Calvin Jean

1870 · réf. 52647 — Shanghai: NP 1870. First edition. Hardcover. g- to vg-. 1/500. Octavo. ix 64pp. Rebound in 3/4 green buckram over marbled paper boards. Missing the original blue printed wrappers as issued. This extremely rare work is an English translation of a collection of scandalous anti-missionary and anticlerical polemics and statements originally issued in Chinese and circulated throughout the previous centuries with the aim of rallying support against the growing Christian influence in the country. Although predominantly aimed at Catholics the texts here are anti-Christian in general. The work contains a number of odd and interesting Chinese perspectives on Christianity as well as opinions of the Pope and includes bizarre and detailed references to supposed sexual practices of the clergy and lay people p.10-11. The translator/publisher of the work is not named but has since been attributed to the influential American Presbyterian missionary and minister Calvin Wilson Mateer 1836-1908. As stated in the preface the idea of this publication in English was to expose westerners to the degree to which Christianity in China was treated with suspicion and hostility. The preface text is dated to August 18th 1870 in Tungchow now Penglai District Yantai Shandong Province China and is one of a number of telling aspects linking the work to Mateer who famously founded Tengchow College the predecessor to Shandong University and presided over the translation of the bible into Chinese Chinese Union Version. Texts translated in this publication are: "Extracts from the Amplified Instructions on the "Sacred Edict" originally issued by the Yongzheng Emperor in 1724 "Authorities Consulted" a list of outlawed Christian work to be banned with the inclusion of the original Chinese text "A Collection of Facts Respecting the False Religion of Tien-chu" "Miscellaneous Quotations" "Evidence from Public Records" "A Death Blow to False Doctrines" and "Petition from Human for the Expulsion of non-Human Species". Upon its publication this work caused such a scandal in China and within the international Christian community that according to late 19th century sources most of the original Chinese texts mentioned in this work as well as a majority of remaining copies of this work itself already limited in its publication were destroyed by mutual agreement of the Chinese authorities and the publisher. This fascinating work has largely been forgotten since the end of the 19th century. It is believed that no more than 100 copies of this text have survived from an original edition of only 500 copies. Text throughout in English with some occasional Chinese text. Ex-library binding with residue from a library sticker on the spine and covers. Spine with some rubbing abrasions and chips. Corners with some light rubbing and bumping. Covers with some light scratches and abrasions. Interior with some light sporadic water stains and age toning to pages. Library ink stamps and blind stamps on a few pages throughout including the interior covers and the title page. Interior back cover with library pocket pasted on. Page one with a repaired tear resulting in no loss of text. Gutters reinforced from the title page through the end of the preface section. Book block relatively tight overall. Wrappers in good- interior in very good- condition overall. Subtitle: "Published by the Gentry and People. Translated from the Chinese". Bibliographic source: Fraxi Pisanus Henry Spencer Ashbee 'Bibliography of Prohibited Books. Catena liborrum tacendorum; bio-biblio-icono-graphical and critical notes on curious uncommon and erotic books Vol.3'. 1885. p.434-440. NP hardcover books