[COUPLET (Philippe)].

Lot 220
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Estimation :
2000 - 3000 EUR
[COUPLET (Philippe)].
Ex Libro, cui titulus Confucius sinarum philosophus sive Scientia sinensis latinè exposita. Paris, Daniel Horthemels, 1687. In-folio, 8 un-encrypted leaves, red morocco, Du Seuil decoration, decorated spine, inner wheel (modern pastiche binding). Extremely rare opuscule, taken from the famous first western translation of Confucius published by the Jesuits Philippe Couplet, Prospero Intorcetta, Christian Herdtrich and François de Rougemont in 1686-1687. In this piece of 8 unencrypted leaves, the missionaries try to clarify the meaning of the Chinese term Shang-ti (or Xam-ti), which means supreme God. An excerpt from the Confucius Sinarum philosophus. At the time when the controversy over the Chinese Rites started, there was discussion about the term Shang-ti, about which the missioners held different opinions among themselves. The Jesuits therefore made studies based on the writings of Confucius and from the ancient Chinese classics, on the term Shang-ti and then published what they thought was the correct interpretation (Albert Chan, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 479-480, n°III, 4). Wet stamp on the title. Ancient pen inscription at the top of the title: Excerpta. Light-coloured wet stamp on the footnote.
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