On Friendship: One Hundred Maxims for a Chinese language Prince
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Worth: $36.10
(as of Dec 18, 2024 10:05:52 UTC – Particulars)
“On Friendship, with its whole of 100 sayings, is the right present for associates.”Feng Yingjing, famend scholar and civic official, 1601
Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) is finest often called the Italian Jesuit missionary who introduced Christianity to China. He additionally printed a landmark textual content on friendshipthe primary guide to be written in Chinese language by a Europeanthat immediately turned a late Ming finest vendor.
On Friendship distilled one of the best concepts on friendship from Renaissance Latin texts into 100 pure and provocative Chinese language maxims. Written in a masterful classical fashion, Ricci’s sayings established his status as an amazing sage and the emotions nonetheless ring true.
Out there for the primary time in English, On Friendship matches a rigorously edited Chinese language textual content with a facing-page English translation and contains notes on sources and biographical, historic, and cultural data. Nonetheless admired in China for its sophistication and inspirational knowledge, On Friendship is a pleasant cross-cultural work by a vital and engaging historic determine. Additionally it is a superb instrument for studying Chinese language, pairing an excellent mannequin of the classical language with an accessible and correct translation.
ASIN : B007EWK7AA
Writer : Columbia College Press; Bilingual version (September 17, 2009)
Publication date : September 17, 2009
Language : English
File dimension : 3589 KB
Textual content-to-Speech : Enabled
Display screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Phrase Clever : Not Enabled
Print size : 153 pages
Jonathan B. Hall –
Wonderful
A classic…to my Western eyes, a classic…and according to the rich introductory material, a classic to Eastern eyes as well…lovely edition and the content is well worth pondering at length.
mat –
great condition
came in right on time & in great condition
David Marshall –
A beautiful, thoughtful little book.
Mateo Ricci was a contemporary of William Shakespeare, and in his own way, every bit as brilliant. Like many founders — Socrates, Confucius, Lao Zi, Jesus — he seemed to summarize in his person and teachings several deep insights that different followers would develop into systems of their own. Ricci argued that Classical Chinese philosophers knew and worshipped the Supreme God whom Christians also worship — an insight that would be developed by Jesuits, the “Three Pillars” of Chinese Catholicism, 19th Century scholars like James Legge, and continues to gain traction in modern China. (This is a special interest of mine — having once written a book on “how Jesus fulfills the Chinese culture.”) Ricci realized that science could be not impress Chinese with the Western world and make them curious to know more, but was itself a part of that blessing which Christianity brought to the Middle Kingdom — an insight that would be developed by Catholics and Protestants for hundreds of years. Ricci began the outreach to upper classes and to emperors that would culminate in a “special relationship” between Jesuits priests and the great Kang Xi emperor.But most of all, read his autobiography, and what stands out is the winsomeness of the man. He made friends. He dived into a river to save a mandarin’s family from drowning. He stood up for a group of street thugs who tried to rob him, saving them from execution. He practiced courtesy as an art, and as a way of living out the Gospel among a cultured people.This book is, thus, weightier than the number of pages it contains — which is not many. The central text is only 100 sayings, making it about the length of the “Gospel” of Thomas. It is a kindlier text, and maybe a more sensible one. The translator fortunately (for those of us who read Chinese) gives the Chinese text on facing pages. He adds a long and helpful introduction, and lots of useful appendixes, including the sources of the quotes. (Mostly from Cicero, Augustine, Plutarch, Seneca, and the like.) It is also a physically attractive book.Few of the sayings are earth-shattering — but then, neither are the Confucian texts his audience was used to. They are bread-and-butter of kindness and judiciousness; like the Proverbs, some seem too prosaic, while others make you think. Ricci’s audience much appreciated them; the little booklet was reprinted many times. The best book I know on friendship is certainly C. S. Lewis’ The Four Loves; but I am glad to make the closer aquaintance here of my friend Mateo Ricci, and the genial Christian humanism or Christian Confucianism that led him to translate these kind words in a time of turmoil and despair in the late (soon to be Late) Ming Dynasty.
PT McGuire –
A must read for anyone who admires the work of …
A must read for anyone who admires the work of Mateo Ricci. We need someone of his wisdom today.
David A. Novak –
It is proving a delight.
A book I am not familiar with. It is proving a delight.
trimcoin –
Five Stars
excellent
Oswaldo PEPE –
Five Stars
Like it but already know almost everything.