Abstract
HANG-HI or Khang-hsi, one of the greatest of Chinese emperors, and indeed of Asjatic rulers' was born in 1653 and ascended the throne in 1661, For sixty-one years he ruled his vast dominions with vigour and success. His biographers, the Jesuit missionaries, whom he treated with unusual consideration, represent him as a Chinese Admirable Criehton—man of letters, savant, philosopher, politician, philanthropist, and warrior. In his early years he showed the utmost ardour for study, and the love of learning continued with him until his death. When the Jesuits taught European astronomy he did not hesitate to place himself under them as a student. He has left behind him works on most branches of human knowledge, extending over a hundred volumes. The fourth part contains his observations on natural history and physics. It was translated into French by Pere Amiot, and partially published at Paris towards the end of the last century in the Mémoires concernant les Chinois, and is to be found in the fourth volume of that series. We here extract and summarise a few of the Imperial opinions. To use the words of the translator, “If our scholars find nothing to learn there, they will at least see that there is not so much ignorance amongst foreign nations as is generally believed.” We follow the Emperor's language as far as possible.
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Some “Guesses at Truth” of the Emperor Khang-Hi . Nature 25, 82–84 (1881). https://doi.org/10.1038/025082a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/025082a0