P. J. MAIRAN
Lettres d'un missionnaire a Pekin, contenant diverses questions sur la Chine, pour servir de supplément aux mémoires concernant l'histoire, les sciences, les arts, les moeurs, les usages de chinois ; par les missionnaires de Pekin
Chez Nyon|à Paris 1782|12 x 20 cm|relié
Second edition and first edition under this title, the work having been previously entitled: Lettres au R.P. Parennin... sur la Chine. Illustrated with one plate and one figure.
Full grained calf binding. Smooth spine decorated. Red morocco title label. Split headcaps. Upper joint cracked and opened at tail and head. Loss of leather at head of spine, over 3 cm. Corners bumped. Missing marbled paper on first endpaper. A lack to title label.
Unlike the Mémoires sur la Chine, composed of letters from missionary fathers sent to France, this work brings together Mairan's letters addressed to Father Parrenin in China, in Beijing. Father Parrenin's responses were published in Recueils des Lettres édifiantes et curieuses des missionnaires. Based on his reflections and work, Mairan submits various hypotheses about China, notably the journey of an Egyptian colony to China in very ancient times, the state of the sciences in China, their beliefs and superstitions, writing, a parallel between Chinese, Egyptian and Greek architectures... Besides the letters on China, the work is completed with various treatises by the author, one on the fable of Olympus (on the northern lights, of which the author would provide a complete treatise), a second on the balance of Piles painters, another on monsters, finally a letter to the Count of Caylus on an ancient engraved stone. A scholar with multiple very extensive knowledge, Mairan wrote considerably on several scientific domains where he exercised his sagacity, notably astronomy and physics.
Full grained calf binding. Smooth spine decorated. Red morocco title label. Split headcaps. Upper joint cracked and opened at tail and head. Loss of leather at head of spine, over 3 cm. Corners bumped. Missing marbled paper on first endpaper. A lack to title label.
Unlike the Mémoires sur la Chine, composed of letters from missionary fathers sent to France, this work brings together Mairan's letters addressed to Father Parrenin in China, in Beijing. Father Parrenin's responses were published in Recueils des Lettres édifiantes et curieuses des missionnaires. Based on his reflections and work, Mairan submits various hypotheses about China, notably the journey of an Egyptian colony to China in very ancient times, the state of the sciences in China, their beliefs and superstitions, writing, a parallel between Chinese, Egyptian and Greek architectures... Besides the letters on China, the work is completed with various treatises by the author, one on the fable of Olympus (on the northern lights, of which the author would provide a complete treatise), a second on the balance of Piles painters, another on monsters, finally a letter to the Count of Caylus on an ancient engraved stone. A scholar with multiple very extensive knowledge, Mairan wrote considerably on several scientific domains where he exercised his sagacity, notably astronomy and physics.
€450