Joseph-Marie Amiot

Joseph-Marie Amiot (February 8th 1718, Toulon, France - October 8th 1793, Beijing, China) was a priest Jésuite French, Missionnaire, astronomer and historian in China. He was the last survivor of the Mission Jesuit in China.

First years and formation

Amiot entered to the Noviciat of the Society of Jesus to Avignon in 1737, and was ordered priest on December 21st 1746 in Lyon. During its formation he had asked to be sent as missionary in China. This was granted to him, and, in company of two beginners (Jesuits) Chinese, it left the port of Lorient (France) in December 1749 to arrive at Macao on July 27th, 1750. The following year it went up to Beijing where it entered on August 22nd, 1751. It remained there until its death, in 1793.

Changed political atmosphere

If the scientists and the intellectuals of the West were always welcome at the imperial court, the atmosphere in China was not any more what it was in the time of the Matteo Ricci, Ferdinand Verbiest and other pioneers. The Christianisme had been prohibited there, and of the persecutions took place periodically. Jesuits residing at the court (whose Amiot) hoped that their presence and work for the emperor would allow a rehabilitation of the Christianity or at least the re-establishment of the Religious liberty.

Scientific languages and activities

Amiot studied Chinese and the Mandchou (then official language imposed by the dynasty Qing on the capacity). He is the author of a Grammaire and Manchu Dictionnaire. In fact it was impassioned for all that was Chinese: Habits, languages and Dialects, History and Music. It took with its service young Chinese who it formed with the European scientific methods and in fact, it is with him that during 31 years it published his writings.

In addition to the usual work of the publication of the astronomical bulletins Amiot pushed research in the field of the Magnétisme dealt with the training of Chinese scientists.

It in addition translated and introduced in Europe in 1772 the book, considered as founder of the strategy, the Art of the war of Sun Zi, under the title the thirteen articles .

Chinese music

In 1754 it sends in France a report, not signed, not dated, remained new: Of the modern Music of the Chinese , which he says to supplement by another sending, lost, on the Music which the Chinese cultivated in the past . Of 1779 its Chinese Entertainments , not published, consists of musics noted with Chinese and transcribed according to a mixed notation on a range. Forty and one airs should have been thus to be placed at the disposal of the European amateur. Studies showed that it is not a question of transcriptions of ear made by an European which would have heard them, but well written partitions of use at the Manchu court. It was not possible to find the collection which was used as source in Amiot, and its Divertissements constitutes an invaluable testimony of the music and Chinese dance of the time.

Tragedies developments

As much of members of the Mission Jesuit in China, Amiot contributed to make known the Chinese Culture in Europe, even if that were not the main objective of its presence in Beijing. With his companions Jesuits Antoine Gaubil and Michel Benoist he sought to obtain a new established among for the Christian religion and the return of missionaries in China. He does not succeed there.

Moreover, the news coming from Europe was dramatic. The Society of Jesus was banished of France in 1764. Amiot obtained then from Henri Bertin, minister of state with whom it was in correspondence, that the King de France, with personal capacity finances the work of the French Jesuits in Beijing. Last nine years later, in 1773 the Society of Jesus was removed by Clément XIV. To save what remained Mission Jesuit of China Amiot obtained that the Lazaristes take their place. All that was swept by the French revolution of 1789. Amiot was then deeply disturbed when he learned that the king Louis XVI had been carried out. It seems well that Amiot died the very same day where one informed it of this news: it celebrated a mass for the king and died in the night of October 8th, 1793. With him the last Jesuit disappeared from the great epopee of the Mission Jesuit in China.

Some works

Praise of the town of Moukden , transl. of Chinese, 1770;
Art of warfare of the Chinese , 1772; several works on the Typography and the Music of the Chinese ;
Memories concerning the history, sciences, arts, manners and the uses of the Chinese (by the missionaries of Beijing), 15 vol., Paris, 1776-1789.
Mémoire of the Music of the Chinese as well old as modern , sent in 1776, (vol. VI of the Memories , published by the Roussier abbot in 1779).
Entertainments or concerts of Chinese music , twice three books, accompanied by a book of sacred music (catholic Chinese prayers put in music, envoys with Mr. Bignon, librarian of the King, remained new.
Life of Confucius (forming volume XII of the Memories on the Chinese );
Dictionary tatar-Manchu-French (2 vol.), Paris, 1789
Grammar of the language tatare-mantchoue.

External bonds

Jesuits in China on the official site of the Jesuits of France

Source

CD " Jesuits and courtisanes" & " Concert baroque in the city interdite" by the Unit baroque XVIII-21, to dir. Jean-Christophe Frisch

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