"An incomplete reading of the manuscript reveals that it is nearly identical with the printed version, with few but sometimes significant differences. One of these differences is a reference to the Shunzhi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong Emperors. A manuscript which refers to the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1735-1795) must have been copied after 1735. Hence the manuscript cannot predate the edition of the book printed in 1688. I suggest that the manuscript is an unpublished attempt to update the biography. This theory is supported by the fact that the portions of the book that tie it specifically to persons and events of the 1680’s, when it was first written, are omitted from the manuscript. These include the first paragraph of the book presenting it to “Madame the Marchioness ... “ and the section of the 1688 edition from the bottom of page 147 through mid-page 151, in which Fr. Couplet talks about the Duchess of Aveiro and other benefactors of the China mission of his day, the sending of the French Jesuit mathematicians to the Chinese court, and the French mission to Siam. The manuscript ends with the paragraph corresponding to the last half of page 151 of the 1688 edition, further omitting the final section which reads, "Tandis que je teray profession d’etre jusqua’au bout du Monde, & à l’extremité de ma vie, Madame, Votre tres humble & tres obeissant serviteur, P.C. Procureur General des Missions de la Chine, de la Compagnie de Jesus." (pp. 151-152) The imprimatur dated November 3, 1687 is also omitted. I suspect that the manuscript was done during the eighteenth century, after 1735 and before 1774 when the Jesuits in Peking learned of the final suppression of the Society of Jesus by order of Pope Clement XIV."

N.B. The following (French 1688 edition) is for information only. (See OCLC # 15232567 for holdings info)>
Couplet, Philippe, 1632-1692. [Historia nobilis Feminae Candidae Hiu, Christianae Sinensis. French.]
Histoire d'une dame chrétienne de la Chine, ou, Par occasion les usages de ces peuples, l'établissement de la religion, les manieres des missionaires, & les exercices de pieté des nouveaux chrétiens sont expliquez.
A Paris : Chez Estienne Michallet, 1688. 151 p. : ill. ; 16 cm. (12mo). Translation of: Historia nobilis Feminae Candidae Hiu, Christianae Sinensis. Running title: Histoire d'une dame de la Chine. Backer-Sommervogel, II, 563, no. 8.
Subject headings: Hiu, Madame, d. 1680. -- Christians--China--Biography.
Cf. Standaert, Handbook of Christianity in China, v. 1: pp. 292, 394, 420, 428, 431 (Bibliography), 581, 601.
Dig. file local access only. [DameChretien.pdf]

References:
Backer-Sommervogel II, column 1563, no. 8
Lust, J. Western books on China, 805
Cordier, H. Bibliotheca Sinica 2. éd., Vol. 2, Sp. 832
Copyright: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Local access dig.pdf. [Couplet-Dame Chretienne Candide Hiu.pdf]
Online at Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin.

"A model for all Christian women" : Candida Xu, a Chinese Christian woman of the seventeenth century / Gail King.
Includes bibliographical references (pages [135]-153) and index.
"Monumenta Serica Institute, Sankt Augustin."

Acknowledgments -- Preface by D.E. Mungello -- List of Abbreviations -- Map: China in the time of Candida Xu -- Introduction.
Chapter One: Roots of the Xu Family: The Generations before Candida Xu
Chapter Two: Childhood and Married Life
Chapter Three: The Widowed Years
Chapter Four: The Legacy of Candida Xu
Appendices:
Appendix 1: "Baolun tang gao" 寶倫堂稿. Autobiographical Preface by Hesha 鶴沙 (Xu Zuanzeng 許纘曾). Translation of Portions Related to Candida Xu

Appendix 2: Xu Zuanzeng’s Biography of His Mother Candida Xu. Translation of "Compendio de la vida y la muerte de Doña Candida, sacado de un librito, que imprimió su hijo D. Basilio Hiù." Translated by Matt Hill

Appendix 3: Xu Yunxi, Foreword to the 1938 edition of Yiwei Zhongguo fengjiao taitai 一位中國奉教太太

Bibliography --Index with Glossary

"This biography of Candida Xu (1607-1680), granddaughter of the prominent Chinese Christian convert and statesman Xu Guangqi (1562-1633) and foremost Chinese Christian woman of the seventeenth century, is based on the biography of Candida Xu titled Histoire d'une dame chrétienne (Paris, 1688) written by her confessor Philippe Couplet, S.J. (1623-1693), an obituary of his mother and other writings by her eldest son, and the Xu family history. Using these as well as other relevant European missionary and Chinese language sources, Candida Xu's life as daughter, wife, mother, and generous contributor to the Christian Church is recounted. Events in her life are set in the context of historical and religious circumstances in China at the time. Consideration of the situation of women, particularly Christian women, draws out how Candida Xu's faith helped her and other believing Christian women to gain greater freedom of choice and action"-- Provided by publisher.

N.B. LC retains: Hiu, Candide, 1607-1680. Candida Xu (Xu Gandida 徐甘弟大, 1607-1680); granddaughter of the eminent convert Xu Guangqi 徐光啓 (1562-1633))

Cover: Madame Candida Xu 徐甘弟大 (1607-1680), early Chinese convert and patroness of Christianity. From Jean-Baptiste Du Halde, Description ... de la Chine (1736) III, 21. (see pp. 41-56). -- A. Dudink, The Zikawei (徐家匯) Collection in the Jesuit Theologate Library at Fujen 輔仁 University (Taiwan): Background & Draft Catalog. -- G. King, Couplet’s Biography of Madame Candida Xu (1607-1680). -- S. Naquin, An Addendum on Jesuit Tombstones. --New Publications.
Abstracted and indexed in Historical Abstracts and America: History and Life.