JapSin I, (38/42) 40/5
Bianji canping 辯祭參評.
Communicated orally by Li Ximan (Simão Rodrigues, 1645–1707) 李西滿授 and written down by Li Liangjue 李良爵述.
Manuscript, sixty-nine folios (eleven chapters). One volume, Chinese bamboo paper. There are remarks in blue ink on the top margins of the folios and in the manuscript itself.

The cover gives the title 辨祭參評. Below the title we find the inscription: “Communicated orally by the Franciscan Li Andang” (Antonio S. M. Caballero). This inscription has been blotted out with ink. The Latin inscription reads: “Pien Çi, discursus de littera Çi [祭], auctore P. Antonio à S. Maria [“Antonio à S. Maria” is blotted out and replaced by “Varo”] cum annotationibus Li Kieu cum [‘Kieu cum’ is blotted out] seu Leantio petitis a P^a Li si muon. N.B. Li Leantius fuit Siam cum seu Amanuensis et domesticus ac cathechista Ill^mi D. Maygrot.”

This chapter is quite right. But we must take into consideration that the Catholic faith is not yet flourishing in China, while the veneration of ancestors and of Confucius have been practised for a long time. The people all know that this is Confucianism and therefore they should not disobey; furthermore, this veneration comes from an imperial order. It is necessary to find a way of reconciliation. Whether or not the practice is a transgression of God’s commandment, we have to leave to the judgement of learned theologians of the West. Let us hope for the best.

How are we going to preach the Gospel in China when we have already made ourselves enemies of Buddhism and Daoism and now we are beginning to be hostile to Confucianism. Beyond doubt we are looking for trouble!

Early Confucian discourse on family rites -- Redesigning ancestral rites for a new elite in the eleventh century -- Combating heterodoxy and vulgarity in weddings and funerals -- Chu Hsi's authorship of the Family rituals -- Orthodoxy of Chu Hsi's Family rituals -- Revised versions of the Family rituals written during the Ming Dynasty -- Intellectuals' reevaluation of the Family rituals in the Ch'ing Dynasty -- Confucian texts and the performance of rituals.

Jiashan tushu 家山圖書 (Illustrated [instructions] of the Familial Mountain).
An early 20th century reproduction of the 1781 edition from the huge collectanea Siku quanshu 四庫全書 (Emperor's Four Treasuries). The Jiashan tushu is an illustrated manual of the ethics, etiquette, rites and ceremonies of the Confucian tradition based on Song manuals printed in the 12th century. Topics include proper manners and deportment, sacrifices, clothing, mourning rites, temple architecture, musical instruments, and much more. The original copy is held at the National Palace Museum library Wenyuange 文淵閣.

Local access dig.pdf. [Standaert-Ritual Dances.pdf]

This dissertation explores the history of ancestral rituals and the related political controversy in the Song China (960-1279). Considering the pivotal role played by ancestral rites in shaping Chinese identity and consciousness, this study contributes to a better understanding of how ancestral ritual has been politicized in Chinese history as a specific cultural apparatus to manipulate politics through theatrical performance and liturgical discussion. Through a contextual analysis of a variety of Song scholar-officials and their ritual writings, including memorials, private letters, and commentaries on the ritual Classics, this study demonstrates that Song ritual debates over the zhaomu 昭穆 sequence--that is, the positioning of ancestral temples and spirit tablets in ancestral temples with preparation for alternation or removal--differentiated scholar-officials into separate factions of revivalists, conventionalists and centrists. From a new perspective of ritual politics, this study reveals the discursiveness of the New Learning (xinxue 新學) community and its profound influence on the Learning of the Way (Daoxue 道學) fellowship of the Southern Song (1127-1279). It examines the evolution of the New Learning fellowship as a dynamic process that involved internal tension and differentiation. Daoxue ritualism was a continuation of this process in partaking in the revivalist approach of ritual that was initiated by the New Learning circle. Nowadays, the proliferation of ritual and Classical studies crystallizes the revitalization of Confucianism and Confucian rituals in China. Taking zhaomu as a point of departure, this project provides a lens through which modern scholars can explore the persistent tension between knowledge and power by rethinking the modernization of ritual and ritual politics in contemporary China.

Local access dig.pdf. [Cheung-Zhaomu Ritual controversy.pdf]

JapSin I, (38/42) 42/1
Yishu 易書.
By an anonymous author.
Manuscript, nine folios plus unnumbered cover page. Chinese bamboo paper, one volume. 19.2 x 12.6 cm.

The cover bears the title and a Portuguese inscription: “suma dos textos sinicos | contra | citados do R.P. Fr. Fr^co Varo nos seus papeis; nos mandou o P. | Simão Rodrigues, de Fo cheu.”

Source: Albert Chan, SJ, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 67-68.

Source: Albert Chan, SJ, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, p. 69.

JapSin I, (38/42) 40/8
Zhengli chuyi 證禮蒭議.
By Li Jiugong 李九功.
Manuscript, folios 71–96. Red ruled paper, one volume. 24 x 14 cm.

The title of the book is written on the upper middle centre of each folio; below is written: 卷一 (juan 1), followed by the number of the folio.
At the beginning there is an introduction by the author, in which he gives an explanation of the reason why the manuscript was written: with the introduction of Buddhism into China the customs of the people became more complicated and the rites became adulterated. The rites of the ancient kings suffered great detriment. To remedy this, careful study is necessary for a reasonable restoration. At the end of the introduction there is an inscription: 閩中景教後學李九功聖明多默著 (Written by Li Jiugong whose Christian name is Thomas, a native of Fujian and a disciple of the Catholic [literally: Nestorian] religion). The main text is divided into four parts:

1. On funeral ceremonies.
2. On burial ceremonies.
3. On the rites for ancestors.
4. On the rites for the veneration of Confucius.

Catholicism had been introduced in China only a short while before, and the problem of how to deal with Chinese rites and Chinese custom was pressing. An attempt to adopt Western traditions would have been incongruous for the Chinese. On the other hand, if all the Chinese traditions were followed, it was to be feared that many superstitious practices might interfere with the Catholic teaching; hence an accommodation was necessary. The term chuyi 蒭議(rustic opinion), which Li Jiugong gave to his book, clearly indicates that this was only one man’s idea, which he hoped the authorities would take into consideration and adopt as necessary. His discussion is based both on ancient Chinese writings and on Christian authorities, and it seeks to show that there was no contradiction between the two. But he opposes unorthodox doctrines vehemently. On folio 84 he points out that when the ancient classics say that Confucius venerated Heaven, the word tian 天 is taken to mean the Lord of Heaven. He therefore exhorts all the followers of Confucius to imitate the good example of the great master.

There are a number of mistakes in the transcription. Thus, in the introduction the phrase 五而季下 should be 五季而下 and on p. 84 朝聞夕可 the word 可 should be 死 The word 于 is often written as 子, the word 蠟 as 蠛, 豐 as [曲 + 豆], 幽 as [凶 + 米] and 譏 as [言 + 几]. Even the punctuation is not always correct.
Cf. Jap-Sin I, (38/42) 42/2c (earlier version).

Source: Albert Chan, SJ, Chinese Books and Documents in the Jesuit Archives in Rome, pp. 56-57.