Claude Visdelou
Claude Visdelou (born August 12, 1656 in Pléneuf-Val-André , Brittany , † November 11, 1737 in Puducherry , South India) was a Catholic religious, sinologist and bishop .
Visdelou was chosen by his parents at an early age for the clergy and entered the Jesuit order . On September 5, 1673 he made his profession . Intended by the order for the Chinese mission, he embarked in 1685 on the same ship that the embassy Louis XVI. brought to Siam . Five other Jesuits traveled with him, among them Guy Tachard .
In addition to his church work, Visdelou devoted himself intensively to researching the Chinese language and literature. Unlike the majority of the Jesuits, he was always against the mixing of Indian or Chinese customs with Christianity in the rites dispute . In this matter he stood on the side of Cardinal Charles Thomas Maillard de Tournon and his successors and provided them for the most part with the scientific arguments that spoke against this project. In recognition of these services, Visdelou was appointed Titular Bishop of Claudiopolis and Apostolic Vicar of K Weichow on February 2, 1709 . On February 7, 1709 he was ordained bishop by Charles Thomas Maillard de Tournon. Due to the resistance that the Jesuits in China brought to him, he later went to India , joined the Capuchins and died there. Since 1699 he was a corresponding member of the Académie royale des sciences .
literature
- Neumann: Claude Visdelou and the list of his works. In: Journal of the German Oriental Society , 4th volume (1850) ULB Halle
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ List of former members since 1666: Letter V. Académie des sciences, accessed on March 12, 2020 (French).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Visdelou, Claude |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French Jesuit, missionary and sinologist as well as Indologist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 12, 1656 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pléneuf-Val-André , Brittany |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 11, 1737 |
| Place of death | Puducherry , India |