Le figurisme jésuite entre tradition et innovation: Un nouveau dialogue entre Chine et Europe
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Year:
- 2014
- Journal Title:
- Ricerche di Storia Sociale e Religiosa
- Volume:
- 85–86
- Language:
- Abstract:
In 1693 the vicar apostolic Charles Maigrot, breaking with Jesuit tradition, condemned the Chinese rites and the ancient Chinese texts: it was false, rash and scandalous to maintain that their contents were compatible with Christianity. Maigrot's Mandatum seu Edictum reached Europe in 1697; this was the same year in which the Jesuit Joachim Bouvet elaborate his adherence to Figurism, which from this perspective can be seen as the extreme attempt to interrelate Christianity and ancient Chinese philosophy. In practice, this meant applying in China the same method that had permitted Europe to relate the Old and New Testaments: studying the ancient Chinese texts to find evidence of biblical figures and Christian dogmas, thus setting the Chinese culture within the millenary Christian tradition. The ethical and moral values of the Chinese culture so highly praised by the missionaries were contextualized within an ancient Chinese monotheism. Despite the fact that this had been entirely forgotten by the Chinese, it was nevertheless brought into play in Europe as a counterweight in the debate on the alleged atheism of the Chinese.
- Who (Jesuits):
- What (Subjects):
- Where (Locations):
- When (Centuries):
- Page Range:
- 141–155
- ISSN:
- 0392-1581