An illustrated Life of Christ presented to the Chinese emperor : the history of Jincheng shuxiang (1640) / Nicolas Standaert.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [321]-333).
"A selection (of Pt. 1) was published earlier in Print Quarterly XXIII, 3 (2006), pp. 231-253."--Preface.
"The Jincheng shuxiang is reproduced here with the ... permission of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Wien (Sin 108)"--Pref.

"A renewed attention to visual culture is one of the recent developments in the study of cultural contacts between China and Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The subject of this book is the illustrated Life of Christ presented to the Chinese emperor in 1640 by the Jesuit missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell S.J. (1592–1666). The origin of the work is a small parchment booklet with coloured miniature paintings based on a wide variety of prints by well-known European engravers (e.g., H. Goltzius, J. Stradanus). It was compiled in Munich in 1617 and a Chinese version with the title Jincheng shuxiang was published in Beijing more than twenty years later in a nicely illustrated edition. This book is composed of two parts. Part I traces the complex history of production of Jincheng shuxiang, from its European origin to its Chinese reception. It also analyses the illustrations and the text. Part II contains the reproduction of the Chinese text and 48 illustrations, the reproduction of the identified original European prints and a translation of the Chinese text. It is hoped that the wider diffusion of this rare primary source, which is now reprinted for the first time since the seventeenth century, will further stimulate the study of visual culture in Sino-Western relations. The book will be of interest to a broad range of scholars, from art historians of China and Europe to scholars interested in print history, and theologians."--Publisher.

Japonica-Sinica IV, 2
Beijing Xuanwumen nei xinjian Tianzhutang beji 北京宣武門內新建天主堂碑記
Photocopy, 29.7 x 22.5 cm.

On the upper right corner there is a Latin inscription: “Originali 44/97 cm.”

POST FIDEM À D. THOMA AP^lo PRIMVM AD ̴ | VECTAM POSTque EANDEM À SYRIIS TEMPO ̴ | RE IMPERII TÃM, ITERVM ET LATIVS | PROPAGATAM; TERTIO RVRSVM SVB IM ̴ | PERIO MÎM POST EANDEM, DVCIBVS S^to | FRAN^co XAVERIO AC P MATT° RICCIO, PER | SOC: IESV HOMINES, ET VERBO ET LIBRIS | SINICÈ EDITIS DIVVLGATAM, MAGNO QVI ̴ | DEM STVDIO ET LABORE, SED FRVCTV, PROPTER GENTIS INCONSTANTIAM, PER ̴ | EXIGVO; DEVOLVTO IAM AD TARTAROS | IMPERIO, EADEM SOC:^as PRO INSTAVRATI | PER SVOS CALENDARII, XI HIEN LIE DICTI | LABORVM CORONIDE, TEMPLVM D.O.M. | PVBLICÈ PEQVINI REGVM SINARVM CVRI ̴ | ÆPOS: DICque | Anno Jubilaei 1650 Xún Chi 7°

自昔西漢時有宗徒聖多默者初入中國傳 | 天主正教此則唐貞觀以後有大秦國西士數 | 人入中國傳教又次明嘉靖時聖方濟各入中 | 國界傳教至萬曆時西士利瑪竇等先後接踵 | 入中國傳教譯有經典有書籍傳衍至今荷 | 蒙 | 清朝特用西法定造時憲新曆務告竣 | 謹於 | 都城宣武門內虔建 | 天主新堂昭明正教時 | 天主降生一千六百五十年為 | 大清順治七年歲次庚寅云 | 修政曆法湯若望記 | .

Post fidem a D. Thoma Apostolo primum advectam, postque eamdem a Syriis tempore imperii Tam, iterum et latius propagatam, tertio rursum sub imperio Min, post eamdem ducibus S. Francisco Xaverio et P. Matthaeo Riccio, per Societatis Jesu homines et verbo et libris Sinice editis divulgatam, magno quidem studio ac labore, sed propter gentis inconstantiam haud pari successu, devoluto jam ad Tartaros imperio, eadem Societas pro instaurati per suos Calendarii Xy hien lié dicti laborum coronide, templum Deo Opt. Max. publice Pekini Regum Sinarum curiae posuit dicavitque anno MDCL, Xunchi VII.
Pater Joannes Adamus Schall a Bell, Germanus, S.J. professus, et praefati Calendarii auctor, ex laboribus manuum suarum aedem hanc et patientiam posteris legat.

Liu Zhaoguo 劉肇國 in his essay Zeng Tianzhu xin tang ji 贈天主新堂記 ( Jap-Sin II, 76, ff. 3v–6v) gives an account of the building of this church. He mentions (f. 3) that there were two slabs at the entrance of the new church. According to him, Adam Schall intended to write an account on the building of the church and its religious aspect and to have it engraved on one of the slabs. On the other slab he would have had Liu’s essay inscribed, the theme of which would be on the calendar achievement of the Jesuit missioners at the Imperial Court. Seemingly, Schall was aware that the Chinese scholars were in general pagan in their outlook. They became friends of the missioners for the sake of their learning but were totally indifferent or even hostile when it came to the question of Christianity.

Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese books and documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp.511-513.
Local access dig. image [Tianzhutang beiji.tif/jpg]. See archive folder under Schall.

JapSin II, 40.2
Ceshi lüe 測食略.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Two juan. Bamboo paper in one volume.

There is a label on the cover with the title of the book in Chinese. A note is attached to this book written by Louis Van Hée, S.J. (1873–1951), who tried to correct the Latin title given on the cover: “Error | Hic titulus debet aufferri et eius loco Calculandi eclipses | Summarium a p. Schall | L. v. H.”

復 | 大冢宰崧翁李老先生命測月食書 | 今歲仲春之望，據曆，月梭應食。望奉 | 命測算，造次呈 | 覽。猥蒙 | 軫念。孤旅候 | 命邸中，以所測說轉達春曹。隨蒙大宗伯林老先生差官至寓取稿，伏惟盛德弘仁，不遺遐遠，誠 | 上國之柔遠，而風慕義之極思也。第匆遽間，即以 | 所測原幅，輕褻于 | 當世大人之前，思之殊為悚慄。茲承 | 嚴命測算望不敢以所食分秒時刻一圖，漫爾塞 | 責。故忘其固陋，輒拾小邦之遺軌，述食理之梗 | 概，敬呈 | 台階，以塵 | 清目，或不即見笑于 | 大方也。於食之所以然 | 究其義理之所歸，則于天學七政，或不無少裨也。伏乞 | 台臺留神于若天齊政，而重茲學，更祈于 | 退食之暇，俯賜刪削，則遠人不勝拜惠之至 | 大西湯若望頓首具。

Cf. Courant 4921; Väth, p. 364, no. 10.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 336.

JapSin II, 41.1
Ceshilüe 測食略.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Two juan in two volumes (in our collection juan B is missing). Chinese bamboo paper. No date or date of publication.

The cover bears the title in ink: 測食，上 and a Latin inscription: “Eclipsium obser | vatio | a p. Adam Schall | S.J.”

JapSin II, 41.2
Ceshilüe 測食略.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Two juan; Chinese bamboo paper in one volume. No date or place of publication.

There is a label with the title and with a Latin inscription: “Explicatur modus quo | fiunt eclipses solis et | lunae seu eas observandi | pars 1^a et 2^a | a p. Adam Schall, S. J.”

Jap-Sin II, 32
Chousuan 籌算.
By Luo Yagu 羅雅谷 (Giacomo Rho).
One juan. Bound in one volume, European style. No date or place of publication.

The first folio mentions the collection (Xiyang xinfa lishu and the section to which the text belongs: 西洋新法曆書，法數部，籌算, the chief compiler (Xu Guangqi): 明禮部尚書兼翰林院學士協理詹事府事加一級俸徐光啟督修，the author and reviser (Giacomo Rho and Adam Schall): 修政曆法極西耶穌會士羅雅谷撰，湯若望訂，and the proofreaders (Zhu Guoshou, Zhu Guangda, Chen Suoxing, Huang Hongxian, Sun Silie and Jiao Yingxu): 門人朱國壽，朱光大， 陳所性， 黃宏憲， 孫嗣烈，焦應旭受法.

There is a preface, dated 20.III 1628 (Chongzhen 1) by Rho himself, followed by the table of contents of the book. The whole book consists of thirty-nine folios. There are nine columns in each half folio with twenty-one or twenty-two characters to each column. The title of the book and the number of the folio are given in the middle of each folio.

Rho states in his preface that the science of calculation is so widely employed in scientific studies as well as in people’s daily life that it can be called universal. He then goes on to say that though the study of arithmetic was common among his countrymen, those who were poor in memory found it hard to learn. The Napier’s rods method was invented to facilitate the study of arithmetic. It was for this purpose that this book was written in Chinese as a new method to help Chinese students.

Cf. Pfister, p. 191, no. 16 (Arithmétique népérienne, 1 vol.); Couplet, p. 23 (De Arithmetica); Wylie, p. 112 (On the Principle of Napier’s Rods).

Source: Albert Chan, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome (2002), p. 314-315.

Full bibliographic information see Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database)
Local access dig. archives, see folder ARSI Jap-Sin I-IV (II, 32)

JapSin II, 41.3
Gujin jiaoshi kao 古今交食考.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
One juan. Chinese bamboo paper in one volume. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Examen veterarum et | modernorum Eclipsium | a p. Adamo Schall | S.J.”

Cf. Väth, p. 364, no. 11; Courant 4963–II.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 338-339.

Text citation See: Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database)

JapSin II, 38.2
Hengxing chumo biao 恆星出沒表.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Two juan. Bamboo paper, one ce. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears the title 恆星出沒〔表〕 and a Latin inscription: “De ortu et occasu | stellarum fixarum | a p. Adamo Schall | S.J. | 2 tomi.”

Folio 1r of juan A mentions the title 恆星出沒表上卷, the chief compiler of the Chongzhen lishu 崇禎曆書 Li Tianjing 明山東布政使司右參政李天經督修, the author, Schall 修政曆法極西耶穌會士湯若望撰, and the reviser, Giacomo Rho 羅雅谷訂. The proofreaders 受法 of juan A are: Yang Zhihua 楊之華, Bao Yingqi 鮑英齊, Zhu Tingshu 朱廷樞, Yin Kai 殷鎧, Chen Shilan 陳士蘭, and Sun Youben 孫有本, and of juan B: Wu Mingzhu 鄔明著, Wu Zhiyan 武之彥, Zhu Tingshu, Zhang Youzhuan 掌有篆, Li Cibin 李次 [bin={U+224B9} similar to 虨], and Li Hua 李華.
There are nine columns in each half folio with twenty-two characters in the first column of each paragraph and twenty-one in the rest of the paragraph. Annotations are given in smaller type and in double lines. The title of the book and the number of the juan and of the folio are given in the middle of each folio.
This book gives tables for the rise and setting of the fixed stars. Pfister calls it: “Lever et coucher des étoiles fixes” (p. 180, n. 15, without the character biao 表).

Cf. Väth, p. 369, no. 31; Courant 4973.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 323.

JapSin II, 38.4
Hengxing jingwei biao 恆星經緯表.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Two juan (juan 5–6), in two ce. Bamboo paper. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears the title Hengxing biao 恆星表and a Latin inscription: “De motu stellarum fixarum cum suis tabulis.”

Cf. Courant 4966–II, 4967, 4970; Väth, p. 365, no. 13.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 324-325.

Hengxing li 恆星曆 / Tang Ruowang zhuan 湯若望譔.
Manuscript copy of Schall's Hengxing lizhi 恆星曆指 made in Japan. Undated, but probably late 18th-early 19th century.
The errors in binding match the edition held in Rome. See Jap-Sin II, 38.3 for bibliographic details.

One of a number of books written in Chinese by Jesuits that were copied in Japan after the prohibition of these works. Schall's original work was published in 1631 but not widely distributed. It was not on the early Japanese lists of prohibited books.
Vermillion seal imprint: 明德館圖書庫.

Full bibliographic citation see: Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database).

JapSin II, 38.3
Hengxing lizhi 恆星曆指.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Three juan. Bamboo paper. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears the title Hengxingli 恆星曆 and a Latin inscription: “De motu stellarum fixarum cum suis tabulis.”

Historica narratio, de initio et progressu missionis Societatis Jesu apud Chinenses, ac præsertim in regia Pequinensi / ex litteris R.P. Joannis Adami Schall ex eadem Societate ... collecta.

Signatures:)(⁶ A-R⁸
Engraved portrait of J.A. Schall facing p. 1.
Backer-Sommervogel, vol. 3, col. 877, no. 3

Google and other online editions (except University of Oklahoma) are all the same MDZ edition.

See: Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database)

Go to MDZ Digital Library

Go to University of Oklahoma edition

Local access dig.pdf. [Schall-Historica narratio.pdf]

JapSin II, 40.1
Jiaoshi biao 交食表.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Nine juan in nine volumes. Bamboo paper. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a Latin inscription: “De motibus solis | et lunae pro eclip | sibus tomi 9 | a p. Adamo Schall | S.J.”

Juan 1: Zhu Maoyuan 祝懋元, Liu Youqing 劉有慶, Wu Mingzhu 鄔明著, Zhu Guangxian 朱光顯, Song Kecheng 宋可成, and Jia Liangqi 賈良琦.
Juan 2: Zhu Guangda 朱光大, Zhou Shichang 周士昌, Cheng Tingrui 程廷瑞, Zhang Cheng 掌乘, Li Zubai 李祖白, and Song Keli 宋可立, in addition to those mentioned in juan 1.
Juan 3: Cheng Tingrui, Chen Zhengjian 陳正諫, Chen Yingdeng 陳應登, Song Fa 宋發, Dong Siding 董思定, and Li Hua 李華.
Juan 4: Chen Yujie 陳于階, Liu Youqing, Chen Yingdeng, Jiao Yingxu 焦應旭, Zhang Caichen 張寀臣, and Zhou Shitai 周士泰.
Juan 5: Yang Zhihua 楊之華, Xu Huan 徐瑍, Zhu Maoyuan, Zuo Yunhe 左允和, Zhu Guangda, and Yin Kai 殷鎧.
Juan 6: Zhu Guangxian, Sun Youben 孫有本, Wu Mingzhu, Liu Yunde 劉蘊德, Ge Jiwen 戈繼文, and Bao Yingqi 鮑英齊.
Juan 7: Zhu Guangcan 朱光燦, Zhang Youzhuan 掌有篆, Yang Zhihua, Zhou Shicui 周士萃, Li Zubai, and Wu Zhiyan 武之彥.
Juan 8: Zhang Cheng, Sung Fa, Chen Zhengjian, Liu Youqing, and Song Keli.
Juan 9: Huang Hongxian 黃宏憲, Xu Huan, Wu Mingzhu, Song Kecheng, Jia Liangqi, and Liu Yunde.

The table of contents consists of two folios. Each half folio in the first juan has nine columns, with twenty-three characters in the first column of each paragraph and twenty-two in the rest of the paragraph. From juan 2 on there are only twenty-two characters in the first column of each paragraph and twenty-one in the rest of the paragraph. On folio 4a of juan 2 at the end of the paragraph there is a red seal in xingkai 行楷 style that reads: 江積懷印.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 334-336.

JapSin II, 41.4
Jiaoshi lizhi 交食曆指.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Seven juan. Chinese bamboo paper in seven volumes. No date or place of publication.

There is a label on the cover with the title and a Latin inscription: “Modus calculandi eclipses | solis et lunae | a p. Adam Schall | 7 Tomi.”

Juan 1: Wu Mingzhu 鄔明著, Zhou Shitai 周士泰, Chen Yingdeng 陳應登, Zhu Guangxian 朱光顯, Cheng Tingrui 程廷瑞, and Zhou Shicui 周士萃.
Juan 2–3: Chen Yujie 陳于階, Yin Kai 殷鎧, Ge Chengke 戈承科, Xu Huan 徐瑍, Song Fa 宋發, and Bao Yingqi 鮑英齊.
Juan 4: Zhu Maoyuan 祝懋元, Zhang Youzhuan 掌有篆, Zhu Guoshou 朱國壽, Zuo Yunhe 左允和, Li Zubai 李祖白, and Wu Zhiyan 武之彥.
Juan 5: Huang Hongxian 黃宏憲, Li Hua 李華, Jia Liangdong 賈良棟, Jiao Yingxu 焦應旭, Zhang Cheng 掌乘, and Song Keli 宋可立.
Juan 6: Pan Guoxiang 潘國祥, Chen Zhengjian 陳正諫, Liu Youqing 劉有慶, Zhu Guangda 朱光大, Ge Jiwen 戈繼文, and Zhou Shichang 周士昌.
Juan 7: Jia Liangqi, Xu Huan, Chen Yingdeng, Liu Youtai 劉有泰, Wu Mingzhu, and Yin Kai.

The verso of the title page of juan 2 gives the name of the official who was in charge of the printing blocks (Yang Weiyi): 明工部虞衡清史司郎中楊惟一梓. Except for juan 1 and 7, this line appears in all the volumes. Folio 9a of juan 1 gives the title as: 曆指第九卷，交食一, the last or seventh volume of this book being 曆指第十五，交食七.
There is a preface by Schall himself (two and one-half folios). There are nine columns in each half folio with twenty-two characters in the first column of each paragraph and twenty-one in the rest of the paragraph. Annotations are given in double lines and in smaller characters.

Cf. Courant 4963–I; Väth, p. 364, no. 9.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 339-340.

JapSin II, 39.3
Lifa xiquan 曆法西傳.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
One juan. Bamboo paper. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Europaea Kalendarii methodus | a p. Adamo Schall | S.J.”

This is a book on the history of Western astronomy. In his preface Schall states that his book proposed to give a general introduction to Western astronomy since ancient times and then to the books he had written on astronomy, i.e., the Xiyang xinfa lishu 西洋新法曆書, in order to show that this so-called new science is not a recent invention nor had been invented by one man. Rather it derived from studies of eminent scientists. Therefore these studies were solid and based on truth. Furthermore, Schall states that the books he and his colleagues had written would serve students in the future as a clear guide, and in the long years to come these books might help to correct [astronomical] errors. In a word, one may forecast the future from the past and thus help to make adequate adaptations.

Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 327.

JapSin II, 39.1
Xinfa liyin 新法曆引.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
One juan. Bamboo paper, one ce. No date or place of publication.

The cover has a label with the title: Liyin 曆引 and a Latin inscription: “Introductio ad astrono | micos calculos | a p. Adamo Schall.”

Cf. Pfister, p. 180, no. 23; Couplet, pp. 21–22; Hsü 1949, p. 373; Väth, p. 363, no. 6; Courant 4953.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 325.

JapSin II, 39 MS
Minli puzhu jiehuo 民曆鋪註解惑.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).

One juan. Manuscript written on silk paper with red square frames, bound in one volume, European style, with Chinese and Arabic numbers on the folios. 28.4 x 16.3 cm.

The Latin inscription on the cover reads: “De electio dierum et alii additis in kalenda | rio (auctoribus Schall et Verbiest) MS. pretiosissimum!”

1. The preface of Hu Shi’an (folio 1) is exactly the same as in the printed edition.
2. The preface written by Adam Schall himself (folio 2) has two more phrases than in the printed edition, namely: 並摘先後三奏疏語，暨曉惑一則附後 (we hereby include quotations from our three memorials to the throne presented some time ago together with a declaration to some doubts). As the first appendix in the printed edition can be found also in the manuscript, but the second was added later on, when a new edition was made, these last two phrases in the preface were suppressed.
3. The manuscript omits the two-folio list of officials employed in the Imperial Observatory.
4. In the manuscript (folio 3b) the phrase 選擇義同鋪註 is added after the phrase 以理上論 in the table of contents.
5. On folio 1a (Arabic: 4a) of the main text in the manuscript the title of the edition is given together with names of the author and the reviser: 耶穌會士湯若望纂著，南懷仁校訂 (compiled and written by Tang Ruowang and Nan Huairen, both of the Society of Jesus).
6. Folio 1b in the main text of the manuscript gives a note in small characters: 擇吉日大合樂，此是重時日也, which last phrase is not found in the printed edition (folio 197b). Again, the manuscript gives: 四面之坐，象四時也，此是重方向也. The printed edition omits this last phrase.
7. Folio 2a, line 6, of the main text in the manuscript reads: 古之王者，有了天下，必須首頌正朔. The printed edition (folio 198a) reads: 古之王者，撫有天下.
8. Folio 3a, line 2, of the main text reads: 愛戴前代的美意. The printed edition (folio 199a, line 8) reads: 愛戴前代的原意.
9. The marginal notes given in folio 201b of the printed edition were added later. They do not appear in the manuscript.
10. Folio 9b–10a (Arabic: 12b–13a ) has the phrase: 選擇義同鋪註, which does not appear in the printed edition.

Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 333-334.

Qianxiang tushuo 乾象圖說 (Japanese mss. copy) / [Johann Adam Schall von Bell 湯若望]

See also:《明史·志第七十四　藝文三》：王應遴《乾象圖說》一卷，《中星圖》一卷

The Qianxiang tushuo 乾象圖說 (Illustrated Celestial Phenomena) is an undated manuscript by an anonymous Japanese copyist of a volume containing sections of the Chidao nanbei liang zongxing tu 赤道南北兩總星圖 (General Star Map of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres Divided by the Equator). The General Star Map is a rare star atlas made in Beijing by Fr. Johann Adam Schall von Bell, SJ under the overall direction of Paul Xu Guangqi in 1634. The star map is based on the Jesuit astronomer Christoph Grienberger's (1580-1636) work, Catalogus Veteres Affixarum Longitudines ac Latitudines Conferens cum Nouis (Rome, 1612). It is one of a collection of related works that became the Chongzhen lishu 崇禎曆書(Calendar Compendium of the Chongzhen Reign) presented from 1631-1635, near the end of the Ming dynasty.

The Chongzhen lishu 崇禎曆書 included works created before the Calendar Office existed, including the Yuanjing shuo 遠鏡說 (Explanation of the Telescope, 1626), a copy of which the Ricci Institute also has in Japanese manuscript copy.

The Qianxiang tushuo manuscript is a fanfold text (27 cm x 16.5 cm) in 24 folds displaying 48 pages, with illustrations covering two pages each, hence the use of fanfold binding to avoid bisecting the image at the fold. It is handwritten and drawn in ink, with punctuation and corrections in red. On the top cover in one corner is the character 水. The copyist carefully reproduces four instruments and ten celestial maps taken from panels on the full size Chidao nanbei liang zongxing tu in fine detail. The four instruments are:

1. Ecliptic Theodolite (Armillary) 黃道經緯儀
2. Equatorial Theodolite (Armillary) 赤道經緯儀
3. Azimuth instrument (Armillary) 地平經緯儀
4. Sextant 紀限儀

Following each instrument is an explanation of its function by Schall (no.1 & 3) or Wu Mingzhu 鄔明著 (no. 2 & 4)*

*Chinese term jingweiyi 經緯儀: D’Elia uses the modern name theodolite but the same three characters were used during the Ming-Qing dynasties for what Europeans would call an armillary or armillary sphere, after the Latin armilla, or “bracelet” which well-describes their appearance. 

The ten celestial maps (in order of appearance in the manuscript, not on the actual chart):

1. Map of the oppositions and conjunctions of Venus in [five] revolutions of the planet around the Sun 太白行天一周遲留伏逆諸行經圖
2. Map of [the variations] in latitude of Venus 太白緯圖
3. Map of the oppositions and conjunctions of Jupiter in one revolution of the planet around the Sun 歲星行天一周遲留伏逆諸行經圖
4. Map of [the variations] in latitude of Jupiter 歲星緯圖
5. Map of the oppositions and conjunctions of Mercury in [three] revolutions of the planet around the Sun 歲星行天一周遲留伏逆諸行經圖
6. Map [of the variations] in latitude of Mercury辰星緯圖
7. Map of the oppositions and conjunctions of Mars in [seven] revolutions of the planet around the Sun 榮惑行天一周遲留伏逆諸行經圖
8. Map of [the variations] in latitude of Mars 榮惑緯圖
9. Map of the oppositions and conjunctions of Saturn in one revolution of the planet around the Sun 填星行天一周遲留伏逆諸行經圖
10. Map of [the variations] in latitude of Saturn 填星緯圖

These ten circular diagrams trace the orbit of the five known planets: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn, and their variations in latitude over time. They reflect the use of the Tychonic geo-heliocentric system of the universe based on that of the 16th-century Danish scientist Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), a compromise between Ptolemaic geocentricism and the heliocentrism of Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1674 the Jesuit Astronomer Royal of the Qintianjian (Imperial Astronomical Bureau), Fr. Ferdinand Verbiest, S.J., also relied on Tycho’s designs when he was tasked with recasting and modifying the instruments that still exist today at the ancient observatory in Beijing.

The Qianxiang tushuo manuscript (under this title) is thus far not found elsewhere. The manuscript is meticulously crafted from a rare source, possibly produced in the 17^th century during a period of when Japanese astronomers needed to update their own calendar and astronomical tools, despite the prohibited source from which it was derived. This manuscript could only have been made by someone who had access to the original, or to an extremely detailed copy of it. The General Star Map itself is very large and rare and only a few copies are known to exist.

Sources:

Standaert, N. Handbook of Christianity in China, volume 1, 635-1800. Leiden, Brill, 2001.

D’Elia, Pasquale M. “The double stellar hemisphere of Johann Schall von Bell S.J. : (Peking 1634)” in Monumenta Serica, v. XVIII, 1959., p.328-359  

Hara, Mari Yoko. “The Double Hemisphere Star Atlas (1634): Empiricism, Technical Images, and Cross-Cultural Trust” (2019. Draft, Academia.edu)

Hashimoto Keizō 橋本敬造'Chidao nanbei liang zong xing du' to 'heng xing ping zhang'《赤道南北兩縂星圖》と《恆星屏障》in 新発現中国科学史資料の研究 vol. 2: 論考編, pp. 581-604.

069R ZKW 640.3 (Xu 432) [c] [B 394] ms., Tang Ruowang hewen 湯若望賀文 (title on cover), c.q. Zengyan 贈言 (first folio, cf ZKW 640.1 and Xu 141), 20 ff. (9/20), consisting of two parts: four congratulatory essays (shouwen 壽文, f. 1a) and sixteen poems (shi 詩, f. 15a), composed on the occasion of Adam Schall's 70th birthday (1661) -- Cf. Adrian Dudink, "The Zikawei Collection" (Sino-Western Cultural Relations Journal XVIII (1996)), p.22.

In volume 2 of: Xujiahui cangshulou Ming Qing Tianzhujiao wenxian 徐家匯藏書樓明清天主教文獻.
For complete contents see: Standaert, Nicolas, Xujiahui cangshulou Ming Qing Tianzhujiao wenxian 徐家匯藏書樓明清天主教文獻.
For a description of all 37 texts, see the catalog of the Fujen Zikawei collection in Sino-Western Cultural Relations Journal XVIII (1996), or see individual records.

The double stellar hemisphere of Johann Schall von Bell S.J. : (Peking 1634) / by Pasquale M. D'Elia.
Includes Chinese text and English translation of the contents of Schall's map: Chidao nanbei liang zongxing tu 赤道南北兩總星圖.
Reprint from Monumenta Serica, v. XVIII, 1959.
Includes bibliographical references.

" ... Celestial atlases ... Chidao nanbei liang zongxing tu 赤道南北兩總星圖 (General Star Map of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres Divided by the Equator. 1634) drew on the Jesuit astronomer Christoph Grienberger's (1580-1636) star atlas, Catalogus Veteres Affixarum Longitudines ac Latitudines Conferens cum Nouis (Rome, 1612)." Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, v. 1, p. 715.

Local access dig.pdf. [D'Elia-Double Stellar.pdf] (2 versions: A-local scan, B-Monumenta Serica JSTOR)

See http://www.atlascoelestis.com/Schall%201634.htm

Tianzhu shengjiao sizi jingwen 天主聖教四字經文 / Ai Rulüe艾儒略 (Giulio Aleni).
In: Yesuhui Luoma dang'anguan Ming-Qing Tianzhujiao wenxian 耶穌會羅馬檔案館明清天主教文獻 / Edited by Nicolas Standaert [鐘鳴旦] [and] Adrian Dudink [杜鼎克]. Reproduction of original text in vol. 2 of this collection. 
for complete listing.

" ... Other catechisms were adapted to Chinese types of writing, like Aleni's Tianzhu shengjiao sizi jingwen 天主聖教四字經文 (1642), which imitated the Sizi jing 四字經 (Four Character Classic) used in children's education." Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, vol. 1, p. 611.

Jap-Sin I, 174.5
Tianzhu shengjiao sizi jingwen 天主聖教四字經文.
By Ai Rulüe 艾儒略 (Giulio Aleni, 1582–1649).
One juan. Bamboo paper in one volume. Printed in 1663 (Kangxi 2) by the Qinyitang 欽一堂 in Jiangxi province.

This volume contains two other texts:
1. Dumen jiantang beiji 都門建堂碑記 (A monument erected on the occasion of the building of the new church in the capital)
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell). Three folios.

2. Tianxue jingyan 天主警言 (Catholic epigrams).
By an anonymous author. One folio.

The cover bears a Latin inscription: "Compendium doctrinae | christianae versu | explicatum | a p. Giulio Aleni | S.J."

On top of folio 1 recto there is an inscription: 萬有本末. The verso gives the title of the book in four large characters: Sizi jingwen 四字經文 on the right is the first part of the title in smaller characters: 天主聖教 on the left the titles of the two added texts are given together with the place of publication. On top of this folio there is an horizontal inscription: Tianli zhiyi 天理止一 (there is only one divine law).
The Sizi jingwen consists of thirty-five folios, followed by a postscript (three folios) by Li Shihuan 李奭浣, dated 1663 (Kangxi 2). There are five columns in each half folio with eight characters in each column. The title Sizi jingwen is given in the middle of each folio; the number of the folio is given below. Folios 3–4 are missing. They are supplied by handwritten copies.
According to the postscript of Li Shihuan, this book treats in a general way the omnipotence of God. This is fully explained and the expressions are clear and concise. The style, too, is polished and readable. For this reason he disagrees with the opinion of Philippe Couplet, who said that the book was written for the young.
There is a book known as the Sanzijing 三字經 (Three Character Classic, see Jap-Sin I, 167). It was used as a primer for schoolboys all through the empire. It is in rhymed doggerel, with three characters to the line as a means of helping the memories of schoolboys. Aleni probably had this book in mind when he produced the Sizi jingwen .
In 1869 Père Vasseur had Aleni’s book published with illustrations taken from great masters under the title Shengjiao shengxiang quantu 聖教聖像全圖, and it ran through to several editions (cf. Pfister, p. 134). Two new editions of Aleni’s book appeared in 1929: one in T’ou sè wè (Shanghai) and one in Nazareth (Hong Kong).

As for the Dumen jiantang beiji, the name Dumen refers to the Xuanwu Gate 宣武門, one of the gates of the Imperial City. It was situated in the south of the Forbidden City where the Calendar Bureau was. The building was formerly the Shoushan Academy 首善書院. Through the effort of Xu Guangqi it was transformed in 1629 (Chongzhen 2) into the Calendar Bureau or Liju 李局. The Jesuits had their residence there. In recognition of Adam Schall’s work on the new calendar (then known as the Shixian li 時憲曆), the Shunzhi emperor granted him a large piece of land beside the Calendar Bureau, where Schall built a magnificent church in Western style in 1650. We are told that donations came from the empress dowager, nobles, officials and the gentry.
The monument with an inscription written by Schall was erected in 1650 (Shunzhi 7). See Jap-Sin IV, 2. Cf. Pfister, p. 170, 182; Yang 1949, pp. 249–255; Huang Pailu 黃伯祿, Zhengjiao fengbao 正教奉褒 (Shanghai, 1903), folio 25.
The Tianxue jingyan consists of eight epigrams, the author of which is unknown to us. They deal with the four favors and with the last four things:

凡人造物之恩不可忘 (One must not forget the graces given to us by the Creator);
降生之恩不可忘 (One must not forget the favor of the Incarnation);
受難之恩不可忘 (One must not forget the favor of the [sacred] Passion);
赦罪之恩不可忘 (One must not forget the favor of one’s sins being remitted);
死後之來免不得 (One must remember that death will come);
審判之嚴免不得 (One must remember the severity of judgement);
地獄之苦受不得 (One must remember the excruciating pains of hell);
天堂之福比不得 (One must remember that there is nothing to compare with the blessings of heaven).

Cf. Pfister, p. 134, no. 17; Hsü 1949, p. 169; Courant 6888 I–IV; Couplet, p. 17.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 239-240.

067R Five printed one-folio sheets (not mentioned or described by Xu) in an envelope with stamps (Nanking, 1938?), a printed label (Shanghai Xujiahui Tianzhu Tang cangshulou 上海徐家匯天主堂藏書樓) and a note in Chinese saying that some library in Western Europe had sent them.
ZKW 220 João Soeiro, Tianzhu shengjiao yueyan 天主聖教約言 [B33]
ZKW 210 Adam Schall, Jincheng shuxiang 金呈書像, also entitled Tianzhu zhengdao jielüe 天主正道解略 (printed in Hangzhou, 1661) [B 297]
ZKW 230 anon., Lun Shishi zhi fei 論釋氏之非 (Hangzhou 1661) [B389]
ZKW 230 Weidezi 味德子 (Vitus) of Qingyuan 清源 (Jinjiang 晉江?), Pi lunhui feili zhi zheng 闢輪迴非理之正 (Hangzhou, no date.)
ZKW - (Anonymous and untitled text on Christian filial piety)
note 58 "These sheets must have been sent by the University of Upsala (Sweden), which owned 20 sets of them. BNP received two sets (Chinois 11461, 11461 bis). For a description, see Paul Pelliot, Une liasse d'anciens imprimes chinois des Jesuites retrouvee Upsal (T'oung Pao 29/1932, pp. 114-118)" -- Cf. Adrian Dudink, "The Zikawei Collection" (Sino-Western Cultural Relations Journal XVIII (1996)), p.22.

In volume 2 of: Xujiahui cangshulou Ming Qing Tianzhujiao wenxian 徐家匯藏書樓明清天主教文獻.
For complete contents see: Standaert, Nicolas, Xujiahui cangshulou Ming Qing Tianzhujiao wenxian 徐家匯藏書樓明清天主教文獻.
For a description of all 37 texts, see the catalog of the Fujen Zikawei collection in Sino-Western Cultural Relations Journal XVIII (1996), or see individual records.

Western learning and Christianity in China : the contribution and impact of Johann Adam Schall von Bell, 1592-1666 / edited by Roman Malek.
"The papers presented here ... are mainly the proceedings of the International Schall Symposium, held in Sankt Augustin in May 1992"-- p. xxi.
Each Western language essay includes Chinese abstract.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Vol. 1. Johann Adam Schall von Bell and his 1992 Anniversary / Roman Malek -- Johann Adam Schall von Bell : a Jesuit / Peter Hans Kolvenbach -- Schall's educational foundation and the intellectual climate of his time / Arnold Sprenger -- Three issues on Johann Adam Schall von Bell / Lu Yao 路遙 -- J. A. Schall von Bell : Weltbild und Weltchronologie in der Chinamission im 17. Jahrhundert / Claudia von Collani -- J. A. Schall von Bell and Chinese tradtional philosophy / Ma Biao -- J. Adam Schall von Bell and the transition from the Ming to the Ch'ing Dynasty / John W. Witek -- Schall's role in the reform period between the Ming and Qing dynasties / Liu Mengxi 劉夢溪 -- Schall and the first Dutch diplomatic mission to the Qing empire / Hao Zhenhua 郝鎮華 -- Mandschurische Inschriften und Zeugnisse zu Johann Adam Schall von Bell / Giovanni Stary -- The Lost sheep of Adam Schall: reflections on the past and present of Zhalan (Shala) Cemetery / Edward J. Malatesta.
Adam Schall in the Pei-yu lu (Beiyou lu 北游錄) of T'an Ch'ien (Tan Qian 談遷) and in the eyes of his contemporaries / Albert Chan 陳綸緒, S.J. -- Johann Adam Schall 湯若望, Hsü Kuang-ch'i (Xu Guangqi 徐光啟), and Li T'ien-ching (Li Tianjing 李田經) / Min-sun Chen -- Yang Guangxian's opposition to Johann Adam Schall: Christianity and western science in his work Budeyi 不得已 / Eugenio Menegon -- Wang Zheng 王徵: a scientist, philosopher, and Catholic in Ming dynasty China / Ren Dayuan 任大援 -- Theologie und Astronomie in China / Claudia von Collani -- Astronomy and astrology: J. Adam Schall von Bell / Tiziana Lippiello -- East-West cultural confrontation and compromise in early Ch'ing China: a case study on Adam Schall's civil calendars / Huang Yi-Long 黃一農 -- The "Calendar Case" in th early Qing dynasty re-examined / Zhang Dawei 張大衛 -- J. A. Schall von Bell and Ptolomaic astronomy in China: aspects of the Western New Calendar (Xiyang xinfa lishu 西洋新法歷書) / Jiang Xiaoyuan 江曉原 -- Johann Adam Schall and astronomical works on star mappings / Keizo Hashimoto 橋本敬造 -- J .A. Schall von Bell and his horizontal sundial of the New Western Calendar and the cultural exchange between China and foreign countries / Gu Ning 顧寧 -- Les cartes astronomiques des missionnaires Jesuites en Chine: de Johann Adam Schall von Bell à Ignace Kogler et leur influence en Coree at au Japon / Minako Debergh -- Several newly found astronomical instruments related to J. A. Schall von Bell / Yi Shitong 伊世同 -- Quotations from the works of J. A. Schall von Bell in the Yixiang zhi 議象志 of Ferdinand Verbiest / Nicole Halberghe -- Notes on planetary theories in Giacomo Rho's Wuwei lizhi 五緯曆指 / Jean-Claude Martzloff.

Vol. 2. The "Chinese sciences" in policy questions from Confucian civil examinations during the late Ming / Benjamin A. Elman -- Mathematical knowledge in the Chongzhen lishu 崇禎歷書 / Catherine Jami -- J .A. Schall von Bell and the spread of Georgius Agricola's De re metallica in late Ming China / Pan Jixing 潘吉星 -- J. A. Schall von Bell and his book On Telescopes (Yuanjing shuo 遠鏡說) / Zhang Zhishan 張至善 -- J. A. Schall von Bell und die wetlichen "Feuerwaffen" in China / Sun Xi 孫西 -- The Geyuan baxian biao 割圓八線表 and some remarks about the scientific collaboration between Schall, Rho, and Schreck / Isaia Iannaccone -- Diie Haltung der chinesischen Intellektuellen zur Xixue 西學 (Westliche Lehre) am Ende der Ming- und Anfang der Qing-Dynastie, Ein Vergleich von Matteo Ricci und Johann Adam Schall im Hinblick auf ihre Methode der "Evangelisierung durch Wissenschaft" / Yang Xiaohong 樣小紅 -- Modern scientific culture introduced into China by Catholic missionaries during the Ming and Ch'ing dynasties / Zhang Xiao 張曉 -- J. A. Schall von Bell in China: Propagating Catholicism through academic activities / Chen Song 陳崧 -- The religious works composed by J. A. Schall von Bell, especially his Zhuzhi qunzheng 主制群徵 and his efforts to convert the last Ming emperor / Adrian Dudink -- J. A. Schall and Zhuzhi qunzheng 主制群徵 / Zhao Pushan 趙璞珊 -- J. A. Schall and his work Zhuzhi qunzheng 主制群徵 / Xiao Liangqiong 肖良瓊 -- The wide apostolic concern of J. Adam Schall / Angelo S. Lazzarotto -- Der Beitrag von Johann Adam Schall von Bell zur einheimischen christlichen Kunst / Horst Rzepkowski -- J. A. Schall and the Jesuit mission in Vondel's Zungchin / Gregory Blue -- Der literarische Beitrag zur Darstellung der Jesuitenmission in China, insbesondere des Wirkens von J. Adam Schall von Bell / Adrian Hsia 夏瑞春 -- Das Portrat von Johann Adam Schall in Athanasius Kircher's China illustrata / Chang Sheng-ching 張省卿 -- Das Adam-Schall-Gemalde der Ars Sacra Pekinensis von Lu Hung-nien (Lu Hongnian 陸鴻年) / Horst Rzepkowski -- Differences and similarities of Chinese and Western culture as reflected in works written by early Jesuits in Chinese / Hao Guiyuan 郝貴遠 -- J. Adam Schall's writings in China / Yang Yi 楊怡 -- An introduction to some Chinese records and research on J. Adam Schall von Bell's scientific activities / Wang Bing 王冰 -- Research on J. Adam Schall von Bell in 19-20th century China / Gu Weimin 顧衛民 -- The Works of J. A. Schall von Bell in Tokugawa Japan / Yoshida Tadashi 吉田忠 -- Russian evidence of J. A. Schall von Bell / Tajana A. Pang -- The Development of the Confucius Sinarum Philosophus reconsidered in the light of new material / Noël Golvers -- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz' Streben nach Harmonie zwischen China und Europa / Rita Widmaier -- The Introduction of European musical theory during the early Qing dynasty: the achievements of Thomas Pereira 徐日升 and Theodorico Pedrini 德理格 / Gerlinde Gild -- Science and faith in China today / Paul Shan 單國璽.

JapSin II, 39.4-5
Xinfa biaoyi 新法表異.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
Two juan. Bamboo paper, one ce.
No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Differentia inter Euro | paeam et sinicam astro | nomiam | a p. Adamo Schall | S.J. | 2 tomi.”

The Xinfa biaoyi (Divergences of the new calendar) was written about 1634. It is divided into two parts. Juan A is a general study of the ancient Chinese calendars. According to Schall, although it had been said that there were over seventy calendar experts in the history of China, in reality, there were only forty odd. Juan B deals with the new calendar adopted by the Manchus after fall of Beijing in 1644. It is the Western calendar introduced into China by the Jesuits.
Folio 35 of juan A gives a brief account of the reform of the calendar at the end of the Ming dynasty:

The proposal for calendar reform was first made in the Wanli reign, and the decision was made in the Chongzhen period. It was in the jisi 己巳 year (i.e., 1629, Chongzhen 2), when I was summoned [to the capital] where I wrote [books] and set up instruments. Six years later, the calendar was ready, and after verification both before and after, we found [the calendar] to be in close accord with the celestial movements. At that time, there was a scholar, Wei Wenkui 魏文魁 by name, known as a calendar expert, who had been in the service of His Excellency Xing Yunlu 邢雲路, the Surveillance Commissioner 按察使. This man had written a book entitled: Lüli kao 律曆考. He too came with his disciples and having presented a memorial to the throne, he petitioned that a calendar bureau should be set up for his school with the intention of competing with us. His calculations were later found to be inaccurate and he was dismissed. The new system continued to prevail. In the Forbidden City, His Majesty himself took interest in the calculations and time and again gave high praise to our achievements. Unfortunately, the situation of the empire was precarious and became worse as time went on. With uninterrupted warfare throughout the empire, it was impossible to promote the new calendar, a fact that was lamented by many contemporaries.

JapSin II, 39.6
Xinli xiaohuo 新曆曉或
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
One juan. Bamboo paper, one ce. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Solutiones objectionum | circa Astrononiam | Europaeam | a p. Adamo Schall.”

Ego infrascriptus Vice-Prov^lis Soc^tis Jesu | Vice-Prov^ae Sinensis testor hoc exemplar Li | belli huius esse legitimum; uti et subscriptiones | duorum mandarinorum tribunalis ma | thematici in quorum fidem hic | subscribo. Pekini 2^a Octobris 1701 | Antonius Thomas.

Cf. Pfister, p. 179, no. 10; Väth, p. 366, no. 17.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 328-329.

JapSin II, 39.7
Xinli xiaohuo 新曆曉或
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
This is a duplicate of Jap-Sin II, 39.6.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 329.

Xueli xiaobian 學曆小辯.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
One juan. Bamboo paper in one ce with a paper case. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Refutatio duorum librorum | 曆測 Li ts’e | 曆元 Li-yüan | qui antiquam astronomiam | propugnabant.”

Formerly in the second year of the Chongzhen reign when the Ministry [of Rites] proposed to apply the Western method in the Calendar formation, we were doubtful of its practicability. But then several million characters were written on this method and published in book form. These writings were clear and orderly. We still had some doubts. Later we participated in a survey of a solar eclipse and twice in a survey of a lunar eclipse. We could not but be convinced by the facts. Of late, we have been told to carry on our studies. Every day we study under the direction of the Western masters. We do not only deal with books, but we also make experiments with instruments. We do not only listen with our ears, but we also experiment with our own hands. What they told us are true facts and shown with proofs. [We feel that] if the ancients writers were to come back, even they would find it hard to make objections . . .

The Xueli xiaobian was written under the following circumstances. By imperial order the Astronomical Bureau was started on 6 November 1629 (22.IX Chongzhen 2) under the direction of Xu Guangqi. This was known as the Xiju 西局, since the calendar was drawn up according to the Western method. The new establishment aroused the jealousy of the traditional astronomers and they were very unhappy about it. In 1630 the censor of Sichuan recommended a student named Leng Shouzhong 冷守中, who had written a book on the calendar, based on the Huangji jingshi 皇極敬世 (Cosmological Chronology) of Shao Yong 邵雍 (1011–1077). His book was sent to the Bureau for inspection. Xu Guangqi read through it and pointed out the mistakes. He wanted, however, to indicate the error by facts. It happened that in the 4th month of Chongzhen 4 (1–30 May 1631) there was an eclipse of the moon in Sichuan. Xu took this occasion and asked Leng Shouzhong to make the observation. Leng’s calculation proved to be wrong by two hours, while the Western method of calculation was perfectly exact. Leng therefore was told to continue his study with “greater humility.” The traditional school felt greatly humiliated and kept on arguing. In the sixth month (29 June–28 July 1631) an old and more serious scholar of Mancheng Xian 滿城縣, Wei Wenkui 魏文魁, presented to the court two books he had written under the name of his son Wei Xiangqian 魏象乾 : the Liyuan 曆元 ¸ and the Lice 曆測. These books were sent to the Bureau for examination. Xu Guangqi read them with great interest and praised their author as an assiduous scholar. Nevertheless, he did not hesitate to point out the mistakes in these two books and exhorted Wei to improve his works by correcting them. Also a number of the students at the Bureau reacted against Wei Wenkui. The discussions became acrimonious and Wei blamed the Bureau for the errors. It was under these circumstances that the Xueli xiaobian was written. Some authors attribute it to Xu Guangqi. It is possible that the book was written by Xu under the name of Schall. Notice that the other copy of this text (Jap-Sin I, 158) does not mention an author.

Xu Guangqi died in 1633. His successor, Li Tianjing 李天經 (jinshi of 1613), who in his early days had studied in the traditional school, found himself in an embarrassing situation. To please Wei Wenkui he declared impartiality and established a Dongju 東局 with the aim of reforming the old traditional school. By then there were four Astronomical Bureaus in the capital: that of the Datong calendar 大統曆 (used since 1384), of the Mohammedan calendar 回回曆, of the Western calendar (the Xiju 西局) and of Wei Wenkui’s calendar (the Dongju 東局). They fought among themselves, in particular Li Tianjing and Wei Wenkui. Eventually, Wei lost ground and with his death the Xiju was recognized by the emperor.

Cf. Wang Ping 王萍, Xifang lisuanxue zhi shuru 西方曆算學之輸入 (Taipei, 1966), pp. 55–61; Yang 1949, vol. 1, pp. 151–156; Li Zhengfu 黎正甫, “Mingji xiugai lifa shimo” 明季修改曆法始末 in: Dalu zazhi shixue congshu 大陸雜誌史學叢書, second series, ce 4, pp. 262–264; CJC, juan 31, ce 4, pp. 382–384; Fang Hao 方豪 1954, vol. 4, pp. 23–24; Bo Shuren 薄樹人, “Xu Guangqi de tianwen gongzuo” 徐光啟的天文工作, HKC, pp.110–142.

Cf. Pfister, p. 179, no. 8; Feng 1938, p. 207; Hsü 1949, p. 378; Courant 4951; Jap-Sin I, 158.

Albert Chan, Chinese books and documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 369-371.

“....Yuanjing shuo 遠鏡說 (Explanation of the Telescope, 1626), by Schall, which contained the first account of the Tychonic world system in Chinese..” Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, v.1, p. 714.

“....Yuanjing shuo 遠鏡說 (Explanation of the Telescope, 1626), by Schall, which contained the first account of the Tychonic world system in Chinese..” Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, v.1, p. 714.

Full bibliographic citation see: Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database).

JapSin II, 39.2
Yuanjing shuo 遠鏡說.
By Tang Ruowang 湯若望 (Johann Adam Schall von Bell).
The text was put into Chinese with the help of Li Zubai 李祖白. One juan, one ce. Bamboo paper. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Explicatio tubi optici, | seu telescopii | a p. Adam Schall | S.J.”

This is a book on the telescope. Zheng Zhongkui 鄭仲夔 (fl. 1630) in his book Ershi 耳食 (Congshu jicheng chubian 叢書集成初編, no. 2946), juan 8 (p. 53), tells of the telescope brought to China by Matteo Ricci which, after the death of Ricci, was taken to Nanzhou 南州 by one of his followers and many people had the chance to see it. The telescope Ricci brought to China must have been of an older type, since the new telescope improved by Galileo did not appear until 1610. Manuel Dias in his Tianwen lüe 天文略 (1615) refers to the new telescope saying that it can reach a distance of sixty miles and mentions that Galileo, a European scholar, was a fully qualified astronomer. Finally he says: “We shall explain in detail the wonder of this instrument, when we have it brought to China.” This condition was realized on the arrival of Adam Schall in 1622. In 1627, a year after Schall had written his book on the telescope, Philip Wang Zheng 王徵 wrote the Yuanxi qiqi tushuo lu zui 遠西奇器圖說錄最 (cf. Jap-Sin II, 53). In the bibliography Wang Zheng mentions the Yuanjing shuo. He did his best to explain the structure of the telescope, its employment in astronomy, in sea voyages, and in warfare. According to Pfister (p. 180, no. 12) the Yuanjing shuo was published in Beijing in 1630, and Fang Hao (1954, vol. 4, pp. 21–22) says that Schall made his translation from Girolamo Sirturi’s Telescopio (Frankfurt, 1616).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 326.

“....Yuanjing shuo 遠鏡說 (Explanation of the Telescope, 1626), by Schall, which contained the first account of the Tychonic world system in Chinese.” Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, v.1, p. 714.

See Fr. A. Chan S.J. bibliographic entry for Japonica-Sinica II, 39.2 edition.
See full bibliographic entry Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database).

Local access dig.pdf. [Schall-Yuanjingshuo mss.pdf] & folder with master (.tif) images.

"... Zhuzhi qunzheng (On Divine Providence, 2 juan, 1636), a translation of Leonard Lessius De Providentia Numinis (1613). The first juan contains...an explanation of human anatomy and physiology, especially the intricate network of bones, veins, arteries and nerves, to show that this must have been created by a divine being." --(Cf. N. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, vol. 1, p. 790)

明末清初耶穌會思想文獻匯編 = An expository collection of the Christian philosophical works between the end of the Ming dynasty and the beginning of the Qing dynasty in China ; 第16冊.

Local access dig.pdf. in folder: [Andrew Chung Series].