y-king,
+antiquissimus+Sinarum+liber+quem+ex+latina&hl=ja&sa=X&ei=XkCwUcDbA4uokgWt
7oDwCg&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAg
In this extract from the preface he explains the supposed history of the work and the

importance attributed to it both in China and by many foreigners. Those Jesuits, including
Matthaeo Ricci, who believed in the mystical significance of the I-Ching diagrams were
known as `figurists
Inter omns cnstat librs Snicrum, qus classics vocant, primum et antquissimum esse
among all it-is-agreed books of-Chinese

which classics they-call first

and

most-ancient to-be

Y-king (, Y Jng) qui nn minus per auctrittem, qu apud Sns fruitur, quam per
Yi-Ching

which not less through authority

which among Chinese it-enjoys than through

obscrittis fmam apud omns innotuit. Fohi ( F X), secundum opninem Snrum,
of-obscurity reputation among all has-become-known

Fohi

according-to opinion

of-Chinese

trigsim ante Christum saecul symbola invnit, quibus doctrnam de rrum natr et
origine
in-30th

before Christ

century symbols invented by-which doctrine about of-things nature and origin

graphic dlineret. Omnia enim ex durum prncipirum, actv et inertis, affectine mtu
in-diagrams he-could-sketch out all-things for from of-two

nsc trdidit,

principles

active and inerts attraction mutual

prncipiumque actvum per lineam integram, iners per lineam interruptam

to-be-produced he-handed-dowm and-principle active through line

whole

inert through line interrupted

dsignvit, et rs quae d erum cnflict ortae sint vari durum symbolrum compositine
he-designated and things which from their

conflict arisen have by-varying of-two symbols

combination

expressit. Ita 64 figrs, namquamque ex sex lines, tum integrs, tum interrupts
he-expressed

thus 64 figures each one

out-of six lines both whole

and interrupted

composuit. Ipsus interpretti periit, sed symbola ad posters trnsmissa rursus atque rursus
he-composed

his-own interpretation perished but symbols to posterity transmitted again

and again

novrum doctrnrum fundamentum furunt; sc ad prncipis Ouen-ouang (. Wen

of-new

doctrines

foundation

were

thus to of-prince Wen Huang

Huang)5 tempus pervnre, qu (duodecim ante Christum saecul) rs imperi restaurtrus

time

they-reached who in-12th

before Christ

century things of-empire going-to-retore

novam symbols doctrnam adjcit, cuque brevem adscrbns sententiam, quibus nova de
new

to-symbols doctrine

added to-each short

adding-in-writing sentence by-which new about

mribus et repblicae administrtine praecepta indicrentur,

morals

and of-state

administration

precepts

might-be-iindicated

Post ipsum flius Tcheou-kong (, Zhu Gng Dan)6 patris opus compltrus cuque
after him

son Zhou Gong

fathers work

going-to-complete to-each

sententiae sex novs addidit, quibus singuls cujusque symbol lines interprettus est,
sentence

six new-ones added by-which individual of-each

symbol lines he-interpreted

Reckoned as the founder of the Zhou dynasty, though it was his son, (Zhou Wu Huang), who
actually overthrew the Shang dynasty.
6
Brother of Zhou Wu Hang and later regent for Wus son.

physica ac metaphysica mrlibus et politics admscns. Post sscents exinde anns hunc
physics and metaphysics with-morals and politics mixing

after

600

from-then years this

librum Confcius, rs Snics in antquum statum revoctrus, dnu suscpit, commentris

book

Confucius things Chinese into ancient stat going-to-recall again took-up with-commentaries

et appendice nstrxit, in quibus snsum symbolrum Fohi ac sententirum Ouen-ouang et

and appendix

equipped in which meaning

of-symbols of Fohi and of-sentences of Wen Huang and

Tcheou-kong explicret, et prmum locum inter sex librs. quibus imperi doctrnam continr
Zhou gong

he-could-explain and first

place among six books in which empires teaching to-be-contained

voluit,7 ips attribuit. Ab e tempore ad hunc usque diem summae Sns reverentiae fuit,
he-wanted to-it attributed from that time

to this right-up day of-highest for-Chinese reverence it-has-been

et quaecunque nova apud ipss orta est schola, novae libr Y-king interprettin doctrnam
and whatever

new among them arisen has school on-new of-book I-Ching interpretation

suam superstruere studuit.

doctrine

Sc metaphysica ac physica, mrum doctrna et astrologia,

their-own to-erect has-been-eager thus metaphysics and physics of-morals teaching and astrology

re pblicae administrandae rgula et rrum prvtrum dvintins aeque ex Fohi symbols

of-republic

being-administered

rule

and of-things private

predictions

equally from Fohis symbols

drvantur. Nec apud Sns tantum libr fma et reverentia stetit; inter es etiam, qus msit
are-derived

nor among Chinese only of-book fame and reverence has-stood among those also whom sent

ecclsia Rmna lgts, ut Sns ad fidem Christinam converterent, mult mox edem
church Roman as-envoys so-that Chinese to faith Christian they-might-convert many soon by-same

qu Snae imbt libr Y-king venertine, in e mystria doctrnae Christinae reperr

by-which Chinese imbued of-book I-Ching veneration in it mysteries of-doctrine Christian to-be-found

sibi persusrunt, et huic fundment rliginem Sns trdendam impnere cnt sunt. Ita
themselves persuaded and on-this foundation religion

in Eurpam libr nmen trnsit, et multa

into-Europe

books name

to-Chinese being-transmitted to-place tried

thus

mult d e scrpsrunt, plrque ut d ignt

passed and many-things many-people about it wrote

most

as of unknown

r, hallcinants.
thing under-delusions

Letter of C.S. Lewis on the persecution of Christians in China

Best known today as the author of the Narnia novels and as a writer on theology, Lewis was
by profession a university teacher of English literature, specializing in the Medieval and
Renaissance periods. From 1947 to 1954, Lewis corresponded in Latin with an Italian priest,
Don Giovanni Calabria, who had written to him after reading The Screwtape Letters.
Calabria apparently chose Latin as he did not himself know English and did not realise that
7

The `six books Mohl refers to are presumably the canon of classic texts supposedly edited or
composed by Confucius himself. Because the Classic of Music () was destroyed in the First
Emperors Burning of Books or lost during the Han dynasty, the phrase normally used today is `the
Five Classics (): Classic of Poetry (), Book of Documents (), Book of Rites (), the
Book of Changes () itself and the Spring and Autumn Annals ().

Lewis could read Italian. Calabrias initial letter to Lewis and those of Lewis which have
survived, plus a smaller number to another priest written after Calabrias death, have been
published with a facing English translation in The Latin Letters of C. S. Lewis, by Martin
Moynihan (South Bend, Indiana: Saint Augustines Press, 1998). This letter written in 1953
discusses the plight of Christians in mainland China, which had been the subject of an article
in the Italian journal Amico (October 1952). Calabria was not the author of this but had
apparently sent the piece to Lewis.
Coll. Stae Mariae Magdalnae
apud Oxoninss
Jn. vii MCMLIII
Tandem, pater dlectissime, vnit in mans exemplar Amc (Oct) quod continet tracttum
at-last

father most-esteemed has-come into hands copy

of Amici (Oct) which contains tract

tuum d clde ill Sric. D ill ntine quum ibi per mults anns vangelistae haud
yours about disaster that Chinese about that nation

since there for many years missionaries not

inflciter labrvissent, equidem multa sprbam: nunc omnia retr fluere,

unsuccessfuly had-worked

ut scrbis,

I-at-least many-things hoped-for now all-things backwards to-flow as you-write

manifestum est. Et mihi multa atrcia mult d ill r epistols renntivrunt neque aberat
clear

is and to-me many atrocities many-people on that subject in-letters have-reported nor

was-absent

ista miseria cogittinibus et precibus nostrs. Neque tamen sine peccts nostrs vnit:
that misery from thoughts and prayers our

and-not however without sins our it- happened

ns enim istitiam illam, cram illam pauperum, qus (mendcissim) commnistae

we

for

justice that

care

that of-poor

which (most falsely)

communists

praeferunt dbuermus jam ante multa saecula r vr effcisse.

advertise

Sed long hoc

(we) ought-to-have already before many centuries really to-have-brought-about but far this

aberat; ns occidentls Chrstum re praedicvimus, facts Mammon servitium tulimus.

was-absent we westerners Christ

by-mouth preached

by-deeds of-Mammon slavery

brought

Magis culpbils ns quam infidls: scientibus enim volunttem De et nn facientibus

more

guilty

we

than infidels

to-those-knowing for will

of-god and not doing

major poena. Nunc nicum refugium in contritine et rtine. Di errvimus. In legend

greater punishment now

only

refuge

in contrition and prayer

long we-have-erred in reading

Eurpae historiam, seriem exitibilem bellrum, avritiae, frtricdrum Chrstinrum

Europes history

succession destructive of-wars

of-avarice

of-fratricidal of-Christians by

Christins persectinum, luxuriae, gulae, superbiae, quis discerneret rrissima Sanct

Christians

persecutions

of-extravagance of-gluttoy of-pride who would-detect rarest

Sprits vestgia? rmus semper. Val.

Spirit

traces.

Let-us-pray always farewell

of-Holy

Iohannes Gliszak - `D Matthae Ricci dque Isutis in Imperi Sric

This essay by Polish Latinist Iohannes Gluszak was published a few years ago in two parts in
the Latin internet journal Ephemeris (http://www.alcuinus.net/ephemeris/historia.php?id=38
and http://www.alcuinus.net/ephemeris/historia.php?id=43 )
Saecul XVI p.Ch.n. Sricum Imperium stirpe Ming regbtur, quae et potenti mlitr et
in-century 16th A.D.

Chinese

Empire

by dynasty Ming was ruled

which both in-power military and

cvil Mongolic iug diect di valbat. E tempore Lusitn aegre imperi rs infestbant
civil

with- Mongol yoke overthrown long prospered at-that time Portuguese badly of-empire shores were-infesting

et Sribus odi erant ut praedns et fraudulent merctrs. Frustr igitur sprbat Franciscus
and to-Chinese for-hatred were as pirates

and deceitful

merchants

in-vain therefore hoped Francis

Xavier , missinrius apud Nippnnss prosperus, eorum auxili s terram Sricam

Xavier

missionary

among Japanese

successful their by-aid himself land Chinese

aditrum.
going-to-reach

Sed alis patribus Isuts Lusitn potius commod erant. Cum enim Lusitnus qudam
But for-other fathers Jesuit Portuguese rather

for-advantage were

when for Portuguese a-certain

illicita negtins in port Canton comprehnsus sit ac in custdi tenrtur, patrs duo
illegal-things transacting in port of-Canton arrested

was and in custody was-being-held fathers two

Isutae Barreto ac Goes pr redemptine su agebant.Tunc et prcrtrem ports

Jesuit

Barreto and Goes for release

their were-acting then also warden

of-port

cognvrunt et cupient hrologium Eurpaeum dedrunt et curis superirem scientiam

they-got-to-know and to-him-desiring clock

European

they-gave and to-curious-man superior

knowledge

rrum technicrum ostendrunt.Ille ita amiciti vr cum ills coninctus est et perlibenter
things technical

they-demonstrated he thus by-freindship true with them joined

was and very-willingly

ills in port remanre permsit. H alis ordinis frtrs advenre iussrunt et advenae
them in port to-remain permitted they other of-order brothers to-come

ordered and the-foreigners

amicitiam prcrtris urbis et magistratuum concilivrunt su exqust urbnitte,

friendship

of-warden

of-city and of-magistrats

won

by-their exquisite politeness

benignitte et caerimnirum perti. Nam ill sequents Isutae et linguam et mrs et

kindness

and of-rituals

skill

for the following

Jesuits

both language and customs and

institta et rs gests Srics quam optim scvrunt. Schola enim in nsul Lusitnrum
institutions and things done Chinese as-well-as-possible knew

school for

in island of-Portuguese

Macao institta erat patre Valignani mltre, ubi haec omnia quam accrtissim
Macao set-up had-been with-father Valignani as-founder where these all

perdidicerant antequam portum Canton intrssent.

they-had-learned before

port

of-Canton they-had entered

10

as-accuratelty-as-possible

Mrbilis apud Sres scientiae amor et venerti litterrum, at et superbia propter

extraordinary among Chinese of-science love and veneration of-literature but also pride

because-of

antquissimum cultum cvilem8 proprium. S imperium medi orb terrrum" esse barbars
very-ancient

culture

civil

their-own themselves empire for-middle orb of-lands to-be by barbarians

lmitnes circumdatum crdidrunt. Hc d caus maxim cum cautl Isutae rem suam ad
bordering surrounded

they-believed this from cause greatest with caution Jesuts project their for

Sricum imperium convertendum incprunt. Vestibus Srics indts ac s ipss nminibus

Chinese

empire

being-converted

they-began with-clothes Chinese put-on and themselves by-names

Srics clmantibus9 s haud differre Sribus nec lingu nec mribus vidr volurunt.
Chinese

calling

themselves not to-differ from Chinese neither in-language nor in-customs to-seem they-wanted

Matthaeus Ricci ()
In numer sequentium frtrum in port Canton fuit et Matthaeus Ricci (1552-1610), qu olim
In number

of-following brothers in port Cantn was also Matteo

Ricci

who once

in Collgi Rmn praecipu rbus astronomics excelluerat. Sed pervnit prmum in

in college

Roman

especially in-things astonomicl had-excelled

but he-reached first into

portum Canton veste monch Buddhic indt, doctrn hc ad tempus imbtus ac nov
port

Canton with-dress of-monk Buddist put-on with-doctrine this for time

imbued and with-new

nmine sibi adhibt Li Ma-teu. Prncipi mre alirum monchrum vxerat dnec doctum
name for-himself adopted Li Ma-teu in-beginning in-manner of-other monks

he-had-lived until learned

Srem quendam obviam sibi habuit qucum de coel colloqu potuit. Illum scienti sua
Chinese a-certain encountering to-himself had with-whom about heaven to-talk he-was-able him by-knowledge his

eximi obstupefcit ita ut Sr

outstanding amazed

ips suadret, ut vestem mtret et doct vir Sric

so that the-Chinese him urgged that clothing he-might-change and of-learned man Chinese

vestta fornsia vestret. Hc perct cubiculum suum mtvit in labrtrium quoddam:

clothes court he-might-wear with-this done

8
9

room

his he-changed into laboratory

Cultus cvilis is presumably meant for `civilization,

Presumably an error for clmants

11

a-sort-of

ubque carts gegraphics, pictrs, librs ac permulta instrumenta ad rem physicam

everywhere

maps

pictures books and very-many instruments for reality physical

scrtandam necessria disposuit . Fma celeriter dvulgvit mraculum novum ac acttum

being-examined necessary he-arranged

rumour quickly spread

wonder

new and instantly

domum optimtibus ac doctissims Sribus implvit. Hc docuit perurbniter scscitants

house

with-nobles and most-learned Chinese filled

here taught very-politely those-inquiring

doctor Li rs Europaes mairs, prncipia scientirum novrum necnn pictrs rligiss et

doctor Li things European more-important principles of-sciences new

and-also pictures

religious and

librs sacrs haud occultvit virs satis familiribus. Mox invitvit eum prvinciae Kiang-si
books

sacred not hid

from-men enough familiar

soon

invited him

of-province Kiangsi

rgulus, ut et eum vseret. Rgaliter exceptus est. At erat causa haud secrta invttinis
governor that also him he-might-vist royally received he-was but was reason not secret of-invitation

hospitique. Mathmatica enim disptti nstitta est rgul iudice inter Li et optims
and-hospitality mathematical for

debate

arranged was with-governor as-judge between Li and best

mathmatics Srics prvinciae huius. Perfacile vcit es omns Isuta pertissimus. Tunc et
mathematicions Chinese

of-province this

easily defeated them all

Jesuit

most-skilled then also

librum novum lingu snns Elementa mathmatica" secundum Euclden composuit et

book

new in-language Chinese Elements

of-Mathematics according-to Euclid he-composed and

docuit docts virs de acoustics, astronomics, hrologiis. Itaque stupre omns adfcit. Sed
he-taught learned men about acoustics astronomy

clocks

and-so with amazement all he-affected but

simul exposuit sollerter Srice vangelium ad instr dialog cuiusdam Sric philosoph et
at-same-time he-set-out skilfully in-Chinese gospel

in form of-dialogue of-a-certain Chinese philosopher and

sacerdtis Christin, ets mortem Christ crucit plrumque obumbrvit. Genus enim mortis
of-priest

Christian

although death of-Christ by-crucifixion generally

he-concealed sort

for

of-death

Sribus servle et nfme vidr scvit. Ex prvinci Kiang-si iter fcit Isuta Li Ma-teu in
to-Chinese servile and disreputable to-seem he-knew from province Kiangsi journey made Jesuit Li Ma-teu into

urbem imperilem ac partim scrtam Peking. Hc per quendam amcum Impertr tunc
city

imperial

and partly secret

Peking here through a-certain friend

to-emperor then

potentissim ac novrum percris Shen-Tsung (1573-1620) hrologium Eurpaeum dn

most-powerful and about-new-things very-curious Shen-Tsung

clock

European

as-gift

msit. Cum autem hrologium in cubicul impertri operr desvisset, iussit tristis
he-sent when however clock

in bedroom

imperial

to-function had-ceased ordered sad

impertor dntrem advenre, ut hrologium mrum reficeret. Et id itertum est aliquotis.

emperor

giver

to-come that clock

marvellous he-could repair and this repeated was several-times

Intere cum Li verteret rotulam hrologi, crisittem et admrtinem impertris excitvit

meanwhile when Li was-turning wheel of-clock

curiosity

and admiration

of-emperor

he-roused

observtinibus aliquot immnsam suam relictam scientiam ostendentibus. Praecipu sollertia

by-observations

some

immense

his remaining knowledge

12

displaying

especially

skill

pingend et d rbus astronomics disserend impertris mentem et animum cpit. Cum

of-painting and of things

astronomical of-discussing emperors mind

and soul captured when

dxisset mult sapientirs virs hs in rbus sibi nts esse, rogtus est ab impertre ut es
he-had-said much

wiser

men these in subjects to-himself known to-be asked

was by emperor that them

in rgiam quam celerrim ascsceret. Apud impertrem fidem erg s tlem obtinuit, ut fli
into palace as-quickly-as-possible he-should recruit with emperor

trust towards himself such he-obtained that of-son

impertris magister et paedaggus factus sit. Di in aul clrbat virttibus sus mentis et
of-emperor

teacher

and tutor

made he-was for-long in court was-conspicuous by-virtues his of-mind and

anim ardre vangelizand haud neglct. Cum obret, trecenta fna Christina iam erant in
of-spirit with-zeal of-evangelizing not neglected when he0died 300

churches Christain already there-were in

imperi Sric et sepulcrum stupendum impertor ipse ill aedificvit et mre Sric cultum
empire

Chinese and

tomb

amazing

emperor himself for-him built and in-mannner Chinese cult

mortu instituit administrs ad rtum servandum dsignts. Intere et ali Isutae in aul
of-deceased set-up with-administrators for rite maintaining appointed

meanwhile alsoother Jesuits in court

impertria mult valbant , magn amre reverenti gravitte flrentes ac in rbus

politics ,
imperial

much wee-strong with-great love respect

importancce flousrishing and in things political

nnnumquam et prvts,doms rgiae aditrs necessri et dlect.

sometimes

and private of-house royal helpers

intimate and esteemed

Capt Snnsium regitur mundus lge qudam suprm ac coelest Tao voct. Secundum
in-understanding of-Chinese is-ruled world by-law a-certain supreme and celestial Tao called according-to

lgem illam niversam omnia nstitta pblica ac prvata operantur aut operr dbent, nempe
law

that universal

all

institutions public and private operate

or

operate should clearly

perprosper et bon omnium s homins quam accrtissim illam lgem sequantur et e

very-prosperously and for-good of-all if men

as-accurately-as-possible that law

follow

and that-much

peius qu longius Tao dgrediantur. Inter officia impertria maxim moment dcbtur
worse by-which further from Tao deviate

among duties imperial of-greatest importance was-considered

cra calendri annlis nstituend et observand. Quod10 quand fs et nefs, quibus dibus
care of-calendar annual being-drawn-up and

observed

what when

right and wrong on-which days

quod faciendum aut omittendum fuerit indxit calendrium singulriter. Crdbtur sals
what to-be-done or

to-be-admitted was indicated

calendar

in-detail

was-believed welfare

ttius Imperi populque ex calendri ill (libr admonitinum pro popul") mends
of-whole empire and-people on calendar

that

of-book

of-warnings for people from-errors

prt11 dpendere. Praesertim ann initium bene indc debuit. Illud calendrium a slect
purged

todepend

especially years beginning well to-be-indicated had-to that calendar

by select

et perdoct Tribunl Mathmatic semper compnbtur.

10

This (and the second quod in the sentence) are probably errors for the interrogative pronoun quid
The verb pr is not given in classical or medieval Latin dictionaries but the identical Italian verb
means ``purge or `purify
11

13

and highly-learned board

of-astronomy always was-composed

Adamus Schall

Ills anns ultims stirpis impertriae Ming mala in rgn vidbantur multiplicr. Segets
In-those years last of-dynasty imperial

Ming evils in kingdom seemed to-be-multiplied crops

dmintae, dignitts in aul et per prvincis vnls et corruptae, apud septentrinls

diminished

official-positions in court and through provinces for-sale and corrupted

among northern

barbars mts signa calendri male cnfect et ita lgis suprmae laesae dcbantur esse.
barbarians disturbances signs of-calendar badly drawn-up and thus of-law supreme

violated were-said to-be

Interrogt Isutae hc de r respondrunt calendrium falsum apud Sres indc adhibrque

questioned

Jesuits this about thing replied

calendar

false

among Chinese to-be-published and-used

12

et ita coelestiam cnsonantiam haud observr. Increpbant imprmis Isuts aulae

and thus heaenly

harmony

not

to-be-observed protested-at particularly Jesuits of-court

impertriae ministr, at mox Isutrum verba mrbiliter probvit dfecti solis ab ills
imperial

ministers but soon of-Jesuits

words wonerously

proved eclipse of-sun by them

usque ad mintam rct praedicta et astronoms Srics omnn imprvsa. nus Isutrum,
right-up to minute correctly predicted and for-astronomers Chinese completley unexpected one

of-Jesuits

sclicet Adamus Schall (1591-1666), idcirc cram calendri mendand obtinuit. Sed
namely

Adam Schall

for-that-reason care of-calendar being-corrected obtained but

antequam illud calendrium mendr potuisset, clds ingents recpit Imperium Sricum
before

that calendar

to-be-corrected had-been-able disasters hue received Empire

Chinese

stirpe Ming extinct. Barbar enim incursinem cis illum nsignissimum Mrum Sricum
with dynasty Mng wiped-out barbarians for

12

incusion

within that most-famous

Wall of-China

The original text has the active infinitive (observre) but the passive infinitive gives better sense,

14

fcerant. Isutae fidliter fulsrunt impertrem Shi-Tsung in percul versantem et magnam

had-made

Jesuits faithfully supported emperor

Shi-Tsung in danger

manoevring and great

vim tormentrum fulgurientium cnfcrunt et Sres mlits docurunt quemadmodum ills

force of-ballistic-weapons lightning-hurling manufactured and Chinese soldiers taught

what-way

them

terentur. Hs torments dvict sunt barbar, sed dfatigtum imperium rebellins novae
they-should-use With-these weapons

defeated were barbarians but exhausted

empire

rebellions

new

quassvrunt et rebells usque ad urbem Peking penetrrunt rgiamque expugnvrunt. Ut

shook

and rebels right-up to city Peking penetrated

and-palace

stormed

so-that

es opprimeret, auxilium gentis bellicsae Mantsu ascvit nus dcum impertris.

Rebellibus
them he-might-suppress help

of-people war-like Manchu enlisted one of-generals of-emperor with-rebels

expulss ill Mantsu ips

praesidis terram Snnsium occupvrunt et rrum pott sunt

expelled those Manchus themselves with-garrisons land

of-Chinese occupied

and of-things took control

duce et impertre nov Shun-Tsi (sive Shunzhi). Ultimus prnceps ex stirpe Ming ad
with-leader and emperor

new Shun-Tsi or Shunzhi

last

prince

from line Ming to

merdiem trnsfuga baptizatus (nmen Constantn e datum) obiit.

south

fugitive

baptised

name of-Constantine to-him given died

Imperator Kangxi cum Adam Schall et astronoms.

Isutae locum in aul impertria sub novs Snnsium domins non perdidrunt, nam et in
Jesuits

place in court imperial

under new of-Chinese lords not

15

lost

for also in

famili Mantsuric Tsing (Qing) nn omnia secundum Tao nstitta erant et scienti
family

Manchu

et

Tsing (Qing) not aa-things accoduing-to Tao set-up had-been and for-knowledge and

sollerti Isutrum opus erat, ut nstituerentur. Impertor iuvenis Shun-Tsi msit uxrem
expertise

of-Jesuits need was so-that they-might-be-set-up Emperor young

Shun-Tsi lost

wife

amtam filiumque et Buddhic monach veste indt s recpit in monastrium. Adamus

beloved

and-son and of-Buddhist monk with-clothing put-on himself took into monastery

Adam

Schall tunc modertor Tribunlis Mathmatic factus est. At iuvencul impertre Kang-hi
Schall then

head

of-Boarl

of-Astronomy made was But with-young emperor

Kang-hi

(sve Kangxi 1662-1723) necdum potente et aditribus rgentibus opprimbantur in pncipi

or

Kangxi

not-yet

powerful and with-assistants ruling

were-oppressed in beginning

Isutae ut incert administr nov imperi Mantsuric et veteris Mingnsis amc. Cum autem
Jesuits

as unreliable serants of-new empire Manchu

and of-old Ming-one friends When however

iterum dfectinem slis rct praedxissent, invalidam astronomiam Sricam et islamicam

again

eclipse

of-sun righly they-had-predicted invalis

astronomy

Chinese and Islamic

prrsus esse probrunt et ingenter aestimtine su auct astronomicum observtrium

absolutely to-be they-proved and hugely reputation

their increased astronomical

observatory

Pekiniae renvrunt frtre Verbiest praeside instruments secundum praecepta Tychnis

Brahe
of-Peking they-renovated with-brother Verbiest presiding with-instruments accordingg-to intructions of-Tycho Brahe

cnfects. Cum autem regere incpisset ille Kang-hi, Adam Schall alumnus, tantam
manufactured when moreover to-rule hd-begun that Kang-hi

of-Adam Schall puil

so-much

reverentiam et venertinem haburunt Isutae scut numquam ante et numquam post.

respect

and

veneration

had

Jsuits

as

never

before and

never aftr

Impertor enim erat omnium rrum ntrlium percrisus et rliginis Isutrum

Emperor

for was of-all

things

natural thoroughly-curious and of-religion of-Jesuits

tolerantiam, nisi amrem palam ostentvit. Et crditur temporis maiorem partem cum Isuts
tolerance

if-not love

openly displayed and he-is-believed of-time greater

part with Jesuits

quam cum aulae ministrs dgisse semper nova disqurns, incertrum explictinem pscns
than

with of-court ministers to-have-spent always new-things asking-about of-things-uncertain explanation demanding

et continu cnsilia rogns doctissimrum virrum per ttum imperium. Amre erg Isuts
and continuously advice asking

of-most-learned

men throughout whle empire

by-love towards Jesuits

ita porttus est, ut uxrem fliam sorris frtrisve papae dcere vellet. (In epistul scrpsit
so carried-away was that as-wife

daughter of-sister or-brother of-pope to-take he-wished in letter

he-wrote

papae : Cum vester populus Rmnus ut fns insiccbilis virtte clrentium ac

to-pope

since your people Roman

as source unfailing

in-virtue of-shining and

praestantissimrum mulierum ntus sit , cnstituimus nbs matrimni iungere puellam

most-outstanding

women

known is

we-have-decided to-us in-marriage tojoin maiden

venustam nbilemque, quae lac suxerat audcis lenis feminae ac cervae tenullae

16

(...)volumus
attractive

a d-noble

who milk has-sucked of-bold lion

woman and of-dear tender-little

we-wish

eam oculos columbae, quae caelum aspexerat, et s conchae, quae alitur radiis aurrae
her

eyes

of-dove

which heaven has-seen

and face of-pearl which is-fed by-rays of-dawn

habre aette ducents lns nn super et corporis magnitdine viridem calamum trtici et
to-have in-age

200

moons not above and of-body in-size

green

stalk

of-wheat and

ltitdine manipul sicc frument esse" (R. Fueloep-Miller,op.cit.,p.313-314).

in-breadth as-sheaf

of-dried corn to-be

Et rliginem et fmam scientiae Eurpaeae ultr extendrunt cum cram chartrum

Both religion and fame

of-science of-Europe further they-extended when care

of-papers

gographicrum adumbrandrum imperi habrent et itinera per vasts tracts terrrum

geographical (i.e. maps) being-sketched-out of-empire they-had and journeys thrugh vast tracts of-lands

Sricrum facerent. Sed et cum in rbus externs novae turbtins in septentrinibus

Chinese

they-made but also when in affairs extrnal

new

disturbances in

northern

reginibus supervnissent auxili et commod permagn erant Isutae. Russs enim

regions

had-occurred

of-help nd of-advantage great

were Jesuits with-Russians for

merctram pollicentibus aut latrcinia et foedus cum barbars adversus Sres minantibus
trade

promising

or raids

and treaty with barbarians against Chinese threatening

Isuts interpretibus aditribusque propter mrum lingurum et iris gentium ntitiam ann
With-Jesuits interpretes

and-helpers

because-of of-customs of-languages and of-law of natons knowledge in-year

1689 in oppid Nartsinsc [Nerchinsk] pacti prma inter cvittem externam ac Sres facta
est.
1689 in town

Nerchinsk

treaty first between state

foreign and Chinese made was

nsuper bis aegrtum dolre oppressum ac fere moritrum impertrem arte nov medend et
In-addition twice sick

by-pain

oppressed and almost abot-to-die

emperor

with-art new of treating and

medicments ignts Sribus servvrunt. Hc tempestte et ob

medicines

unknown to-Chinese they-saved

at-this time

illa mrculsa"

and because-of those miraculous

medicmenta turba magna Srum oppugnvit Isuts rogand et accipiend auxilium et

medicines

crowd great

of-Chinese besieged

Jesuits asking-for and receiving

help

and

fidem Christinam. Sequns impertor Yung Cheng (Yongzheng 1723-1736) nn tam favit
faith

Christian

Following emperor Yung

Cheng

not so favoured

Isuts nec cupidittem rrum natrlium reperiendrum habuit ut pater eius. Suspect erant
Jesuits

nor

desire

of-things natural

being-discovered had

as father his suspected had-been

in principi ill Isutae nunc nimis potents et rits erum haud adaptt Srics. Dhinc
in beginning those Jesuits now

too

powerful and rites of-them not adapted to-Chinese-ones Then

iussit collgium rtuum nnnlls ecclsis druere et Sres baptzts in custdi retinre.
he-ordered college of-rites some

churches to-demolish and Chinese baptised in custody to-keep

Sed nn di saevitia impertris perdrvit. Cum iterum lgti Russrum supervnisset,

17

but not for-long harshness of-emperor

lasted

when again delegation of-Russians had-arrived

poturunt slum Isutae colloquia et condicins percommods pact nov faciend efficere.
were-able

only

Jesuits

negoiations and conditions suitable

of-pact new being-made to-bring-about

Itaque ann 1730 Kiachtae pacta facta sunt iterum Isuts adiuvantibus et Sribus
and-so in-year 1730 Kiakhta

pacts made were again with-Jesuits helping

and Chinese

gaudentibus.13 Tsian Lung (, Qianlong 1736-1796) imperante dnu praecrium locum

rejoicing

with-Qianlong

reigning

again

precarious place

haburunt Isutae et Christin Sres. Sed dnu non di, nam superbiam ac mrum
had

Jesuits and Christian Chinese but again not for-long for pride

and strange

impertris studium hortrum ornandrum scvrunt ac statim prtulrunt sollertiam suam et

of-emperor

enthusism of-gardens being-adorned they-knew and at-once revealed

expertise their and

scientiam pinguend, aedificand et automatria inveniend et cnficiend, ut cor rgis

knowledge

of-fertilising

of-building and automatons of-inventing and constructing so-that heart of-king

caperent. Ostentvrunt e.g. lenem currentem a s cnfectum, tigrin, fontem aquae per artem
the-might-capture they-displayed e.g. lion

running

by themselves constructed tiger fountain of-water by art

alt salientem, mrum thetrum automatri ldns cum hrologio, msic et

high leaping

wonderful theatre

atomatically playing with clock

music and

circumcurrentibus pps Snnsibus. Ita impertris benevolenti auct ecclsias et cultum

running-round

dolls Chinese

thus of-emperor with-kindness increased churches and worship

Christinum exercre ills licuit.

Christian

Ut appret, Isutae omnibus mods probs et peracts

to-exercise to-them was-permitted as it-appears Jesuits by-all means honest and ingenious

rliginem Christinam inter Sres dissminbant dissmintamque defendere cnbantur.

religion

Chistian

among Chinese were-spreading and-when-spread

to-defend

were-trying

Intere, pr dolor, rbus in Eurp vald mtts perculum missin Isutrum nn per
Meanwhile for sorrow with-things in Europe greatly changed danger

to-mission of-Jesuits not through

impertrum Sricrum levittem et dicta, sed per nsidis apud Sanctam Sedem strcts et
of-emperors

Chinese

capriciousness and edicts but through plots

at

Holy

See

devised and

propter potentirum Europaerum simulttes ortum est et missinem tandem perdidit.

because-of of-powers

European

rivalries arisen has and mission at-last

destroyed

Dominicnrum Franciscnrumque ordins, praecipu a Hispns fult, invidi propter

of-Dominicans

and-of-Franciscans

orders

especially by the-Spanish supported from-envy because-of

prosperittem Isutrum labrbant. Mults iactrs propris14 apud Sres accprunt cum
prosperity

of-Jesuits were-suffering many

losses of-thir-own among Chinese they-received when

apert praedicants damntinem pgnrum impertrum ac sapientium Sricrum

openly them- predicting

damnation

of-pagan

emperors and

of-intellectuals Chinese

indigntine portt

Sres cohibuissent et expellissent. Celeriter causs gravs querend

13

The Treaty of Kiakhta was in fact signed in 1727 and a convention modifying one of its articles in
1768 (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Kyakhta_%281727%29)
14
The original text has the ungrammatical phrase mults iactrs propris

18

with-indignation carried-away Chinese had-restricted and

expelled

quickly

reasons serious of-complaining

adversus Isuts repperrunt et Sed Sanctae praetulrunt. Accsbant enim Isuts

against

Jesuits they-found and to-See Holy

revealed

they-accused for

Jesuits

pgnrum superstitins colere cum dis frls et fands in tribunl Mathmatic

of-pagans

superstitions to-foster when days dangerous and auspicious in Board of-Astronomyl

dfnrent; es mre Sric capite opert missam impi legere; particips caerimnirum erg
they-defined them in-manner Chinese with-head covered mass impiously to-read participants of-ceremonies for

mortus esse esque observr Christins iubere; crucitum Christ ante Sres occultre
nec
dead

to-be and-these to-be-observed by Chistians to-order crucifixion

of-Christ before Chinese to-hide and-not

crucs in ecclsis admittere. Adhc vnit quod et Eurpaeae potentiae s immscurunt 15 lt.
crosses into churches to-admit additionally came fact-that also European powers themselves got-involved in-dispute

Francogallia praedictrs msit Lusitns resistentibus ac novum epscopum Pekininsem

France

preachers

sent with-Portuguese resisting

and new

archbishop

of-Peking

Lusitnum dsignantibus. Illum epscopum archiepscop in Goa obnoxium facere in anim

Portuguese

appointing

that

bishop

to-archbishop

in Goa

subject to-make in mind

habuerant. Hispn autem in prvincia merdinl adversus Isuts Franciscnrum ac

they-had-had Spanish moreover in province southern

against

Jesuits of-Franciscans

and

Dominicnrum cnts porr adiuvbant. Rmae paprum incnstantia et exterrum

Dominicans

attempts moreover helped

at-Rome of-popes inconsistency and of-foreign

potentirum ops gradtim adversus Isuts rem vertrunt. Clmente XI pontifice maxim
dua
powere

assistance gradually against

Jesuits thing turned

with-Clement XI pontiff supreme two

brevia vulgta sunt (1704 et 1714), quibus caerimniae Sricae damntae et reiectae sunt.
Ubi
letters published were 1704 and 1714 in-which ceremonies

Chinese condemned and rejected were when

Christinrum amcus Kang-hi id didicisset, ita cnsuit:" Qu mod potest papa rs idicre,
of-Christians

friend

Kang-xi it had-learned thus he-opined by-what means can

pope thigs judge

qus numquam vdit aut cognvit? Quoad m attinet, numquam audrem mres Europaes
which never he-has-seen or has-known as-far-as me concerns never

I-would-dare customs Europaean

idicre, qurum nllam ntitiam habe"(ibidem,p.332). Innocente autem XIII, inimc

to-judge

of-which no

knowledge I-have in-same-place, p.332 with-Innocent moreover XIII enemy

societtis Iesu, sedem Sanctam occupante duo dcrta promulgta sunt, ne novs monchs
in
of-society of-jesus see

holy occupying

two decrees promulgated were that-not new monks into

terram Sricam mitterent Isutae nec apostoltum illc resmerent. Edem tempore et
land

15

Chinese might-send Jesuits nor missionary-work there might-resume

For the original texts immixerunt*

19

at-same time also

impertor Yung-Cheng aegr Christins adligvit. Et ita ambo debilirem reddidrunt

emperor

Yung-Cheng badly Christians impeded

and thus both

weaker

rendered

Christinismum Snnsem
Chinese.

Christianity

Ann autem 1742 Benedict XIV pap bullam Ex qu singulari providentia factum est"
In-year moreover 1742 with-Benedict XIV pope bull

from which singlar

providence brought-about it-has

dere adivrunt inimc Isutrum, quae confirmvit interdictins omns ab ann 1704
to-issue helped

enemies of-Jesuits

which confired

prohibitions

alll

from year 1704

dits et cogit Isuts iusirandum dare, n caerimnis Srics adessent aut es tolerrent.
issued and compelled Jesuits oath

to-give that-not rites

Chinese they-would-attend or them tolerate

Ita vulnervrunt missinem Isutrum, quae rapid auctritte et missinris dplta est.
thus they-wounded

mission

of-Jesuits which rapidly in-authority and in-missionaries emptied was

Mox supressus est rtus Christinus in prvincis aliquid Christinzts et sl in Macao

soon supressed was worship Chritians in provinces to-some-extent Chrisitanized and alone in Macao

Christin lberttem rliginis colendae haburunt. Ann tandem 1773 abolta est ipsa
Christians

freedom of-religion being-followed had

in-tear

at-last 1773 abolished was itself

Socits Isu man Lusitnrum, Hispnrum ac Francogallrum pontifice maxim

Clmente
Society of-Jesus by-hand of-Portuguese of-Spanish and

of-French

with-pontiff supreme

Clement

XIV id per bullam Dominus ac redemptor" iubente volenteque.

XIV this by bull

Lord

and redeemer

ordering and-willing

E tempore rixrum inter ordins Christinrum et potentirum Eurpaerum pro

apostolt
at-that time

of-quarrels between ranks

of-Christians and-of powere

European

for missions

et salte animrum Snnsium ortae sunt gravs suspicins et pavor rliginis adventiciae
and salvation of-souls Chinese

arisen have grave suspicionns and fear of-religion alien

apud Sres. Poste vcsim saecul apert natinlismum Snnsem cnfitentes et in

among Chinese later in-twentieth century openly nationalism

Chinese

those- professing and against

advens Eurpaes pugnants Christinismum odi haburunt ut domintinis Eurpaeae

foreiners Europen

fighting

Christianity

for-hatred had

as

of-domination European

instrumentum. Tle carmen e.g. cecinrunt Sres contr Eurpaes certants:

instrument

such

song e.g.

sang

Cinese against Europeans struggling

Slus dcert vincns aut vapulns Nll mihi opus est ut lberum m reddam. Nl
alone I-fight winning or being-beated of-none to-me need is so-that free myself I-can-,make I-dont-want

20

llum Isum Christum cnsere S umquam pr salte me mor potuisse"

any Jesus Christ

to-think himsef ever

for salvtion mine to-die to-have-been-able

[Je combats seul et gagne ou perds Je nai besoin de personne pour me rendre libre Je ne veux
pas que nul Jsus Christ pense Quil put jamais mourir pour moi]
Secundum A. Malreaux, `Expugnatores, [in:] Nrrtins, Luttiae 1947,p.105)]16

David Morgan, `D Adami Schall Historic Nrrtine: Qu Mod Snae Sint Latnae
Factae
David Morgan (1959 -2013) was Professor of French at Furman college in the USA but his
main scholarly interest was in neo-Latin literature and the promotion of spoken Latin. In this
undated essay, available on the web at http://mcl.as.uky.edu/schall, he discusses Schalls
description of China, highlighting the way in which the Jesuit astronomer sought to equate
many features with those of the Roman Empire. In seeking out such parallels he was
unconsciously replicating the approach of the Chinese themselves in the Han dynasty, when
the Roman empire was known as Da Qin .
Ann 1665 typs excussus est Vindobonae in Austri liber qu inscrbitur Historica Narrti
In-year 1665 from-press sent forth was at-Vienna in Austia book which is-entitlted Historical Narrative

d Initi et Prgress Missinis Socittis Isu apud Chnnss, ac Praesertim in Rgi

of Beginning and Progress of-Mission of-Society of-Jesus among Chinese and especially in Palace

Pqunns, ex Litters R. P. Iannis Adam Schall, ex Edem Socitte, Suprm ac Rgi

Of-Peking

from letters of-reverend fatherJohn Adam Schall from same society

of-supeme and royal

Mathmatum Tribunlis Ibidem Praesidis. Qu liber pars est ingentis ac pretisissim illus
of-astronomy

of-board in-same-place president which book part is of-huge and most-valuable that

librrum epistolrumque corporis, qu Socittis Isu missinri ab saecul 16 usque ad

of-books

and-of-letters

of-body by-which of-society ofJesus missionaries from century 16 th right-up to

18um d mribus natinum erum, ad qus miss erant, dligenter rettulrunt - qu in r nn

18th about customs of-nations those to which sent they-had-been diligently reported

which in thing not

tantum Socittis conditris, Ignti d Loyla, praeceptum exsect sunt, vrum etiam
only

of-Society of-founder Ignatius de Loyola

instruction

carry-out they-did truly also

anthrpologiae modernae velut fundmenta posurunt.17

16

Originally published in 1928 as Les conqurants. The work is a highly fictionalized account of the
iunsuccessful Canton insurrection.
17
Prmae notae exemplum est opus epistolre Patris Emmanuel de Nbrega Lusitani, missinri apud
Brasilinss, cartograph, firmque indigenrum patrn; cuius videtis Cartas do Brasil e mas
escritos, ed. Serafino Leite, S.J. (Conimbrgae, apud typographum acadmicum, 1955). Epistolae
quaedam Isutrum, qu prmum in Sns miss sunt, nuper sunt typs excsae: Jesuit Letters from
China, 1583-1584, ed. M. Howard Rienstra (Minneapoli, apud Acadmiae Minnesotnae typographum,
1986).

21

of-anthropology

modern

as-if foundations

they-laid.

Vrum erum litterrum, qus in Sns habitantes missinari composurunt, hoc est peclire,
Indeed of-those letters

which in China living

missionaries composed

this is peculiarity

quod nn tantum Socittis Is rectribus vrum etiam Eurpaes litterts niverss

that not

only

of-Society of-Jesus for-governors indeed also for-Europeans educated all

dstintae sunt. Quibus autem scripts missinri - dus pariets, quod aiunt, d edem
intended

they-were by-which moreover writings missionaries two walls

as they-say from same

fidli dealbants - cum d Snns lingu, cult derum, aedificis, rgimine, alisque
bucket

white-washing both about Chinese language worship of-gods buildings government and-other-things

eiusmod accrtissime nrrvrunt, tum methods sus doctrnamque et theologiam

of-this-kind

most-accurately they-told

then methods their and-doctrine

and theology

prpugnre ns sunt, nempe popul suffrgium benevolentiamque captants. Arduum enim

to-fight-for strive they-did clearly of-people approval

sustinbant

and-beneolence

trying-to-win

hard

for

bellum e fere tempestte contr Insenistas imprms 18, qu bell nn iam in

they-were-shouldering war at-same about time

against Jansenists in-first-place in-which war not now in

auls academics sed in pblic dmictum est - tl adhibit potissimum prl typographic.
halls academic

but in public

fought

it-was with-weapon used especially

press printing

Inter scrpta haec Snnsia, a Isutis dvulgta, gravissim sunt ponderis prmum Adam
Among writings these Chinese by Jesuits published of-most-serious are importance first of-Adam

Schall Historica Nrrti, de qu hc agitur, deinde epistulae eae Gallic scrptae,

Schall Historical Narrative about which her is-discussed then letters

those in French written

nmine Lettres difiantes et curieuses de Chine, quae paul post, hoc est ineunte saecul 18,
by-name

Letters Edifying and Curious from China

which a-little later that is with-beginning century 18

annu vice in fasciculs collectae ltissime in Eurp dvulgtae sunt. Liber Adam Schall
by-annual turn in volumes

collected most-broadly in Europe published

were. Book of-Adam Schall

atque Epistulae Aedificants illae, cum alis paucs scrpts, Snrum effigiem quandam sve
and

letters

edifying those with other few writings

of-China portrait

a-certain or

imginem hominum occidentlium mentibus impressrunt, di haesram multumque in

image

of-people

western

in-minds

impressed

long-time going-to-stick and-much

in

dispttinibus illus aettis, quae "Illustrti" nuncuptur, valitram. Philosophs ills, qu

disputes

of-that age

which `Enlightenment is-called going-to-be-effective philosophers those who

sunt Voltaire, Diderot, Montesquieu, haec sdul lgisse cnstat. 19

18

Insenistae - qu nomen dxerant a Cornli Inseni (1585-1638), Iprns epscop - saecul 17 in

Galli praecipu flrurunt, acriterque in Isuts tamquam hypocrits, ambitiss, Pelaginos invect
sunt.
19

Virgile Pinot, La Chine et la formation de l'esprit philosophique en France, 1640-1740 (Parisis,

apud Geuthner, 1932; reimpr. Genvae, apud Slatkin, 1971); et David Morgan, "Sources of
Enlightenment: The Idealizing of China in the Jesuits' Lettres difiantes and Voltaire's Sicle de Louis
XIV," in commentaris quibus nomen Romance Notes, 367 (1997): 263-272. Ipsae Lettres difiantes

22

are Voltaire Diderot

Montequieu

these carefully to-have-read it-is-known

Prpositum est igitur in hc commenttine prmum Historicae Nrrtinis quasi

cnspectum
Proposed

-it-is therefore in this

essay

first

of-Historical Narrative

as-if overview

paucs adumbrre, deinde duo themata paul amplius ndre. Ostendam enim quam
briefly to-sketch-out then

two themes a-little more-fully to-flesh-out I-will-show for how

efficciter Adamus Schall non slum linguam Latnam classicam, sed ttum cultum illum
effectively Adam

Schall not only language

Latin

classical but whole-of culture that

cum antquum tum Renscentilem, in quem Isutae qudammod successerant, ad

both

ancient and of-Renaissance

into which the-Jesuits in-a-way

had-become-heirs for-purpose-of

imperium mrsque Snnss dscrbends adhibuerit. Deinde nnnlla d themate expnam

empire

and-customs Chinnese being-described made-use-of then

some things about theme

I-will-set-out

locrum clausrum - ex qu themate integra nrrti, ut crd, exstruitur.

of-places closed

by which theme

whole narrative as I-believe is-structured

I. D Isuts in Sns Misss

About Jesuits into China sent

Nm fere nescit missinris praesertim Socittis Isu sus scrpts occultissimum

Nobody almost is-unaware missionaries especially of-Society of-Jesus by-their writings most-secret

imperium Snnse Eurpaes prmum patefcisse. Ante missins Isutics condits, vix
llus
empire

Chinese

to-Europeans first

to-have-revealed before missions

Jesuit

established scarcely any

exstiterat Snrum periegeticus praeter Marcum Paulum illum (vulgo Marco Polo) - cuius
had-existed of-China traveller

except Marcus

Paulus that in-vernaular Marco Paulo whose

reltinem mult lectitrant20 quidem, perpauc vr auctr crdiderant.

Account

many had-read

indeed very-few actually author had-believed

Franciscus Xaverius, "apostolus Indirum" et clrissimus inter Socittis Is missinris,

Francis

Xavier

the-apostle of-the-Indies and most-famous among of-Society of-Jesus missionaries

iam medi saecul 16 Christinismum in Indis et Iapniam intrdxit, sed in Sns

already in-middle-of century 16th Christianity

into Indies and Japan

introduced but into China

penetrre frstr cntus est, et ad "ports Snnss," id est in nsul qudam prope ltus
to-penetrate in-vain

tried

and at gates of-China

that is on island a-certain near coast

continentis, diem obiit. Vrum Matthaeus Riccius, Isuta erditissimus, mathsesque

of-mainland

last-day met indeed

Matteo

Ricci

Jesuit most-learned

and-in-mathematics

imprms pertus, exeunte saecul 16 ad urbem Pknum usque pervnit, atque acceptus est in
particularly skilled with-ending century 16th to city

Beijing as-far-as reached and accepted was into

praeterit saecul saepe sunt Gallic ditae; exstat porr commoda Isabellae et Iannis Visire
diti, Lettres difiantes et curieuses de Chine par des missionaires jsuites (Parisis, apud
Garnier,1979).
20

Abbeviated form of 3rd pers. pl. pluperfect lectitverant.

23

aulam imperilem. 21 Pater Riccius magn cum astti scientiam Eurpaeam astronomicam
court

imperial

Father Ricci

great with astuteness knowledge European

astronomical

pariter ac mathmaticam ad fidem ttlamque imperatris merendam adhibuit. Librs autem

equally and mathematical for trust and-protection of-emperor earning

made-use-of by-books moreover

Snic scrpts cnstat enim Riccium hanc linguam absolt didicisse - doctrnam
in-Chinese written is-well-known for

Ricci

this

language completely to-have-learned teaching

occidentlem tam sacram quam philosophicam et mathmaticam Snnsibus aperuit;

western

both sacreed and philosophical

and mathematical to-Chinese revealed

nsuper librs Latns cultum Snnsem praesertimque Confucinismum Eurpaeis exposuit.22

Additionally in-books Latin culture Chinese

and-particulrly Confucianism

to-Europeans he-expounded

Missi Isutrum saecul insequent nn slum Pkn sed intr ipss ingentis palati
mission

of-Jesuits in-century folllowing not only in-Beijing but within themselves of-huge palace

mrs mrum in modum flrebat ac vigbat. Mult Isutae inires advnrunt, qui Patr
walls wonderful in way

was-flourishing and in-vigour many Jesuits younger arrived

who Father

Ricci adiuvrent. Inter qus nus vr in locum Ricci successisse dcendus est, vidlicet
Ricci might-help

among whom one indeed into place of-Ricci to-have-succeeded to-be-said is namely

Adamus Schall, Germnus, qu medi saecul 17 nn slum in amplissimum mandarinrum

Adam

Schall

German

who in-middle-of century 17th not only in fullest

of-mandarins

gradum prmtus est, vrum etiam tribunl astronomic imperil praefectus - quod in omn
grade

promoted was indeed also for-board

astronomical imperial put-in-chrge

which in all

memori numquam homin exter contigerat.

memory

never

to-person foreign had-happened

Ex epistols huiusce Patris Adam, Pkn Rmam misss, liber cnstat, d qu hc agitur.
from letters

of-this Father Adam from-Beijing to-Rome sent

book is-made-up about which here is-discussed

In qu libr nrrantur cnsprtins et susurrtins inter mandarins et aulics et eunuchs

In this book are-narrated conspiacies and whisperings among mandarins and courtiers and eunuchs

factae; magn rrum versi, qu corruit prspia imperilis cui nmen Ming; luctatins
made

great of-things overthrowing in-which collapsed dynasty imperil to-which name Ming struggles

necnn martyria neophytrum Christinrum Snnsium; colloquia dnique patris Adam

cum
and-also martyrdoms of-converts

Christian

Chinese

conversations finally of-father Adam with

21

Ricci vta inceptaque ab Ianne (Jonathan) D. Spence, professre Yalns, nn minus icunde quam
rudt nrrantur in libr qu inscrbitur The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci (Nov Eborc, apud
Viking Penguin, 1984). Ephmeridem quoque Ricci inspicitis, ex Latn in Anglicum a Louis
Gallagher, S. J., versum, China in the Sixteenth Century: The Journals of Matteo Ricc: 15831610 (Novi Eboraci, apud Random House, 1942). De Isutrum in Sns rbus gests generliter
videtis George H. Dunne, S. J., Generation of Giants: The Story of the Jesuits in China in the Last
Decade of the Ming Dynasty (Nostrae Dominae in Indin, apud typographum acadmicum, 1962).
22

E caus profect Confcius ille nomen Latnum accpit, quod prmum Eurpaes ex Latns
Isutrum scrpts inntuit.

24

ips imperatre habita tam theologica quam levira. Haec omnia Pater Adamus praesns
himself emperor

held

both theologicl and less-serious these all father Adam present

participvit; liber aliqutenus vtae eius nrrti est.

participated-in book to-some-extent of-life of-him narration is

Vrum alia in e simul adumbrtur nrrti, mult amplior, cuius prtagnista est cultus ille
indeed other in it at-same-time is-oulined narration much fuller

whose protagonist

is culture itself

Rmnus Christinus hmnisticus, in qu antqua Hebrica sapientia cum recentissims artis

Roman

Christian

humanist

in which ancient Hebrew wisom

with

most-recent of-art

mchanicae invents na cohaeret. Haec amplior nrrti ex hc cnstat, quod cultus cvilis
mechnical

inventions together is-fused this larger

narrative of this consists that culture civic

Eurpaeus cters omns cults - etiam vetustissims, tamquam Snnsem - paulatim, et ftl
European

other

all

cultures even

oldest

such-as Chinese

gradually and fatal

qudam impet, nn tam exstinguere quam complre qudammod ac perficere ostenditur.

a-certain with-impact not so-much to-extingish as

to-complete in-a-certain-way and to-perfect is-shown

Itaque haec Pknnsis missinis nrrti pars est illus pancosmiae et theologicae et
and-so this of-Beijing

of-mission narrative part is of-that universal both theological and

teleologicae (ut ita dcam) nrrtinis, qu frt Eurpae illus tempesttis - i praecipu qu
teleological

that thus I-may-say narrative on-which relying Europeans of-that time

those particularly who

quasi sprit Refrmtinis Catholicae afflti sunt - generis hmn historiam intellegere et
as-if by-spirit of-Reformation Catholic

affected were of-race human history

to-understand and

interpetr solebant.
to-interpret were-accustomed

II. De Latinitate Narrationis

About Latinity

of-narrative

Habtis libr quasi cnspectum. Nunc ostendere cnbor quam efficciter Adamus Schall
You-have of-book as-if overview

now

to-show

I-will-try how effectively Adam

Schall

Latinittem classicam n cum cult hmn antqu ad imperium mrsque Snnss

Latinity

classical together with culture humanist ancient for empire

and-customs Chinese

dscrbends adhibuerit.
being-described employed

Cum equidem in hunc librum prmum in bibliothc qudam incid, e caus imprms
when indeed upon this book

first

in library

a-certain I-came for-that reason primarily

gvsus sum, quod putbam m rs verbaque insolita atque extica in e offnsrum. Hc sp

rejoiced I-did because I-thought myself things and-words unusual and exotic in it going-to-encunter by-this hope

statim dceptus sum. Nam est nrrti quasi dcolor; id quod ex Romanticism tempestte
at-once deceived I-was for is narration as-if colourless that which from of-Romanticism time

"colrem loclem" vocmus, huic reltin omnn dest. Vix llum vocbulum offenders
colour

local

we-call

to-this account altogether is-lacking scarcely any word you-would-encounter

25

quod non sit prae et antquae Latnittis; srpantur plrumque vocbula antqua ac rs
which not is of-pure and ancient Latinity

are-used

generally

words

ancient and things

Rmnae, ad homins mresque Snnss dpingends. 23

Roman

for people

and-customs Chinese being depicted

Ita verba quae ad rem pblicam Rmnam pertinent, Snns re pblicae adhibentur.
Thus words which to

state

Roman

are-connected for-Chinese state

are-employed

Mandarins ills Pater Adamus "magistrts" vocat; suprmum impertris cnsilium est
Mandarins those-famous Fr Adam

magistrates calls supreme

of-emperor council

is

"sentus"; immnsam rgiam illam, quae postea "urbem imperilem" audit, Pater Adamus
`senate

immense

palace the-famous which afterwards city imperial

is-named Fr Adam

"paltium" simpliciter nminat. Porr extr moenia Pknnsia sunt "suburbia"; ldus nesci
`palace

simply

terms

besides outside walls of-Peking

are

suburbs

game I -know--not

qulis Snnsis "latruncul" nuncuptur24; deinde ecclsia Christina, quam patrs in ips urbe
what-sort Chinese `little-bandits is-called

then

church

Christian

which fathers in itself city

imperil exstrxerant, "templum" voctur, secundum mrem hmnisticum; et aedes sacrae

`imperial

had-constructed

temple

is-called according-to custom humanist

and houses sacred

Snnsium nn "pagdae" sed "dlbra" sunt. Ita libr auctor efficit, dat oper ut crd, ut
of-the-Chinese not `pagodas but `shrines are thus books author brings-about deliberatlely as I-believe that

imperium Snnse qudammod Rmn imperi nbs simile videtur. Hc in r nn sine

empire

Chinese in-a-certain-way to-Roman empire to-us similar may-seem this in matter not without

moment est sus vocbul quod "barbarus" est - Pater Adamus numquam ipss Snnss
importance is use

of-word which `barbarian is

Fr

Adam

never

themselves Chinese

"barbars" vocat, saepe erum fnitims.

`barbarians calls often their neighbours

Qur scrptor verba peregrna effugit, rsque Rmns beneque ntas adhibet, quoad potest,
why writer

words foreign

fled-from and-things Roman

and-well known employs as-far-as he-can

ad cultum Snnsem expnendum? Hoc interrogtum mihi cnsiderant duo succurrunt

for culture Chineses being-presented his question

respnsa; agitur
answers

it-is-a-matter

primum d
first about

to-me considering two

occur

hmnism, ut ita dcam, deinde d theologi.

humanism that thus I-may-say then about

theology

Hoc cum prms inter hmnisticam et modernam rudtinem interest, quod ns quidem in
this with first-things between humanist and modern

scholarship is-different that we indeed in

23

Attamen nn omns Isutae a nminibus exticis novtisve abhoruisse videntur; videtis N. Golvers,
"The Latin Treatises of F. Verbiest, S. J., on European Astronomy in China: Some Linguistic
Considerations," in commentaris quibus nmen Humanistica Lovaniensia 44 (1995): 322-346. Porr
cnfitendum est vocbula extica aliquot etiam in Adam Schall Narrtine hc illc invenr,
praesertim ultims capitibus; plrumque tamen vtantur.
24

Ab Acci Watanabe certirs fact iam opnr audmus ldum vrisimiliter esse eundem qu nunc
"Igo" appelltur.

26

nquque gente et aette, cui nscendae studemu nicum proprium peclire

each

people and age for-which being-learned-about we-may-study unique own

peculiarity

quaerimus; hmnistae quidem, idest temporis Renscentilis rudt, ad niverslittem

we-seek

humanists indeed that is of-time

of-Renaissance inellectuals towards universalism

quandam tendbant, idque slum is sct memortque dignum vidbtur, quod genus
a-certain

were-tending and-that only to-them of-knowing and-of-relating worthy

seemed

which race

hmnum nivers et generliter attingeret. Porr ad facta gestaque hmna generliter,

human

universally and in-general might-concern besides for facts and-deeds human in-general

exprimenda hmnists imprompt erat mr idneum instrumentum, sclicet serm Latnus,

being-expressed to-humanists at-hand

was wonderfully suitable

instrument

namely language Latin

quippe qu nn unus patriae proprius esset, nn nius aettis, sed niverslis et aeternus.
in-that this not of-one fatherland own-property was not of-one era

but universal

and eternal

Altera causa ex rixs ecclsiastics exoritur. Saevibat edem fere tempre, qu liber ditus
a-second cause from quarrels ecclesiastical

arises

was-raging at-same roughly time at-which book published

est, rixa theologica "de caerimonis Snnsibus" dicta. 25 Cter in Sns operants missinri,
was quarrel theological about rites

Chinese

termed

other in China operating missionaries

n cum Insenists ills Gallics, 26 Isuts accsant quod rts pgns et dlolatram inter
together with Jansenists those French

Jesuits accuse

because rites pagan and idolatry

among

proslytas erum patiantur; Isutae respondent cultum mairum apud Snnses doctrnamque
converts

their supposedly-allow Jesuits reply

cult

of-ancestors among Chinese and-doctrine

Confcinam nn esse dlolatram, sed venerbilem quandam philosophiam, cui dsit

Confucian

not to-be idolatry

but worthy-of respect a-certain

philosophy

to-which is-wanting

tantummodo Christinae revltinis plnitd. Quam ob rem Isutrum interest efficere

only

of-Christian

revelation

fullness which for reason of-Jesuits

is-interest to-bring-about

ut mres cultusque Snnsis nn insolitus, nn exticus, sed potius Eurpae similis videtur.
that customs and culture Chinese not unusual not exotic

but rather to-Europaean similar might-seem

Ad hunc fnem spectat sus illus quasi niverslis Latnittis hmnisticae.

to this end

aims

use

of-that as-if universal

Latinity

humanist

25

Rixa illa d caerimnis Snnsibus paucs nrrtur apud Vissire (ann. 7), pp. 22-33, amplius apud
Pinot (ann. 7), passim. Inspicitis quoque textuum historicrum dlectum, a Ren Etiemble ditum, Les
Jsuites en Chine: la querelle des rites, 1552-1773 (Parisis, apud Juliard, 1966).
26

Inter Insenists prmus Blsius Pasclius, celeberrimus auctor, Isuticam inter Snnss politicam
insecttus est in divulgtissim libr Lettres crites un provincial (Parisiis, 1657; saepe redimpr.), qu
liber Latnus factus est Petro Nicoli, cooperante ips Pascli, Ludovc Montalt Litterae
Prvincils d Mrl et Poltica Isutrum Disciplna (Colniae Agrippnae [fals pr Parisis],
1658). Cterum vel amplissima eiusmod in Isuts accsti est Antoni Arnaldi, Insenistrum quasi
prmipl, Histoire des diffrends entre les missionaires jsuites d'une part et ceux des ordres de saint
Dominique et de saint Franois de l'autre (Amstelodami ?, 1692).

27

III. D Themate Locrum Clausrum

about theme

of-places closed

Nunc d themate locrum clausrum penetrtinisque pauca expnam; nam hc themate, me

now about theme

of-places

closed

and-of-penetration a-few-things I-will-expound for by-this theme in--my

sententi, tta libr nrrti velut suffulctur et ordintur.

opinion

whole of-book narrative as-if is-supported and arranged

Snae hc libr ante omnia tamquam locus clausus dpinguntur. Prmum, ttum imperium
China in-this book above all as

place closed

is-depicted first

whole empire

Snnse exters peregrnsque sub poen mortis excldit, sls Isuts excepts. Cter
Chinese foreigners and-strangers under penalty of-death excludes alone with-Jesuits excluded other

missinarii, Franciscn et Dominicn praesertim, n cum merctribus in oppidis

missionaries

Franciscans and Dominicans especially together with merchants

in towns

ltorlibus quibusdam manre ac tabscere coguntur. Deinde urbs caput Pknum ipss
coastal

certain

to-remain and waste-away are forced then

city capital Beijing to-actual

Snnsibus clauditur, nisi paucs. Accdit hc paltium illud intr urbem situm, cuius mr
Chinese

is-closed except to-a-few is-in-addition to-this palace

that within city situated whose walls

crass et "inexpugnbils" ad unguem dscrbuntur. Ibi sunt "latebrae regis," nam "tta apud
thick and `impregnable

in-great-detail are-described there is `den of-the-king for all among

Snnss venerti ab abdit est." Intra paltium dnique, in abditissim loc, dlitscunt
the-Chinese veneration from being-hidden is within palace

finally in most-hidden place are-concealed

nbils muliers: "nec ipsae gred, nec quisquam alius ingred potest" illc, nisi eunuch;
noble

women

neither thmselves to-go-out nor anyone

else to-enter is-able to-there except eunuchs

nam in interirem rgiae partem "nn licuit umquam alis, praeter muliers et eunuchs,
for into interior

of-palace part not as-allowed at-amy-time for-others except-for women and eunuchs

penetrre." Hoc thema locrum clausrum, praesertimque paltirum clausrum, frequns est
to-penetrate this theme of-places closed

and-especially

of-palaces

closed

frquent is

in aettis Baroccae fbuls scaenics; succurrunt ment imprms Iannis Racine, Gall,
in of-age

Baroque

plays

occur

to-mind especially of-Jean Racine

Frenchman

tragoediae.27
tragedies

Sed ad tot materils mrs accdunt etiam artira mentis et anim claustra. Snnss enim
but to so-many physical walls are-added even tighter of-mind and of-spirit bonds

the-Chinese for

exterrum mres contemnunt, et "superb pls cters mortlibus sapere s sls crdunt."
of-foreigners customs despise

and proudly more than-other mortals to-be-wise themselves alone believe

A novitte abhorrent, "nec dviant a rguls mribusque mairum." Postrm additur linguae
from innovation they-recoil and-not deviate from rules and-customs of-ancestors finally
27

is-added of-language

Inter hs sunt imprms nspiciendae Brnice (Parisis, 1670), Britannicus (Parisiis, 1670), et
Bajazet (Parisiis, 1672) - persaepe redimpressae.

28

Snicae singulrits et difficults, quae missinribus impediment est immns.

Chinese

peculiarity and dificulty which for-missinaries as-impediment is immense

Qumodo vr Patre Schall Isutrum opera dpingitur? Reperiuntur in libr duo verba
how

indeed by Fr

Schall

of-Jesuits task is-depicted are-found

in book two words

frequentissim: "penetrre" et "nsinure"; exempl grti, "Patres se nsinuvrunt,"

most-frequently

`to-penetrate and `to-infiltrate of-example by-way fathers themselves infiltrated

"Christina lx in aul rgi nsinutur," "ad aulam penetrvit" Pater Adamus, Isutae
Christian law in court royal is-infiltrated to court penetrated

Fr Adam

Jesuits

"allicibant anims" impertris. Itaque contr mrs tam lapides quam mentls, nn fit
were enticing the-mind

of-the-emperor and-so against walls both of-stone and mental

not is-made

impetus ex advers, sed sinusus potius qudam mtus. Dcam obiter vocbulum quod est
attack

from the-front but circuitous

rather a-certain movement I-should-say by-the-way word

which is

"sinusus" ad modum nrrand, qui huius libr est proprius, sat idneum esse.
`circuitous

to method

of-narration which of-this book is belonging enough suitable to-be

Gradulis haec penetrti et nsinuti ttum libr argumentum suppeditat. Vidmus prms
gradual

this

penetration and infiltratin whole of-book argument supplies

we-see

in-first

capitibus Mattheum Riccium usque ad Pknum slum pervenre, in paltium accip; deinde
chapters

Matteo

Ricci

as-far-as to Beijing

alone to-reach

into palace to-be-receivd then

Pater Adamus - in epsodis nn sine arte drmatic efficc relts - Eurpaeam scientiam
Fr

Adam

in episodes not without art dramatic

effective related

Europaean

science

venertae et antquissimae doctrnae Snns praestre et antecellere probat. Agitur hc

respected and mostancient

teaching

Chinese to-surpass and excell

proves is-discussion here

imprms d slis eclpsibus praedcends. Di enim qudam, purpurts omnibus ipsque

principally about of-sun eclipses

being-predicted on-day for a-certsin with-nobles all

and-himself

impertre spectantibus, inter eclpsem Pater Adamus cum prm mandarin "speculam
emperor

looking-on

during eclipse

Fr

Adam with first

mandarin

`watch-tower

mathmaticam cnscendit; cnstat slum novum ab Eurpaes trditum calculum tam tempor
astronomical

ascends is-agreed only

new

by Europeans handed-over calculation both to-time

quam puncts eclipticae exact respondisse," et antquam Snnsem rgulam n hr vr

and

duration of-eclipse exactly to-have-matched and ancient

discrepsse. Ob

Chinese rule

by-one hour from true

hanc alisque causs Pater Adamus fidem et admrtinem impertris

to-have-deviated because-of this and-other reasons Fr

Adam trust and admiration

of-emperor

mertur; vetusttis cultus labefit et frangitur; mandarin invidios, qui Patrem "thaumaturgum"
merits

of-th-old

cult crumbles and is-broken mandarins jealous who father

`magician

et "magum" vocant, nihilminus illi obtemperre coguntur, nempe qucum impertor cotdie
and `sorcerer call

nevertheless to-him to-defer

are-forced

colloqutur ac familiriter ttur.

speaks

and in-familiar-way has-dealings

29

clearly

with-whom emperor daily

Etiam in gynaecum, intimam palti reginem, penetrant qudammodo Isutae - nn ips,

even into womens-quarters intimate of-palace region penetrate

in-a-way

Jesuits

not themselves

sed eunch, patrum vice fungentes, nbilissims nnnlls fmins baptzant, quibus nmina
but eunuchs of-fathers in-place functioning noblest

some

women baptize

to-whom names

nova impnuntur, qulia sunt Agatha, Theodra. Hae marts novam fidem expnunt; integrae
new

are-assigned such-as are Agatha Theodora

these to-husbands new faith

expound

whole

aulicae familiae baptzantur.

courtier families are-baptized

Ultims tandem libr capitibus ipse impertor Patr Adam nsam praebet, ut quid de nmine
in-last

finally of-book chapters himself emperor to-Father Adam opportunity provides that what about power

divn cnseat, expnat. Haec colloquia verbtenus referuntur, quibus in ips umbilic
divine he-thinks he-can-explain these conversatins verbatim are-reported by-which in actual navel

Snnsis imperi doctrna Christina ncletur. Dubitat impertor, titubat. In hc rrum

of-Chinese empire doctrine Christian

is-explained doubts

emperor

hesitates in this of-things

discrmine - ac libr catastroph - subit corripitur impertor ignt morb, paucs dibus
csisis

and of-book climax

suddenly is-carried-off emperor by-unknown diesease in-a-few days

moritur.
dies

Capitul extrm nrrantur fnerlia singulque rts et caerimnia - haec est libr quasi
In-chapter last

are-narrated funeral and-individual rites and ceremonies

this is of-book as-if

perrti - sed ultims libr pginis lector sentit nrrtrem nn iam inturi slum, sed pln
closing-part but in-final of-book pages reader feels narrator

not now to-observe ony

but fully

participre vtam et cultum Snnsem. Sn orbis cultusque ille artissim clausus, in quem
to-share-in

life

and culture Chinese

clearly world and-culture that most-tightly close into which

Pater Adamus tot labribus penetrverat, in Patrem ipsum quoque penetrsse vidtur, qui
Fr

Adam so-many with-labours had-penetrated into Father himself aso

to-have penetrted seems who

qudammodo Snnsis factus est.

In-a-way

Chinese become has

Loctus sum de dubus rbus - Latnitte libr et Snnsis imperi clausra - nn omnn
spoken I-have about two

things

Latinity of-book and of-Chinese empire closing-off not altogether

dverss, ut crdo. Nam sus Latnittis hmnisticae et quasi niverslis, ad Sns

hominibus
separat as I-believe for

use of-Latin

humanist

and as-if

universal

for China to-pepole

Eurpaes interpretands - opera haec interprettva, ut ita dcam, ad illam Snarum

European

being-intrpreted

task this interpretive

that thus I-may-say to that of-China

penetrtinem, qu tot anim mentisque mri fract sunt ac triect, qudammod attinet.
penetration

in-which so-many of-soul and-of-mind barriers broken were and crossed-over in-a-way is-connected

Patrs enim missinis Pknnsis imprms interpretum mnere sunt funct. Librs Snice

30

Fathers for

of-mission of-Beijung principally of-intrpretors in-riole were involved books in-Chinese

exrvrunt, quibus philosophia et theologia et natrlis scientia occidentlis Snnsibus

the-produced

in-which philosophy and theology and natural science western

to-Chinese

expneretur; librs Latns itidem didrunt, quibus mres cultusque Snnsis prmum
could-be-expounded books Latin likewise they-published in-which customs and-culture Chinese first

Eurpaeis aperrtur. Dus lingus ad hoc propositum apts existimvrunt: linguam

Latnam
to-Europeans could-be-revealed two languages for this purpose

suitable they-considered

language Latin

hmnisticam et linguam Snnsem mandarinicam. Qurum utraque vulg ignrbtur, et

humanistic

and language Chinese

mandarin

of-which each

by masses was-unknown and

propter antiquttem immtbilis vidbtur. Porr ambae linguae e niverslitte praeditae

because-of antiquity

immutable

seemed

besides both languages with-that universality endowed

esse crdbantur, ut is adhibits licret manifestam reddere similitdinem fundmentlem,

to-be were-believed that by-them used it-wasiallowed clear

to-render similarity

fundamental

quae inter Eurpaes et Snnss latret.

which between Europeans and Chinese lay-hidden

Qus Snic Patrs Riccius et Schall scrpsrunt, libr classic inter Sns facti sunt, dique in
which in-Chinese Fathers Ricci and Schall wrote

books classic among Chinese become have and-long in

magn venertine habit; qus Latn scrpsrunt, merentur saltem ut nbs adhc
legantur.
great

veneration

held which in-Latin they-wrote

deserve

at-least that by us still they-be-read

Massimo Scorsone, translation of `Seeking the Master but not Meeting

Scorsones Latin version of these verses by a Tang dynasty poet, Jia Dao (779 843 A.D.),
was one of several he published in the Italian journal Semicerchio (XXXIV, 2006) and also
made available at http://www3.unisi.it/semicerchio/upload/sc34_scorsone.pdf A more literal
English translation is given at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jia_Dao More of Scorsones
translations can be read in VATES,an on-line journal of Latin poetry
(http://pineapplepubs.snazzystuff.co.uk/Vates%20issue%204.pdf). He is also the author of an
extended Latin account of the poet Li Po () and his work.

31

THYIADII
(Chia Tao)
Anachrtam quemdam quaerit
pota,
neque tamen invenit
Pns subter, ab assecl
Dsert dominum jre requrimus.
Is vr Procul hinc pater:
Herbs jam medics ipse per ardua
Terrrum, atque virentia
Collctrus abit, nbibus abditus
Spisss, inquit, et re.
Qu scdat... i! m penitus latet.

VOCABULARY
anachrta, -ae m

hermit

quisdam, quaedam, quiddam

terra, -ae f

a certain

land

vire, virre, viru

be

green
quaer, -ere, quaesv, quaestum

seek

collctrs, -a, -um

going to collect
pnus, -s f

pine tree

abe, abre, abv go away

subter

beneath

nbs, nbis f

dsertum. n

desert

cloud

abd, abdere, abdid,

abditum
is, iris n

right

hide

requr, -ere, requisv, requistumask about

spissus, -a, -um

dense
is, ea, id

he, she

ar, aris m

air

vr

indeed

scd, -ere, scess

depart

procul

far

io!

Aeeyah!

hinc

from here

penitus

completely

herba, -ae f

grass, herb

late, latre, latu

be hidden

ipse, ipsa, ipsum

himself etc.

arduus, -a, -um

steep

32