The Astronomia Europaea of Ferdinand Verbiest, S.J. (Dillingen, 1687): text, translation, notes and commentaries / Noël Golvers, [editor].
"Jointly published by Institut Monumenta Serica, Sankt Augustin and Ferdinand Verbiest Foundation, Leuven."
Translation of: Astronomia Europaea svb Imperatore Tartaro Sinico Cám Hý appellato ex umbra in lucem revocata.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [503]-527) and index.

***Graphic resource: facsimile reprints of original plates from Astronomea Europea, Yixiang tu 儀象圖 and Xichao ding'an 西朝定安 ; maps of Beijing, Imperial and Forbidden cities in Verbiest's time.
Keywords: Solar observations, lunar observations, astronomical mathematics, calendar and calendrical technology; court astronomers, Beijing ; meteorology, optics, hydraulics, music.

Local access dig.pdf. [Golvers-Astronomia Europaea 1993.pdf]

Full title: Astronomia europaea svb imperatore tartaro sinico Cám Hý appellato ex umbra in lucem revocata à R.P. Ferdinando Verbiest.
Dilingae : typis sumptibus, Joannis Caspari Bencard, bibliopolae academici. Per Joannem Federle, Anno M. DC. LXXXVII. [1687]

Library copy imperfect: lacks folding plate [?]. Title vignette: symbol of the Society of Jesus.
Spine title: Verbiest Astronomia Europaea "B.M.Z.K.W. M 102"

Includes: Catalogus patrum Societatis Jesu qui post obitum S. Francisci Xaverii ab Anno 1581. usque ad Annum 1681. in Imperio Sinarum Jesu Christi fidem propugnarunt....e Sinico latine redditus a P. Philippo Couplet (pp. 100-126)
Originally compiled by Han Lin 韓霖 and Zhang Geng 張賡 under the title: Shengjiao xinzheng 聖教信證 ; completed by F. Verbiest. Cf. British Museum general catalogue of printed books. (Note adapted from OCLC #12353103)

Keywords: Solar observations, lunar observations, astronomical mathematics, calendar and calendrical technology; court astronomers, Beijing ; meteorology, optics, hydraulics, music>
See also: Golvers, N., Astronomia Europaea (1993)

N.B. Description based on Jap-Sin II, 43.

Budeyi bian [Pu-te-i pien] 不得已辯 [辨]
By Nan Huaren 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. Bamboo paper, bound in European style. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a Latin title: “Refutatio persecuto | ris Yam Quam Sien | circa res mathemati | ces | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest | S.J.”

In his preface Verbiest states that, after the great persecution of Yang Guangxian against the missioners, Adam Schall had lost the power of speech. Verbiest himself, being a newcomer to China, had been unable to defend himself and he had therefore lived in retirement. This was the occasion for him to reflect and to discover the errors of Yang Guangxian. Verbiest then points out that the calendar method of Yang Guangxian came from the traditional school of the Ming dynasty. Since the establishment of the new regime, the Shunzhi emperor had proclaimed the employment of the new European method, which had been in use for over twenty years and had yielded good results. In Verbiest’s opinion, progress comes from long and careful studies. The longer the studies, the more perfect will be the science of the calendar. Yang Guangxian, however, esteemed the old method and belittled the new one. As the result of his maliciousness eight members of the Imperial Observatory had lost their lives. Yang Guangxian cared only for the principles of calendar making and ignored the practical side. To this Verbiest retorts that to show the validity of the principles one must see them in practice. Wrong principles can never give good results. The disgrace of Yang Guangxian before the Kangxi emperor and his ministers through the failure of his experiments clearly showed that he was ignorant of the principles of calendar making. Finally, Verbiest concludes that although justice had been done in the case of Yang Guangxian, the damage done by Yang’s books still remained. For this reason he still wished to publish his work as a defense of the truth.--Cf. Albert Chan, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 344-346.

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

Note: A refutation of Yang Guangxian's Budeyi 不得已, an attack on the teachings of the Catholic Church and the motives of the missioners in China. Buglio [et al] refute Yang on a point-by-point basis.

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17冊.

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

BnF catalog note: D'après Camus, "Mémoire sur la collection des grands et petits voyages et sur la collection des voyages de Melchisédech Thévenot", l'auteur des "Elementa", que M. Thévenot a édités dans la 5e partie de ses "Relations", serait le P. P. Couplet, ou le P. J.-F. Gerbillon.--But see Golvers article for Verbiest attribution.
Go to BnF editon.

Edited by John W. Witek.
"Jointly published by Institut Monumenta Serica, Sankt Augustin, and Ferdinand Verbiest Foundation, Leuven"
Papers presented at the International Conference on the Occasion of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Death of Ferdinand Verbiest.
Facing t.p. in Chinese: Jinian Nan Huairen : shishi sanbaizhounian xueshu huiyi 紀念南懷仁 : 逝世三百周年學術會議.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contributors: Jeroom Heyndrickx, C.I.C.M. -- John W. Witek, S.J. -- New findings on the life and family of Ferdinand Verbiest / Valere Arickx -- The Academic environment of the University of Louvain at the time of Ferdinand Verbiest / Jan Roegiers -- Did the Jesuits and Ferdinand Verbiest import outdated science into China? / Roger A. Blondeau -- General evaluation of the scientific work of Ferdinand Verbiest / Ulrich Libbrecht -- Ferdinand Verbiest on European astronomy in China: from the Compendia to the Astronomia Europaea (1687): a historical philological analysis / Noel Golvers -- The resemblances and differences of the construction of Ferdinand Verbiest's astronomical instruments, as compared to those of Tycho Brahe: a study based on their writings / Nicole Halsberghe -- Syncretism between European and Chinese culture in the astronomical instruments of Ferdinand Verbiest in the old Beijing observatory / Isaia Iannaccone -- Ferdinand Verbiest and the geographical works by Jesuits in Chinese, 1584-1674 / Chen Minsun [Chen Mingsheng 陳明生] -- Ferdinand Verbiest's contribution to Chinese geography and cartography / Lin Tongyang 林東陽 --The Kangxi Celestial Globe : a milestone in the history of Sino-Western cultural exchange / Yi Shitong 伊世同 -- Ferdinand Verbiest's contributions to Chinese science / Xi Zezong 席澤宗 -- The "Manchu cannons" cast by Ferdinand Verbiest and the hitherto unknown title of his instructions / Giovanni Stary -- Ferdinand Verbiest and the casting of cannons in the Qing dynasty / Shu Liguang -- Beijing Precursor / J. Ditlev Scheel -- Ferdinand Verbiest and his role in the formation of Sino-Russian diplomatic relations / Vladimir S. Miasnikov --Ferdinand Verbiest and Sino-Russian relations / Hao Zhenhua -- Ferdinand Verbiest's relations with King John III of Poland / Edward Kajdanski -- Ferdinand Verbiest in the Cihai dictionary / Jeroom Heyndrickx -- Between the Court and the Church: Ferdinand Verbiest in the Catholic history of China / Ku Weiying -- The Influence of Ferdinand Verbiest on the policy of the Kangxi Emperor towards Christianity / Lin Jinshui -- Brief intersection: changing contexts and prospects of the Chinese-Christian encounter from Matteo Ricci to Ferdinand Verbiest / John E. Wills -- The Investigation of things and Fathoming of Principles (gewu qiongli) in the Seventeenth-century contact between Jesuits and Chinese scholars / Nicolas Standaert, S.J. -- The religious writings of Father Ferdinand Verbiest / Joseph Hsing-san Shih, S.J.--Presenting Christian doctrine to the Chinese: reflections on the Jiaoyao xulun of Ferdinand Verbiest / John W. Witek, S.J.-- Jing Tian : The Kangxi Emperor's gift to Ferdinand Verbiest in the Rites Controversy / Claudia von Collani -- Ferdinand Verbiest and Martino Martini / Giorgio Melis -- The "Excommunication" of Ferdinand Verbiest / Francis A. Rouleau, Edward J. Malatesta, S.J. -- Ferdinand Verbiest and the Chinese bureaucracy / Willy Vande Walle -- A glimpse of the post-Verbiest period : Jean-Francois Foucquet's Lifa Wenda (Dialogue on Calendrical Techniques) and the modernization of Chinese astronomy, or, Urania's Feet Unbound / Jean-Claude Martzloff -- The French mission and Ferdinand Verbiest's scientific legacy / Catherine Jami -- Theophilus Siegfried Bayer (1694-1738) on Ferdinand Verbiest / Knud Lundbaek

Ferdinand Verbiest and Jesuit science in 17th century China : an annotated edition and translation of the Constantinople manuscript (1676) / Noël Golvers and Efthymios Nicolaidis.
Jointly published: Athens : Institute for Neohellenic Research ; Leuven : Ferdinand Verbiest Institute.
In English and Latin.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 371-378) and index.

"This book contains two manuscript texts of Ferdinand Verbiest, S.J. (1623-1688), written in 1676 in Beijing to the attention of the Russian tsar, and brought by the legate Nicolas Spathary Milescu to Moscow. Both texts represent the oldest layer of the Astronomia Europaea corpus, and were until recently forgotten. Their recent discovery was in the form of a manuscript copy, which Chysanthos Notaras had made them in Moscow in 1693. The manuscripts have since then been kept in library of the Metochion of the patriarchate of Jerusalem in Constantinople. In this publication, the authors are reconstituting the Latin text, translating it in English and annotating it. In the Introduction, the manuscripts are situated within the corpus of Verbiest's Latin writings, and are depicted both the parts that were afterwards re-cycled in the well-known Compendium Latinum and Astronomia Europaea edition (Dilingen, 1687), and those that were eventually omitted. Moreover, the story of the Moscow manuscript, and especially that of its Constantinopolitan copy - until now the only remaining testimonium of it - is traced. This description also reveals an until now unknown reception of 17th century Jesuit astronomy, mechanics and physics in post-Byzantine Russia and South-Eastern Europe."--Publisher's description.

Local access dig.pdf. [Golvers-verbiest Jesuit science.pdf]

Ferdinand Verbiest, S.J. (1623-1688) and the Chinese heaven : the composition of the astronomical corpus, its diffusion and reception in the European republic of letters / Noël Golvers.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 568-610) and index.

"This book describes more than 220 copies, nearly all of European provenance, of various astronomical publications by Ferdinand Verbiest, S.J. (1623 - 1688), either xylographical copies sent from Peking (reports, instrument drawings, eclipse maps, ephemeredes; stellar maps), or copies of Astronomia Europaea. This multiplies the number of known copies by ten. The first part of this book describes the characteristics of this astronomical corpus - one of the most spectacular bibliographical testimonia of the Jesuit presence in 17th - 18th century China, and disentangles the complex mutual interrelationship between the various items of this corpus. Moreover, by investigating handwritten dedications and owner's marks, material indications and external testimonia, Golvers sketches the history of the shipments of these documents to Europe, connecting them to the late 1670s, to Ph. Couplet's European 'tour' (1683 - 1692) and to the presence of A. Thomas, S.J. in Peking (late-1685 - 1709).

Behind all these shipments, there is the personal effort of F. Verbiest, and his own handwriting can be recognized in many pieces. After his death, also the French and German Jesuits in Peking continued this diffusion process, albeit to a lesser extent, in their relations with France, the German countries, and St. Petersburg. In the last part of this monograph, several cases are discussed which illustrate how in the 17th - 18th centuries European scholars 'received' these documents, for their astronomical, sinological, historical, linguistic or purely bibliophile aspect. In this part of the inquiry, unknown aspects of the history of many early Chinese collections in Europe are discussed. All in all, this research measures, for the first time, the penetration of Jesuit publications on China in contemporary Europe in quantitative and geographical-historical terms. It also traces the different motivations of these dispatches (i.e. public relations, apology for the particular evangelization methods; offering bibliophile curios in return for support).

This abundantly illustrated publication represents not only a substantial contribution to this history of the Jesuit mission in China and the methods applied, but is also an advancement in our knowledge of the history of western astronomy in East Asia, and of the Sino-Jesuit printed materials preserved in European collections."--Publisher note, p. [4] of cover.

Sections of this title available on Google Books.
Review: N. Sivin, Journal for the History of Astronomy, vol. 36, part 2, p. 240 (May 2005).

JapSin II, 48
Gaojie yuanyi 告解原義.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. Bamboo paper, bound in European style. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Sacramenti paeniten | tiae rationes | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest | S.J.”

Cf. Pfister, p. 353, no. 2; Courant 7272, 7273, 7274. Couplet, p. 41.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 352.

JapSin II, 48 D
Gaojie yuanyi 告解原義.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).

This book is an exact duplicate of Jap-Sin II 48.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 352.

JapSin II, 47
Jiaoyao xulun 教要序論.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. Bamboo paper, bound in European style. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a Latin inscription: “Futior explicatio et | probatio mysteriorum | fidei ad suscipiendum | baptismum | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest | S.J.”

Cf. Hsü 1949, pp. 162–163; Courant 6972–6977 (6972–76 have the title 天主教要序論, while 6977 gives only 教要序論). Fang Hao gives a number of early editions of this book: 1677, 1799, 1848, 1867 (JWC 2:178). This book was reprinted in Zikawei (ed. 4^a 1914, one volume, 106 pp.). Other editions were printed in Hsien-hsien (1932, one volume, ninety-six pages), in Hong Kong (1905, one volume, 120 pp.), in Yenchowfu, Shandong (ed. 3^a. 1931, one volume, 116 pp.) and in Peiping (1931, one volume, fifty-one pages).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 350-351.

LC & Harvard-Yenching records note: Wood block prints. Shows the world in two hemispheres. Relief shown pictorially. Based on the world map of Joannes Blaeu (and Matteo Ricci). Translated title: Double Hemisphere Map of the World. See: OCLC#5681168

" ... The same urge to impress the Chinese with Western achievements has prompted Ferdinand Verbiest to include in his Kunyu tushuo 坤輿圖說 (Illustrated Explanation of the Entire World, 1674), a whole series of such pictures derived from German, Flemish, and Dutch engravings: the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, exotic animals, a European galleon, and the Roman Collosseum." --Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, vol. 1, p. 810.

[Following from to Jap-Sin ed. partly applicable}:
Kunyu tushuo 坤輿圖說.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
Two juan. Bamboo paper, bound in one volume, European style. No date or place of publication.

The Latin inscription on the cover reads: “Geographia universalis | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest, S.J.”--[N/B. Jap-Sin ed. only]

There is a table of contents for each juan (juan A, two folios and juan B, ten folios). The preface by Giulio Aleni in juan B (folios 1–2) is taken from the Zhifang waiji 職方外紀 (cf. Jap-Sin II, 20).

Each half folio consists of nine columns with twenty characters in each column. Annotations are given in smaller types and in double lines. The heading of each subject is given on the top margin of the folio. Juan A consists of thirty-one folios (the folios 8, 9, and 10 are misplaced) and juan B of sixty-seven folios. The text contains eighteen illustrations. According to Pfister they come after juan A, but in fact they are found at the end of juan B, which agrees with the description given in the Siku tiyao.

This book is an explanation of the Kunyu quantu 坤輿全圖, a chart of the terrestrial globe, two great hemispheres, each measuring five feet in diameter. It was composed by Verbiest and published in 1674 (Kangxi 13). The Kunyu tushuo was published in the same year.

Cf. Wylie: “About half a century later [i.e., after Giulio Aleni], Ferdinand Verbiest published another small geographical work, entitled 坤輿圖說 K’wan yu t’oô shwo, agreeing in the main with Aleni’s, but containing further information on some points. An abstract of Verbiest’s work has been frequently published, under the title 職方外紀 K’wan yu wae ke, in which the principal part of the geographical matter is omitted, and everything of a strange and marvellous character retained” (pp. 58–59).

Cf. Pfister, p. 355, no. 14 and 15; JWC 2:178–9; Hsü 1949, pp. 318–320; Couplet, p. 42 (Explicatio mappae Cosmographicae majoris delineatae ex mandato Imperatoris, 2 vol.).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 346.

" ... The same urge to impress the Chinese with Western achievements has prompted Ferdinand Verbiest to include in his Kunyu tushuo 坤輿圖說 (Illustrated Explanation of the Entire World, 1674), a whole series of such pictures derived from German, Flemish, and Dutch engravings: the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, exotic animals, a European galleon, and the Roman Collosseum." --Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, vol. 1, p. 810.

JapSin II, 44
Kunyu tushuo 坤輿圖說.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
Two juan. Bamboo paper, bound in one volume, European style. No date or place of publication.

The Latin inscription on the cover reads: “Geographia universalis | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest, S.J.”

Cf. Wylie: “About half a century later [i.e., after Giulio Aleni], Ferdinand Verbiest published another small geographical work, entitled 坤輿圖說 K’wan yu t’oô shwo, agreeing in the main with Aleni’s, but containing further information on some points. An abstract of Verbiest’s work has been frequently published, under the title 職方外紀 K’wan yu wae ke, in which the principal part of the geographical matter is omitted, and everything of a strange and marvellous character retained” (pp. 58–59).

Cf. Pfister, p. 355, no. 14 and 15; JWC 2:178–9; Hsü 1949, pp. 318–320; Couplet, p. 42 (Explicatio mappae Cosmographicae majoris delineatae ex mandato Imperatoris, 2 vol.).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 346.

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

N.B.: This set is a reduced format copy of the 1984 Taiwan Shangwu yinshuguan 臺灣商務印書館 edition, reproduced from the collection in possession of the Guoli gugong bowuyuan 國立故宮博物院.Yingyin Wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 ; 594.
Other titles in this volume, most concerning trade and relations with border peoples, ethnic minorities, and notes on Southeast Asia:
Xi Man congxiao 溪蠻叢笑 / Zhu Fu zhuan 朱輔撰 -- Zhenla fengtu ji 真臘風土記 / Zhou Daguan zhuan 周達觀撰 -- Daoyi zhilüe 島夷志略 / Wang Dayuan zhuan 汪大淵撰 -- Chaoxian fu 朝鮮賦 / Dong Yue zhuan 董越撰 -- Haiyu 海語 / Huang Zhong zhuan 黃衷撰 -- Dong Xiyang kao 東西洋考 / Zhang Xie zhuan 張燮撰 -- Zhifang waiji 職方外紀 / Xiyang Ai Rulüe zhuan 西洋艾儒略撰 -- Chiya 赤雅 / Kuang Lu zhuan 鄺露撰 -- Chaoxian zhi 朝鮮志 / 不著撰人 -- Kunyu tushuo 坤輿圖說 / Xiyang Nan Huairen zhuan 西洋南懷 仁撰 -- Yiyu lu 異域錄 / Jueluo Tulichen zhuan 覺羅圖理琛撰 -- Haiguo Wenjian lu 海國聞見錄 / Chen Lunjiong zhuan 陳倫炯撰.

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 bibliographic note on main entry: 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 in this collection, see the catalog of the Fujen Zikawei collection in the Sino-Western Cultural Relations Journal XVIII (1996).

Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (1623-1688) : 傳教士, 科學家, 工程師, 外交家 / Wei Ruowang bian 魏若望編.
Spine title and subtitle: Chuanjiaoshi, kexuejia, gongchengshi, waijiaojia Nan Huairen 傳教士, 科學家, 工程師, 外交家南懷仁 (1623-1688).
Translation of: Ferdinand Verbiest (1623-1688) : Jesuit missionary, scientist, engineer and diplomat : Papers presented at the International Conference on the Occasion of the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Death of Ferdinand Verbiest.
Original English version jointly published by Institut Monumenta Serica (Sankt Augustin) and Ferdinand Verbiest Foundation (Leuven) = Luwen guoji xueshu yantaohui lunwenji 魯汶國際學術研討會論文集.
Includes bibliographical references.
For contents note see record for English edition.

Nationale herdenking Ferdinand Verbiest S.J., 1623-1688 : programma, tentoonstellingscatalogus / [samenstelling, Valère Arickx ; catalogusnotities, Nicole Halsberghe, Valère Arickx.]
Cover title: Herdenking Ferdinand Verbiest S.J., 1623-1688.
Spine title: Verbiestherdenking-Pittem 1988.
***Graphic resource: China Jesuit scientific works, observatory, cannon, steam car, maps, thermometer, armillaries, portraits.

JapSin II, 42 A
Qinding xinli ceyan jilüe 欽定新曆測驗記略.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. White bamboo paper in one ce, forty-two folios (ff. 8–10 and 29–31 are missing).

The title page is xylographed in Latin from the handwriting of Verbiest with the date 1668, which engraving was done in Beijing: Astronomia Europaea | sub Imperatore Tartaro Sinico | Cam Hy appellato | Ex umbra in lucem revocata | A P. Ferdinando Verbiest | Flandro Belga Brugensi | E Societate Jesu | Academiae Astronomiae | in Regia Pekinensi | Praefecto | Anno Salutis M.DCLXVIII.”

On the twenty-first day of the eleventh month, the seventh year of the Kangxi reign, we had an unexpected visit from four Grand Secretaries sent by His Majesty, namely, His Excellency Wu Gesai 吳格塞, His Excellency Duo Nuo 多諾, His Excellency Zhuo Ling’an 卓令安, and His Excellency Fan Chengmo 范承謨, all of them now deceased. His Majesty wanted to know whether the calendars then issued were correct. My reply was that they were very erroneous and that I had solid argument for saying so. There and then I pointed out the errors of these calendars. His Excellency Duo referred my reply to the emperor. The following day (22nd) an imperial order summoned me, An Wensi 安文思 [Gabriel de Magalhães], and Li Leisi 利類思 [Lodovico Buglio] to present ourselves at the Donghua Gate. On that same day the officials of the Imperial Observatory, Ma You 馬祐, Yang Guangxian, and Wu Mingxuan, were also there. [There followed a disputation between Yang, Wu, and Verbiest]. It was proved that the calculation of the calendar was incorrect and by imperial order the Qizheng minli 七政民曆 was compiled in the eighth year of the Kangxi reign by Wu Mingxuan, then Vice president of the Imperial Observatory, to be examined carefully for definite errors . . .

Cf. Sommervogel, vol. VIII, col. 576, 580; H. Bosmans, S.J., Ferdinand Verbiest, directeur de l’Observatoire de Péking, 1623–1668 (Extrait de la Revue des Questions scientifiques, janvier–avril 1912); Henri Bosmans, S.J., Les Écrits Chinois de Verbiest (Extrait de la Revue des Question scientifiques, juillet 1913, Louvain, pp. 272–298), p. 291. Courant 4992: “Khin ting sin li tchhe yen ki lio. Abrégé d’observations relatives au nouveau calendrier, imprimé par ordre imperial. Recueil de rapports et pièces diverses (1668 et 1669), émanant du P. Verbiest et d’autres fonctionnaires: texte et figures. 1 livre.--Cordier, Imprimerie Sino-européenne, 354. Grand in 8. Incomplet de plusieurs feuillets. 1 vol., cartonnage. Nouveaux fonds 3336.”For Jap-Sin II, 42 (I–III and A), see also Jap-Sin IV,27.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 343-344.

"...One of the many Jesuit works appearing in 17th century China that deal in greater detail with aspects included in the Tianzhu shiyi, in this case, Verbiest's (orig. 1670) work on the retribution of good and evil."--Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, v.1, p. 613

Cover illustration: Bibliothèque nationale de France. Courant 6978
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18冊.

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

JapSin I, (38/42) 38/1.2
Shan’e bao lüeshuo 善惡報略說.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
Eleven folios, Chinese bamboo paper.

This booklet is found at the end of the above mentioned booklet. The last folio has: 康熙九年庚戌仲春治理歷法耶穌會士南懷仁述 (Narrated by Nan Huairen, S.J., who is in charge of the calendar, in the second month of the ninth year of the Kangxi reign [1670]). This book is a brief treatise on the remuneration of the good and the bad.
Cf. Pfister, p. 353, no. 4; Hsü 1949, p. 76; Courant 6978; Cordier, no. 347; Couplet, p. 42. See also Jap-Sin II, 46 (duplicate).

Source: Albert Chan, SJ, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 36.

JapSin II, 46
Shan'e bao lüeshuo 善惡報略說.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. Bamboo paper, bound in European style. No date or place of publication.

The label on the cover gives three characters: 善惡報. The Latin inscription reads: “Retributio bonorum | et malorum | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest | S.J.”

On the eight month of the eighth year of the Kangxi reign [1669] the princes and ministers frequently came together to discuss the Catholic affairs. They sent in joint memorials to the effect that Yang Guangxian, a persona non grata, had calumniously accused Catholicism of being a false religion. But we have come to the conclusion that to become Catholics does not involve the believers in evil and disorderly behavior. We therefore [believe] that the believers should be allowed to continue their practices. What has been said has been kept as a record. As soon as the meeting was over, some of the ministers asked me why it is that, if God wishes men to do good and thus to enjoy happiness, [many of the] good-doers are not rewarded with happiness in this life! [On the other hand] evil-doers often escape immediate punishment. Why are they allowed to enjoy wealth and high position and be happy throughout their lives? On the other hand the good people are usually poor; they have to bear sufferings and disasters. Does this not make one doubt of the existence of a Lord in heaven and earth or that this Lord is unjust? To this I replied . . .

Cf. Jap-Sin I, (38/42) 38/1.2 This book was reprinted by Zikawei (ed. 5^a, 1926, one volume, eighteen pages).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 350.

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

JapSin II, 49
Shengti dayi 聖體答疑.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. Bamboo paper bound in European style. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears the title in Chinese (only the first character 聖 is printed and the other three characters are written in black ink) and a Latin inscription: “Solutio objectionum | circa Eucharistiam | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest.”

Cf. Pfister, p. 353, no. 3; Courant 7290; Couplet, p. 42 (Responsa ad dubia de Eucharistia).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 352-353.

Note: The following references are from Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, vol. 1:
Xiguo jifa 西國記法 : "important work transmitting European humanistic tradition to China ... on the art of memory (ars memorativa) compiled by Ricci and later revised and edited by Chinese convert Zhu Dinghan 朱鼎瀚 and Afonso Vagnone (1625)": p. 605, 788.
Xichao ding'an 熙朝定案 : ... 3rd important collection, by 1684 3 juan ... started in the early 1670's [for] the purpose of defending the "restored" Western astronomy (April 1669 Verbiest had replaced Yang Guangxian as head of the Astronomical Bureau) by publishing official documents (ding'an) which tell the story of its restoration [and] victories over subsequent attacks on the validity of Western astronomy ... by concentraiting on the role of Verbiest as a loyal and esteemed servant of the Emperor, Xichao ding'an was meant as an apology for Christianity itself..." ; Xichao ding'an was printed in several parts dating before 1672 ... pp. 71-224 reproduces BAV Barb. Or. 132.3 (1668-1673). Xichao ding'an apparently constituted one of the main sources for Zhengjiao fengbao 正教奉褒 : p. 132-134.
Xichao chongzheng ji 熙朝崇正集 : Memorials and edicts collected by missionaries and converts to show Imperial and official favor and respect for Christian doctrine. Cf. p. 132.
Local access only. [TZJDCWX.pdf]

JapSin I, (38/42) 38/1.1
Tianzhujiao sangli wenda 天主教喪禮問答.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One volume. Chinese bamboo paper.

The Latin inscription on the cover reads: “De cultu christianorum erga mortuos cum notis imperatoris Kam Hi (litteris rubris) 1689. Rarum (2 exempl.) (Addenda ad prius exempli ‘Compositio’ quaedam).” On top of folio 1a there is a Latin inscription: “Litterae rubrae et notationes in originali | scriptae sunt propria manu Imperatoris | Cam Hi anno 1689o, cui esse conforme hoc exemplar, testor | Antonius Thomas. V~Prov^lis Soc^tis Jesu | V~Prov^ae Sinensis. | Pekini | 26 Oct. | 1701.” On the left there is a seal of the Society of Jesus in red, which reads: “Socie. Jesu † Vic. | Provinc. Sinen.” The date is given on the left as “Pekini | 26^a Oct. | 1701. | Further left there is an oval red seal: Socie. Jesu † Vic. | Provinc. Sinen.”

1. The meaning of prayer.
2. Prayers at the funeral are for the souls in purgatory.
3. Although the penance in purgatory is determined by God, human efforts can be of help to lessen the penance.
4. The meaning of Catholic funeral ceremonies.
5. The reasons why the Catholic Church forbids burning paper money for the deceased.

Folio 1a has a comment in red ink written by the Kangxi emperor: 言整理順 (The words are well chosen and the ideas convincing); folio 7a has the comment: 說得爽快透理 (Straightforward and thorough) and another comment: 有理有理但恐得罪於人 (Right, right, but it may offend someone).
Neither the catalogue of the Zikawei library nor those of the Vatican or the Bibliothèque Nationale (Courant) mention the title of this booklet. According to Bernard (1945, p. 376, no. 476) there is a printed copy in the Beitang library (Beijing): “Verbiest, Tianzhujiao sangli wenda 天主教喪禮問答. Catéchisme sur les rites funéraires. Xy Pékin entre 1672 et 1686 (Réviseurs: Grimaldi, Th. Pereira). PC 1939 (7 fo, la page de titre manque).”

Source: Albert Chan, SJ, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 35-36.

JapSin I, (38/42) 38/1.1
Tianzhujiao sangli wenda 天主教喪禮問答.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One volume. Chinese bamboo paper.

The Latin inscription on the cover reads: “De cultu christianorum erga mortuos cum notis imperatoris Kam Hi (litteris rubris) 1689. Rarum (2 exempl.) (Addenda ad prius exempli ‘Compositio’ quaedam).” On top of folio 1a there is a Latin inscription: “Litterae rubrae et notationes in originali | scriptae sunt propria manu Imperatoris | Cam Hi anno 1689o, cui esse conforme hoc exemplar, testor | Antonius Thomas. V~Prov^lis Soc^tis Jesu | V~Prov^ae Sinensis. | Pekini | 26 Oct. | 1701.” On the left there is a seal of the Society of Jesus in red, which reads: “Socie. Jesu † Vic. | Provinc. Sinen.” The date is given on the left as “Pekini | 26^a Oct. | 1701. | Further left there is an oval red seal: Socie. Jesu † Vic. | Provinc. Sinen.”

1. The meaning of prayer.
2. Prayers at the funeral are for the souls in purgatory.
3. Although the penance in purgatory is determined by God, human efforts can be of help to lessen the penance.
4. The meaning of Catholic funeral ceremonies.
5. The reasons why the Catholic Church forbids burning paper money for the deceased.

Folio 1a has a comment in red ink written by the Kangxi emperor: 言整理順 (The words are well chosen and the ideas convincing); folio 7a has the comment: 說得爽快透理 (Straightforward and thorough) and another comment: 有理有理但恐得罪於人 (Right, right, but it may offend someone).

Neither the catalogue of the Zikawei library nor those of the Vatican or the Bibliothèque Nationale (Courant) mention the title of this booklet. According to Bernard (1945, p. 376, no. 476) there is a printed copy in the Beitang library (Beijing): “Verbiest, Tianzhujiao sangli wenda 天主教喪禮問答. Catéchisme sur les rites funéraires. Xy Pékin entre 1672 et 1686 (Réviseurs: Grimaldi, Th. Pereira). PC 1939 (7 fo, la page de titre manque).”

Source: Albert Chan, SJ, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 35-36.

JapSin II, 45.1
Wangtui jixiongbian 妄推吉凶辯.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan, incomplete. Bamboo paper. Published in 1669 (Kangxi 8). No place of publication.

The cover of the book bears the Latin title: “Discussio contra vanitatem | divinationis | P. Verbiest.”

Cf. Courant 4995–4997 (Réfutation de Yang Kuang sien et des devins); Pfister, p. 353, no. 5 (slightly different title: Wangtui jixiong zhi bian 妄推吉凶之辯).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 347.

JapSin II, 45.3
Wang ze bian 妄擇辯.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest). Published in 1669. No place of publication. From the format and paper it seems that the book is an original edition.

The cover bears a label with a Latin inscription: “Refutatio persecutoris | Yam Quam sien circa electionem dierum | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest | S.J.”

Cf. Courant 4993–4994 (Discussion du choix des jours fastes).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 348.

JapSin II, 45 D
Wang ze bian 妄擇辯.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest). One juan. Bamboo paper with a case.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “Refutatio persecu | toris Yam Quam Sien circa electio | nem dierum | a.p. Ferd. Verbiest | S.J.”

JapSin II, 45.2
Wangzhanbian 妄占辯.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. Bamboo paper. Dayuantang 大原堂 edition, Guangdong, 1669.

The Latin title given on the cover reads: “Refutatio persecuto | ris Yam Quam sien | circa vanas | observa | tiones et divinationes | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest | S.J.”

Cf. Courant 4998–5001 (Discussion contre les sorts).
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 347-348.

Xichao ding'an 熙朝定案 : "...3rd important collection, by 1684 3 juan....started in the early 1670's [for] the purpose of defending the "restored" Western astronomy (April 1669 Verbiest had replaced Yang Guangxian as head of the Astronomical Bureau) by publishing official documents (ding'an) which tell the story of its restoration [and] victories over subsequent attacks on the validity of Western astronomy....by concentrating on the role of Verbiest as a loyal and esteemed servant of the Emperor, Xichao ding'an was meant as an apology for Christianity itself..." ; Xichao ding'an was printed in several parts dating before 1672....pp. 71-224 reproduces BAV Barb.Or. 132.3 (1668-1673). Xichao ding'an apparently constituted one of the main sources for Zhengjiao fengbao 正教奉褒 : p. 132-134."--Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, vol. 1.

JapSin II, 67 II
Xichao dingan 熙朝定案.
Three ce, in a paper case. Yellow bamboo paper (ce 1 and without division into juan 3) and white paper (ce 2). Ce 2 and 3 are the same, but to ce 3 five documents have been added.

The covers of ce 2 and 3 are rebound with new covers and bear no inscriptions. Ce 1 bears on the cover the title written in ink and a Latin inscription: “Decreta Imperatoris in favorem Mathematicae et PP. Pekinensium.”

Ce 1 has a table of contents in three and one-half folios. In the middle of each folio the title of the book is given and below the fish-tail the number of the folio.
These books contain memorials concerning the Imperial Observatory, dating from the seventh to the fifteenth year of the Kangxi reign (1669–1676).
Ce 1 deals quite fully with the persecution of Yang Guangxian 楊光先 and with Wu Mingxuan 吳明烜 and his Mohammedan calendar. At the end of the book there is a written message offered to the deceased Schall recognizing his innocence and at the same time restoring his former ranks. There is also an imperial decree granting to Schall the title of Tongwei jiaoshi 通微教師 (Religious Teacher Who Comprehends the Mysterious).
The folios 46v–52v of ce 2 contain the memorials of Duihana 對哈納 and other ministers (cf. Jap-Sin II, 42). These can be found also in Jap-Sin II, 67 2^a 熙朝特典, document 6, folios 1r–16r. Again, the folios 53r–55r 史部題疏 can also be found in Jap-Sin II, 67 2^a, document 7, folios 17r–19r. The memorial of Verbiest in folios 61r–64r appears also in Jap-Sin II, 67 2^a, document 4, folios 6r–9r. Folio 33, another of Verbiest’s memorials, appears also in Jap-Sin II, 67 2^a, document 2, folio 4. Finally, folios 34r–36r 內務府滿官傅旨 can also be found in Jap-Sin II, 67 2^a, document 1, folios 1r–3r.
The documents added to ce 3 are: Xinzhi lingtai yixiangzhi tigao 新製靈臺儀象誌題稿 (five folios) and Xichao dingan tigao 熙朝定案題稿 (four documents, altogether thirteen folios).

Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 379.

JapSin II, 67 III
Xichao dingan 熙朝定案.
No division of juan, one ce, without division into juan; bamboo paper with a paper case.

The cover bears the title written in ink.

1. 恭紀驗砲綸音盛典，康熙二十一年南懷仁述. A description, composed by Verbiest in 1682, of the testing of the new cannon. Folios 166r–171r.

2. 康熙十九年十一月十六日南懷仁進呈砲式奏章. A memorial presented by Verbiest, dated 5 January 1681, presenting different types of cannons. Folios 172r–174v.

3. 康熙二十年二月十一日工部題稿論進呈砲式事. A memorial presented by the Ministry, dated 30 March 1681, presenting different types of cannons. Folios 175r–178v.

4. 康熙二十一年正月二十七日南懷仁奏論進呈神威砲圖書. A memorial presented by Verbiest, dated 5 March 1682, presenting the plan of the Shenwei cannon. Folios 179r–182v.

5. 康熙二十一年四月初十日史部題章論進呈神威砲圖書事. A memorial from the Ministry of Personnel, presented on 16 May 1682, dealing with the plan of the Shenwei cannon. Folios 183r–184r.

6. 康熙二十一年七月二十九日南懷仁奏論推定盛京本地交食之法. On 31 August 1682, Verbiest presented a memorial on how to determine eclipses in Liaodong province. Folios 185r–187v.

7. 康熙二十一年八月二十五日禮部題稿論推定盛京交食之法事. On 26 September 1682, the Ministry of Rites presented a memorial on how to determine eclipses in Liaodong province. Folios 188r–189r.

8. 禮部題稿論推定盛京本地交食之法. A memorial presented by the Ministry of Rites on how to determine eclipses in Liaodong province. Folio 190.

9. 康熙二十二年八月二十日南懷仁奏論進呈砲式事. A memorial presented by Verbiest, dated 10 October 1683, on different types of cannons presented. Folios 191r–195v.

10. 康熙二十二年八月二十六日南懷仁奏進呈窮理學書. A memorial presented by Verbiest, dated 16 October 1683, presenting books on philosophy. Folios 196r–199v.

11. 康熙二十五年三月二十九日工部奏論北京街道牌樓改正事. A memorial presented by the Ministry of Works, dated 21 April 1686, on the modification of the streets and the celebration arches. Folios 1r–8r.

12. 康熙二十五年七月二十八日侍衛趙昌傅帶旨諭南懷仁論製砲事. On 15 September 1686, the imperial Body Guard of the Kangxi emperor, Zhao Chang, communicated an imperial decree to Verbiest on the manufacture of cannons. Folios 1r–2v.

13. 康熙二十五年十月二十日南懷仁奉旨往海子測新開河道事. Verbiest left for Haizi on 5 December 1686, by imperial order, to survey the newly finished canal. Folio 3.

14. 康熙二十六年二月十六日旨命南懷仁鑄砲事. On 28 March 1687, by imperial decree, Verbiest was told to cast cannons. Folio 4r.

The last two folios consist of illustrations of different types of cannons.

Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 379-381.

For full information see: Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database) (http://www.arts.kuleuven.be/sinology/cct)

Library has two digital editions. One from edition displayed at the Galleons & Globalizations exhibition (USF 2010). In two parts with separate covers, partially disbound. Latin t.p. missing. Digitized with permission.
Local access dig.pdf. [Verbiest-Yixiangtu.pdf]

2nd (BnF) ed. online at Gallica.

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

JapSin II, 42, I. II. III.
Xinzhi lingtai yixiang zhi 新製靈臺儀象志.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest, 1623-1688).
Fourteen juan, sixteen ce; Chinese bamboo paper. Bound in three volumes, European style: I (juan 1–4; ce 1–4), II (juan 5–8; ce 5–9) and III (juan 9–14; ce 10–16). No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the title of the book and a Latin inscription: “Theoria, usus, fabrica instru | mentorum Mathematicorum | variis tabulis stellarum | longitud. latit. cir. inclinationum | eclipticae etc. | a p. Ferdin. Verbiest, S.J. | continet 14. tomos.” Another Latin inscription reads: “Opera | mathematica | Patrum NN. | rarissima | pro curia | imperiali edita.”

Folio 1a of juan 2 bears three large Chinese characters: 儀象志 (A record of the astronomical instruments); they appear also in juan 3–4, 6 and 8–13. The collaborators of the other juan (6–11 and 13–14) were:
Juan 6: Sun Yourong 孫有容, Bao Yingqi 鮑英齊, and Jiao Bingzhen 焦秉貞.
Juan 7: Bao Yinghua 鮑英華, Zhang Wenming 張問明， and Ning Wanbi 甯完璧.
Juan 8: Bao Xuan 鮑選, Yin Kai 殷鎧, and Zhang Dengke 張登科.
Juan 9: Zhu Shigui 朱世貴, Liu Yingchang 劉應昌, and Xue Zongyin 薛宗胤.
Juan 10: Xiao Jinli 蕭盡禮, Li Wenwei 李文蔚, and Feng Fangqing 馮方慶.
Juan 11. Xi Yigong 席以恭, Li Yingqian 李穎謙, and Zhang Wenchen 張文晨.
Juan 13. Zhang Shikui 張士魁, Lin Shengxiao 林昇霄, Li Shi 李式, and Liu Changyin 劉昌胤.
Juan 14. Feng Chengyin 封承廕, Xiao Jinxing 蕭盡性, Wei Qifeng 魏起鳳, Feng Mai 馮邁, and Ge Zhangzhen 戈掌鎮.

There are nine columns in each half folio with eighteen characters in the first column of each paragraph and seventeen in the rest of the paragraph. Annotations are given in double lines and with smaller characters. The title of the book is given in the middle of each folio, and the number of the juan and of the folio are given below the fish tail. The book consists mainly of tables. In his memorial to the throne Verbiest explained why he wrote this book:

When dealing with the [astronomical] instruments one problem is how to make them, and the other is how to use them. Furthermore, there is the problem of how to set them up for permanent use. Unless a full discussion is given with all the details, I am afraid that the knowledge will be confined to myself, and no one will be able to share it. This, to my mind, would be selfish and short sighted. For this reason I have tried to combine old learning with new experiences and, after careful consideration and analysis and by means of a process of inference, I have produced these illustrations, comparing and confirming them by explanations and tables. In all, there are 16 juan, with the title Xinzhi lingtai yixiangzhi [A description of the recently produced astronomical instruments]. It is hoped that the students in the imperial services will learn and understand and thus will find the instruments easy to manage. As to those who are to come after us, they too may do their studies by referring to our books. Your Majesty has been so kind as to allow me to take charge of the Calendar Bureau and in return I feel it my duty to render service to Your Majesty. Furthermore, your servant has one more request. Since this book is laid out clearly in its theoretical and mathematical side and is fully furnished with tables, it is hard to expect that everything will be arranged as neatly as one would wish. For this reason difficulties arise when anyone tries to copy or to draw from the book. Unless it is printed it will be impossible to provide for common use, still less, for the generations to come. I therefore, request your Majesty to give an order to the Ministry [of Works] to have printing blocks made and to deliver these to your servant for the printing of the books, which will be distributed among the students of the Imperial Observatory. The result of this will be that every student in the Academy will be provided with his own copy unfailingly . . .

The memorial [of Verbiest] was presented to the emperor on the twentieth of the first month of the 13th year of the Kangxi reign [1673]. On the third day of the second month [that same year] the imperial reply came which reads: Both the calendar and astronomy are closely related to the rites. From the memorial [of Verbiest] we have learned that the astronomical instruments are completed and that they have been made with great accuracy. Nan Huairen [Verbiest] had spared no energy in this labor; indeed he deserves high praise. He should be given special honors. Let me know about all the items that are discussed in the memorial [of Verbiest]. Let this be reported to the Ministry [of Personnel]. Enclosed are the [manuscript of] the book [of Verbiest] and the tables.

該臣（對哈納）議得南懷仁奏稱臣指授嘔心，業將諸儀安列於觀象臺上。以故覃精研慮，繪圖表次，為一十六卷。名曰新製靈臺儀象志，是書樊然不齊也，使非板行勢難盡人而給，且無以遺久。祈仰[束+力]部鏤板一副，交臣印刷，以資給發官生，則守是掌者，皆手習一編，而無缺餘（如？）之憾矣……康熙十三年二月二十日題，本月二十四日奉旨依議，欽此，遵。

Cf. Couplet, p. 42; Pfister, p. 353–354; Hsü 1949, pp. 465–469; JWC 2:163–179. See also NBC, p. 240; Van Hée 1913, pp. 3–4; ECCP 1:569 (Mei Gucheng); Joseph Needham, Science and Civilization in China, vol. III, pp. 451–452; Zhongguo tianwenxueshi 中國天文學史 (Beijing, 1981), pp. 230-231.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 340-343.

For full bibliographic and textual citation see: Ad Dudink & Nicolas Standaert, Chinese Christian Texts Database (CCT-Database).
Local access dig.pdf. [Yulan Xifang yaoji.pdf]

JapSin II, 158
Yulan Xifang yaoji 御覽西方要紀.
By Lodovico Buglio, Gabriel de Magalhães, and Ferdinand Verbiest.
One juan, bamboo paper in one ce with a paper case. 1669. No place of publication.

The inside of the cover bears a label with a Latin inscription: “Si fang yao ki | Occidentalium (rerum) | compendium | a PP. Buglio | de Magalhaens | et Verbiest | 1669 scriptum | V. Sommervogel v^o Buglio.” There is a note by D’Elia that reads: “Supplica offerta da questi | 3 Padri all’Imperatore nel 1669 | in favore dell’innocenza dei | Missionari (e di Schall) | cf Pfister I, 242, 14.”

Mémoire sur l’Occident présenté à l’Empereur. Cet opuscule, daté de 1669, contient un rapport des trois Pères alors présents à la capitale, Magalhaens, Buglio, Verbiest. En voici l’origine. Kang-Hi venait de prendre en mains les rênes du gouvernement. Après des expériences repétées, Verbiest avait convaincu toute la Cour de l’ignorance du Musulman Ou Ming-Hiuen [吳明烜]. L’Empereur dès lors donne aux Pères des témoignages de bienveillance extraordinaires. Il les appelle au Palais, s’entretient familièrement avec eux, offre goûters et friandises, les questionne sur les sciences et les gouvernements de l’Europe, et se montre enchanté des instruments d’horlogerie, appareils de physique amusante moitié enfantains, moitié serieux qu’ils lui font parvenir. Pour satisfaire sa curiosité, et réprondre plus amplement aux questions posées par l’Empereur encore tout jeune (en 1669 Kang-Hi n’avait que 14 ans), les trois Pères s’entendirent pour composer cette relation sur les choses d’Europe. (Van Hée 1913, pp. 28–29)

Ensuitte, ils luy presenterent une brieve relacion des choses d’Europe en langue chinoise, pour satisfaire plainement a sa curiosité, et respondre a diverses questions, qu’il leur avoit faict quelques jours auparavant. Et dans cette relation ils ensererent deux points de grande importance: le 1^r quelle loy ou relligion on suivoit en Europe, et le 2^d quels estoient les predicateurs de cette loy. Et bien que l’Empereur entende et parle fort bien la langue chinoise, il vo(u)lut neanmoins que cette relation fust traduitte en langue tartare” (pp. 41–42).

If there are no direct proofs against the violator of the law, even if the judge witnessed the violation of the law, he is not to impose a heavy penalty on the violator (folio 8r, on legal systems).
Generally speaking, Europeans esteem highly [the virtues of] loyalty and faithfulness. To be unfaithful would be considered as a great disgrace. Hence to call somebody disloyal and a liar would be intolerable (folio 8v, on business transactions).
They like to be frank, and would not dream of cheating others. They maintain as a principle the love of one’s neighbor as oneself and they try to share their fortune with others . . . . In dealing with others they lay stress on humbleness. As a result, it is rare to find in the country people who are not being looked after. They are especially courteous to foreign visitors (folio 10r, on the temperament of the people).
[They set up institutions] for orphans and abandoned children, considering that the poor cannot raise their many children and that it would be a crime to have their children drowned (folio 10v, on works of charity).
Marriage between man and woman, in general, takes place at the age of about twenty, when they are fully grown up, and the engagement takes place at an opportune time. It is done by mutual consent. The property of the wife [is so protected that] the husband cannot dispose of it at will. If the husband happens to commit a crime or if he is in debt, the judge can make him pay from his own property; but he cannot make use of the property of his wife (folio 12r, on marriage).
The Western countries profess only Catholicism and for the past sixteen centuries there has been great peace. The morality and the customs of the peoples are in great harmony. They live in abundance and are happy, each with his own work without quarrels or greed for other peoples’ property (folio 12v, on religion).
The religious enter an order when they are young, and they take the vows not to marry or to seek government honors . . . . They have to pass their examinations with distinction before they are allowed to preach in foreign lands, and they are not allowed to return again to their home lands. Thus, though their origin is in the West, nevertheless they spend their lives in places where they happen to be (folio 13r, on religion).

Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 442-444.

Full text online at Galllica.

御覽西方要紀Yu lan xi fang yao ji.Mémoire sur l'Occident présenté à l'Empereur.
Source: gallica.bnf.fr

JapSin II, 45a
Yutui jiyan 預推紀驗.
By Nan Huairen 南懷仁 (Ferdinand Verbiest).
One juan. Bamboo paper, bound in European style. No date or place of publication.

The cover bears a label with the Chinese title in ink and a Latin inscription: “Praedictiones temporis | pluvium, ventorum | et eiusmodi.” A note in Latin reads: “Haec scriptio non est P^ris Verbiest.” Another note by Louis Van Hée reads: “Patris Verbiest: Observatio meteorologiae. Rarus.”

Verbiest writes: “Here we try to give the results of the astronomical forecasting which the Imperial Observatory has already sent to His Majesty, from the eighth to the ninteenth year of the Kangxi reign [1669–1680], dividing it into eight sections per year, as the effective practice of astronomy and as a positive proof of the accuracy of our calendars . . .” 今將自康熙八年至十九年每歲八節，預推天象之效驗，開列於後，以為天文實用之效，及預測推曆法所為可準之實據焉 . . . (Yutui jiyan, folio 1). It is clear that this book is the result of astronomical experiments made in a period of eleven years.
Pfister (pp. 352–362) does not mention this book. It is found, however, in the addenda and corrigenda (p. 31*): “p. 354, ajouter . . . 預推紀驗 Yu tch’ouei ki yen, 1 k. -- Prédiction des phénomènes.» Ibid. [Cordier 1901], no. 359.”

Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 349.