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Source: Opera Omnia volume 5 Ludovic Dutens (ed) pp 484-485 Date: 8 October 1707 Translated from the French View this translation in PDF format (10k) Back to home page Search texts by keyword(s): (For search strings, just type the words; don't use quotation marks) |
LEIBNIZ TO MATURINUS VEYSSIÈRE LA CROZE[D V, p484] You have delighted me by informing me of your commitment to research into Chinese characters, and your hope of making progress in this. This research seems to me all the more important - beyond what I imagine - since, if we were able to discover the key to Chinese characters, [D V, p485] we would find something which would help the analysis of thoughts. Consider Reverend Father Cima,1 an Italian national of the order of St. Augustine, who told me that the fundamental characters are believed to be somewhere in the region of 400, and that the others are only compositions of them. This father was a missionary in the Indies and sometimes found himself in the court of Peking in his capacity as doctor, so he has some knowledge of Chinese medicinal plants and remedies. He returned to Europe on a Danish ship, and as he wants to make his court to the King, I take the liberty, Sir, of referring him to you by imploring you to show him favour and to acquaint him with Mr de Gundelsheim, to whom I offer my greatest respects. I also beg you to question this missionary about many things, and to pass on to me what you educe from him, since I have only been able to speak with him for a few hours. It is true that he has not been in China long enough to acquire knowledge of their characters; he can nonetheless say many useful things about that country, to which he seems to want to return, as is the case with most of those who have come from there. It also seems that he could provide some description of it. Moreover, I am sincerely... Hildesheim, 8 October 1707
NOTES: 1. Nicolas Agostino Cima (?-1722), a missionary in China. © Lloyd Strickland 2008 |