Pierre-Martial Cibot

Pierre-Martial Cibot ( Chinese  韓國英 , Pinyin Hán Guóyīng , W.-G. Han Kuo-ying , born August 14, 1727 in Limoges , Haute-Vienne , France , † August 8, 1780 in Beijing , China ) was French Jesuit and missionary in China. He is famous as a historian and also known for his botanical writings.

Life

Qianlong (1735–1796) was Emperor of China when Cibot was a missionary in Beijing .

Pierre-Martial Cibot was born in Limoges on August 15, 1727 . His parents were Pierre Cibot and Paule Recolet. In his training he followed the teaching of the Jesuits at various schools and studied philosophy and theology ; especially at the Collège de Limoges, today's Lycée Gay-Lussac , he was under the direction of Jesuits and then joined the society on November 7, 1743 in Bordeaux . He was ordained a priest in 1756 and worked as a teacher for several years.

He was sent to China at his request . He embarked on March 7, 1758 in the port of Lorient on the ship "d'Argenson", which was part of a squadron of nine warships. He reached Macau on July 26th, 1759 after he had driven via Rio de Janeiro and spent some time on the "Iles de France" (today: Mauritius ) and "Bourbon" (today: Réunion ). He arrived in Pékin on June 6, 1760, and met the Jesuits who worked at the imperial court. The regent at that time was Emperor Qianlong . Even after the Jesuit order was dissolved in 1773, the French Jesuits continued their work in Beijing. It was not until 1793 that the last of them ( Joseph-Marie Amiot ) died in Beijing.

Cibot made mechanical clocks and drew plans for gardens in the service of Emperor Qianlong. However, since 1740 missionary work has been almost impossible, especially since since 1742 Chinese Christians have been forbidden to take part in the celebrations for Confucius and the ancestors.

Cibot left a description of his stay at the imperial court: “Well builder and machinist for five years in the Versailles of China (the old summer palace Yu Yuan (Beijing) ), after which I became a gardener and florist. The wishes of the emperor decided what I had to be immediately. "

During the long years of his stay in China, Cibot was engaged in historical and scientific studies. Out of reluctance, he did not sign many of his writings. His style is verbose, but his writings were valued for the amount of information they contained.

As a writer, Cibot has often used a stage name: " L'Affligé tranquille " (The quiet sad man), and he also used a name in Chinese style: " Han Pei-tou Kouo-Ying ". This name consists of the components family name (Xing) "Han", baptismal name (Ming) "Pei-tou" (Petrus) and honorary name (Hao) Kouo-Ying.

Historical and scientific writings

Pierre-Martial Cibot made many Asian plants known in Europe, for example the Chinese cabbage (Bai zai).

Cibot was sent to the imperial court in China, where he spent the last 20 years of his life. He was just as busy with the tasks of his apostolic mission as he was with diplomatic tasks at the imperial court. Due to his education, he had skills for a variety of tasks: astronomy, mechanics, linguistics, history, agriculture, botany. Because of his writings and the writings of Joseph-Marie Amiot , many details about the Chinese Empire are known today.

Together with other missionaries, Cibot contributed to the important work " Mémoires concernant l'histoire, les sciences, les arts, les mœurs, les usages etc. des Chinois ". This work, published in 16 volumes in Paris between 1776 and 1814 , is an important source for understanding China in Europe. Cibot researched many different areas:

• Natural phenomena, the historical annals of the Chinese (which were of particular interest as they seem to go back further than the biblical records).
• Comparative studies of the customs of the Chinese and the customs of the Jews based on the accounts in the Book of Esther .
• Classical Confucian texts : Da Xue , Zhong Yong .
• Ideas that underpinned "figurism", a theory that some kind of "primitive revelation" could be found in the classical Chinese texts.
• Ancient Chinese rulers, with Cibot defending the opinion that the Chinese rulers before Yao were only legendary.
• hygienic practices of Taoism .
• Chinese plants ( Notices de quelques plantes et arbrisseaux de la Chine ).
• Animals of China (e.g. Notice sur l'Hirondelle, sur le Cerf, et sur la Cigale ).
• Chinese techniques ( Notice sur le Lieou-li, ou Tuiles chinoises vernissées ).

His research was known far beyond China, so on the proposal of the State Council Stehlin on February 17, 1766 as "egregium mechanicum, botanicum et rerum naturalium investigatorem" (outstanding researcher of mechanics, botany and natural sciences) as an honorary member of the Academy of St. Petersburg elected.

Pierre-Martial Cibot died in Beijing on August 8, 1780. It was assumed that one of the reasons for his demise was the news of the dissolution of the Jesuit order (1773), which was only officially delivered in Beijing in 1780.

Excerpt from a text about Chinese cabbage

From: Pierre-Martial Cibot: "Notice du Pe-tsaï", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 503-510 .:

"The Pe-tsaï (白菜, báicài) occupies an outstanding position among the vegetables in China, and it really deserves it. Out of uncertainty as to whether we know whether this plant occurs in France or whether it is known, we dare to take a small one To give a hint (note: Pe means white, and Tsai vegetable, therefore Pe-tsai is "white vegetable"). (...)

The most popular Pe-tsai in Beijing come from the area around the small village of Ngan-sun; it is these, in fact, that are preferred at the emperor's table and for his entire court. The chefs of Europe like to have things to season and serve in a way that flatters their appetite.

China's chefs, on the contrary, are biased, whether for delicacy of taste, when they talk about the pesais, as they talk about game and venison, that the more you season it, the more it loses its taste. We frankly admit our profound inability and ignorance on this difficult subject, and limit ourselves to telling what is said in the service of the palace, we have found the best and most delicate pe-tsai of Ngan-sun, only cooked in broth and without more Spices except salt. Our Europeans from Canton refer to the Pe-tsai as Choux Chinois (Chinese cabbage).

It is not necessary to purchase the pesai for our garden, as it can be kept in the future, as has already happened before. Still, we may be allowed to remark, if in our century one welcomes records of oreilles d'ours (bear's ears), hyacinths from Holland , and so many other flowers of fashion, the pesai, it seems to me, deserves far more public favor. If the culture of Pe-tsai were introduced in France and adopted in all of our provinces, it would produce for the people, as for the rich, a vegetable that is easy to plant, easy to grow, and as good and as delicate as the best cabbage is, however, more persistent, appears healthier and could go with many condiments, not only for the rich, but also for the rural people.

If the Pe-Tsai can already be found on our islands Mauritius and Boubon, it is cheaper to take seeds there and bring them to France. But daring, we send seeds from Ngan-sun, which, as said above, is the place in the kingdom where they are best. "

Works

Single fonts

• Lettre de Pékin sur le génie de la langue chinoise et la nature de leur écriture symbolique, comparée avec celle des anciens Egyptiens , Bruxelles, JL de Boubers, 1773.
• Cibot and others: Mémoires concernant l'histoire, les sciences, les arts, les mœurs, les usages des Chinois , par les missionnaires de Pékin, les PP. Amiot, Bourgeois, Cibot, Poirot, 16 volumes, numérotation: T. 1 (1776) à T. 16 (1814), Paris, Nyon aîné, 1776–1814 (Joseph-Marie Amiot (1718–1793); François Bourgeois (1723 –1792); Pierre-Martial Cibot (1727–1780); Aloys de Poirot (1735–1814))

Important topics from the "Mémoires ..."

• «Essai sur l'antiquité des Chinois», Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. I, 1776, pp. 1-271.
• "Traduction du Ta-hio (Da Xue)", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. I (Paris 1776) pp. 432-458.
• "Traduction du Tchong-yong (Zhong Yong)", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. I (Paris 1776) pp. 459-489.
• «Remarques sur un écrit de MP intitulé: recherches sur les Egyptiens et les Chinois. Péking, June 27, 1775 », Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. II (Paris 1777) pp. 365-574.
• "Sur les vers à soie sauvages", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. II (Paris 1777) pp. 575-597.
• “Notice du frêne de Chine, nommé hiang-tchun”, in: Mémoires concernant… les Chinois, vol. II (Paris 1777) pp. 598-601.
• "Sur les cotonniers: le cotonnier arbre et le cotonnier herbacé", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. II (Paris 1777) pp. 602-622.
• «Sur le bambou. Culture et utilité du Bambou ”, Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. II (Paris 1777) pp. 623-642.
• “Le Jardin de See-Ma Kouang”, Mémoires concernant… les Chinois, vol. II (Paris 1777) pp. 643-650.
• "Serres chinoises", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. III (Paris 1778) pp. 423-436.
• “Notices de quelques plantes et arbrisseaux de la Chine”, Mémoires concernant… les Chinois, vol. III (Paris 1778) pp. 437-498.
• «Requête à l'empereur (22 avril 1767) pour la cérémonie du laborage, Péking 3 nov. 1767 », Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. III (Paris 1778) pp. 499-504.
• “Doctrine ancienne et nouvelle des Chinois sur la piété filiale”, Mémoires concernant… les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 1-298.
• "Mémoire sur l'intérêt de l'argent en Chine", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 299-391.
• "De la petite vérole", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 392-420.
• «Notice du livre chinois Si-yuen. Examen des cadavres par la justice criminelle », Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 421-440.
• «Notice du Cong-fou des Bonzes Tao-see. Pour opérer des guérisons », Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 441-451.
• "Observations de Physique et d'Histoire naturelle de l'Empereur K'ang Hi", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 452-483.
• “Quelques compositions de recettes pratiquées chez les Chinois, ou consignées dans leurs livres, et que l'autéur a crues utiles ou inconnues en Europe”, Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 484-492.
• «Notice sur le Che Hiang. Cerf qui donne le musc; une planche », Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 493-499.
• "Notice du Mo-kou-sin et du lin-tche", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 500-502.
• "Notice du Pe-tsaï", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IV (Paris 1779) pp. 503-510.
• “Notices sur différents objets, vin, eau-de-vie et vinaigre de Chine”, Memoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. V (Paris 1780) pp. 467-480.
• "Raisins secs de Hami", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. V (Paris 1780) pp. 481-485.
• "Notice du Royaume de Hami", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. V (Paris 1780) pp. 486-491.
• "Remèdes", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. V (Paris 1780) pp. 492-494;
• "Teinture chinoise", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. V (Paris 1780) pp. 495-504.
• "Abricotier sauvage", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. V (Paris 1780) pp. 505-513.
• "Armoise", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. V (Paris 1780) pp. 514-518.
• "Essai sur les pierres sonores de Chine", in: Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. VI (Paris 1780) pp. 255-274.
• "Essai sur le passage de l'Ecriture hiéroglyphique à l'Ecriture alphabétique, ou sur la manière dont la première a pu conduire à la seconde (Péking, Oct. 15, 1770)", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. VIII (Paris 1782) pp. 112-132.
• «Essai sur la langue et les caractères des Chinois, 20 oct. 1764 »(I), Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. VIII (Paris 1782) pp. 133-185.
• “Notice on the objets de commerce à importer en Chine”, Mémoires concernant… les Chinois, vol. VIII (Paris 1782) pp. 267-270.
• “Notice du sang de Cerf, employé comme remède”, Mémoires concernant… les Chinois, vol. VIII (Paris 1782) pp. 271-274.
• "Notice on the poterie de la Chine", Memoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. VIII (Paris 1782) pp. 275-277.
• "You Kong-Pou, ou you Tribunal des ouvrages publics", Mémoires concernant… les Chinois, vol. VIII (Paris 1782) pp. 278-282.
• «Essai sur les jardins de plaisance des Chinois», Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. VIII (Paris 1782) pp. 301-326.
• "Essai sur la langue et les caractères des Chinois, article second", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IX (Paris 1783) pp. 282-430.
• "Description of the investment in the village of Yen-tcheou-fou (Yan-zhou, Shandong) and its territory in 1742," Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. IX (Paris 1783) pp. 454-471.
• "Pensées, Maximes et Proverbes extraits et traduits de divers livres Chinois", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. X (Paris 1784) pp. 144-174.
• "Des bêtes à laine en Chine", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 35-72.
• "Mémoire sur l'usage de la viande en Chine", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 78-182.
• “Observations on the plantes, the fleurs et the arbres de la Chine”, Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 183-259.
• "Le Pêcher", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 280-293.
• “Notice on the Mou-chou-kuo-tsee variety d'acacia, le Cheou keou, mûrier, et le Tsee-tsao”, Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 294-297.
• "Notice sur le cinabre (vermillon), le Vif Argent et le Ling-cha", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 304-314.
• "Notice sur le borax, venu du Thibet", Memoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 343-346.
• "Notice sur le plumails (plumeaux) chinois", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 355-360.
• "Miscellaneous remarques sur les Arts-pratiques en Chine (ouvrages en fer, peinture sur glace, peinture sur pierre)", Memoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 361-370.
• "Mémoire sur les chevaux", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 388-469.
• “Notice sur la pivoine”, Memoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 470-492.
• "Notice sur le Tsao-kia ou fébier (févier) chinois", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XI (Paris 1786) pp. 493-500.
• “Essai sur la longue vie des hommes dans l'antiquité, spécialement dans la Chine”, Memoires Concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XIII (Paris 1788) pp. 309-375.
• "Notice sur les Abeilles et la Cire", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XIII (Paris 1788) pp. 376-385.
• «Première et deuxième notice sur les pierres de yu (Jade), Péking 12 sept. 1771 », Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XIII (Paris 1788) pp. 388-395.
• "Notice sur le Lieou-li, ou Tuiles chinoises vernissées", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XIII (Paris 1788) pp. 396-397.
• "Notice sur l'Hirondelle, sur le Cerf, et sur la Cigale", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XIII (Paris 1788) pp. 398-416.
• "Traduction de quelques pièces de poésie chinoise", Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XIII (Paris 1788) pp. 516-534.
• “Parallèle des mœurs et usages des Chinois, ou les mœurs et usages décrits dans le livre d'Esther; Extrait d'un Commentaire sur ce Livre », Memoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XIV (Paris 1789) pp. 309-516.
• “Suite du Parallèle des mœurs et des usages des Chinois avec les mœurs et usages décrits dans le livre d'Esther”, Mémoires concernant ... les Chinois, vol. XV (Paris 1791) pp. 1-207.

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Louis-Gabriel Michaud, Biographie universelle, ancienne et moderne, Paris, C. Delagrave, 1870
2. ^ ^{A b} Jean-Charles Roman d'Amat, Michel Prevost, Henri Tribout de Morembert, Dictionnaire de biographie française, Paris, Letouzey et Ané, 1932–1994: “(…) fontainier et machiniste pendant cinq ans dans le Versailles de la Chine (note: il s'agit du palais impérial Yuánmíng Yuán), je suis devenu jardinier et fleuriste depuis. Les vouloirs de l'empereur décideront de ce que je serai dans la suite. "
3. ↑ Joseph Dehergne, Répertoire des Jésuites de Chine de 1552 à 1800, Rome, Institutum historicum SJ, Paris, Letouzey et Ané, 1973
4. ↑ Article de l'Encyclopedia Stochastikon: Archived copy ( Memento of the original from October 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
5. ^ Digitized at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France

literature

• Joseph Dehergne: Répertoire des Jésuites de Chine de 1552 à 1800 , Paris, 1973.
• Louis-Gabriel Michaud: Biography universelle, ancienne et moderne , Paris, C. Delagrave, 1870.
• Louis Pfister: Notices biographiques et bibliographiques sur les Jésuites de l'ancienne mission de Chine 1552–1773 , Shanghai, 1932.
• Camille de Rochemonteix: Joseph Amiot et les derniers survivants de la Mission française à Pékin (1750–1795) , Paris 1915.
• Charles Herbermann (ed.). "Pierre-Martial Cibot". In: Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton. 1913

Web links

Wikisource: Pierre-Martial Cibot  - Sources and full texts

• sur la base IdRef, Le référentiel des autorités Sudoc: Pierre-Martial Cibot
• Biography de Pierre-Martial Cibot par Claudia von Collani in the Encyclopedia Stochastikon