Rare Books
< Back
Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.
< Back
Two rare first editions on the ethics of the famous Chinese thinker and social philiosopher Confucius (551-479 BC)
(FOUCHER, Simon?).Lettre sur la morale de Confucius, philosophe de la Chine.    Amsterdam, Pierre Savouret, (1688). 8vo. Later (18th century?) calf, spine gilt and decorated in compartments, red title label, triple fillet borders on sides, gilt inner dentelles, red painted edges and blue silk bookmarker. Frontispiece with engraved portrait of Confucius, woodcut headpiece. 45, (3) pp. Bound with: (BRUNE, Jean de la). La morale de Confucius, philosophe de la Chine. Amsterdam, Pierre Savouret, (1688). 8vo. Woodcut printer's device on title, woodcut endpiece and initials. 23, (1 blank), 132 pp. Two rare works, both in first editions, on the ethics of the famous Chinese thinker and social philiosopher Confucius (551-479 BC), whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese thought and life. They have been printed simultaneously, as can be derived from the catchword between the two works. It seems probable that, judging from the few known copies, these works were mainly published together by the only shortly active Amsterdam printer Pierre Savouret (1686-1689). Ad 1: Letter written on January 23rd 1688, by Simon Foucher (1644-1694), who signed on p. 45 with S.F. In it he gives a summary of Confucius' morals derived from the pure sources of natural reason. It seems probable that Foucher can be seen as the author of this work, although this work also has been attributed to Jean de la Brune. Ad 2: Contains selections from the works of Confucius compilated by Jean de la Brune. De la Brune's translation was adapted from the Latin translation of Confucius's Ta Hsueh. 'As scholarly interest in Confucius' Sinarum Philosophus was declining, it was growing among lay readers throughout Europe. Following its original publication, two abridged versions were reproduced in vernacular tongues:one in French (our edition) and one in English (London, 1691).' (Odor). 'Not only did such books satisfy and further whet the curiosity of Europeans about China, but they functioned as guides, collections of inspiration to which one could turn when necessary.' (Jensen). Good copies.- (Spine slightly rubbed).
Ad 1: Barbier II, p. 1208/1; Cordier, Sinica, 1393; ad 2: Barbier III, pp. 351/8; Jensen, Manufacturing Confucianism, 120; Lowndes, I, p.510 (English eds.); Erin M. Odor, Undoing the Binaries, Rethinking 'Encounter': Translation Works of Seventeenth-Century Jesuit Missionaries in China. Ohio, 2006. See also: Edmund Leites, Confucianism in Eighteenth-Century England: Natural Morality and Social Reform. In: 'Philosophy East and West', Vol. 28, No. 2, Sinological Torque (Apr., 1978), pp. 143-159; Ting Tchao-Ts'ing, Les déscriptions de la Chine par les Français (1650-1750). Paris, 1928.
Related Subjects: 17th Century China French Philosophy Add to Shopping cart |
€ 1.575,00
Prices in EUROS (€), shipping and BTW/VAT extra.
< Back
Terms of sale
All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.
Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.
Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale
All items are offered subject to prior sale. Prices are nett and in (€) EURO. VAT/BTW, postage, and insurance are not included.
Free shipping for orders over € 2,500. EU customers: if applicable, please quote your VAT number when placing orders.
Preferred mode of payment: by credit card through our secure online payment service, which is facilitated by Ogone. If you wish to make other arrangements, please contact us. Terms of sale
E-mail this to a friend
Antiquariaat FORUM B.V.
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands
Tuurdijk 16
3997 MS t Goy-Houten,
The Netherlands
Phone: (+31) (0)30 601 1955
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com
Fax: (+31) (0)30 601 1813
E-mail: info@forumrarebooks.com
Web: http://www.forumrarebooks.com