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

JapSin II, 16
Xingxue cushu 性學觕述.
By Ai Rulue 艾儒略 (Giulio Aleni).
Eight juan. Bamboo paper in three ce bound in one volume, European style. Published by the Catholic church of Fuzhou (Fujian) in 1646 (丙戌).

There is a label with the title on each ce; the first ce bears a Latin inscription: “De Physica | auctore P. Julio Aleni, S.J., 8 tomi.”

This book is an introduction to psychology: juan 1–2 deal with the nature of the soul; juan 3 with the question of growth; juan 4 with the five senses; juan 5 with the functions of the senses; juan 6 with the nature of three kinds of souls; juan 7 with the human mind and with dreams; juan 8 with the question of long and short life, etc. Aleni tried to give a general course of psychology as it was studied in Europe; many of the facts were entirely new to his Chinese readers. At the same time he tried to correct wrong ideas which might have been derived from traditional wrong perceptions.
The book is an adaptation (hence the title page speaks of yizhu “translated and composed”) of a Coimbra course on Aristotelian psychology, viz., the first six chapters of De Anima (Coimbra, 1598) and the two last chapters of Parva Naturalia (Lyon, 1594; Lisbon 1598).

Chen Yi, a native of Fuzhou prefecture (Fujian), obtained the jinshi degree in 1610. He was a disciple of Zhao Canlu 趙參魯 (zi 宗傅, hao 心堂), a native of Ningbo (Zhejiang). He met Ricci at the residence of Zhao, when the latter was Minister of Justice in Nanjing. In 1616, when Chen came to Beijing, he met Diego de Pantoja and Aleni. He seems to have become a friend of the missioners, especially of Aleni, whose movements he followed with great interest. In his preface he makes mention of the calendar reform and of the translation of (mathematical and astronomical) books which had been done in 1629, whence we conclude that it must have been written after this date. The introduction by Zhu Shiheng shows that he was a Christian, probably a new convert of Aleni. The preface of Aleni was signed at the Shenxiutang 慎修堂, the Catholic church in Hangzhou. The Chinese date 天啟甲子 (Tianqi 4), however, does not agree with the Western 1623 (千六百二十三). In this case I think it should be 1624. The book was probably written also in Hangzhou.
The Xingxue cushu was reprinted (third edition) by Xujiahui (Zikawei) (Shanghai) in 1922 (one volume, 218 pages). For another edition, see Jap-Sin II, 21.

Cf. Pfister, p. 134, no. 8; Hsü 1949, pp. 210–214.
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 295-297.

JapSin II, 16a
Xingxue cushu 性學觕述.
By Ai Rulue 艾儒略 (Giulio Aleni).

This is an exact copy of Jap-Sin II 16
Source: Albert Chan, S.J., Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 297.

JapSin II, 21
Xingxue cushu 性學觕述.
By Ai Rulüe 艾儒略 (Giulio Aleni).
Eight juan (juan 1–3 are missing). Bamboo paper bound in one volume European style.

The cover bears a label with the title and a Latin inscription: “De natura et | distinctione Animarum | Liber Sinicus editus a Patre | Julio Alenio Soc.^tis Jesu.”