The Chinese Classical Work Commonly Called the Four Books; Translated, and Illustrated with Notes.

CONFUCIANISM - COLLIE, David (trans.).

Published by Malacca: Printed at the Mission Press, 1828

About this Item

First edition of this important step in the transmission of Confucianism to the West. Collie's translation, approaching the Four Books from a Christian perspective, was the successor to Joshua Marshman's The Works of Confucius (1809), the scope of which had been limited to just the first ten chapters of the Analects. Collie (d. 1828) was a member of the London Missionary Society and principal of the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, established by Robert Morrison in 1818. "The group of missionaries organized around the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca published a series of new translations of Chinese texts and literature and, in particular, the first British translation of the Daxue by Morrison in 1812 and the complete Four Books, including the first direct English translation of the complete Lunyu [Analects], the Zhongyong, and the Mengzi by David Collie in 1828" (Kitson, p. 92). Cordier records that copies were sold for five or six Spanish piastres, depending on the presence of "le texte chinois." This is likely a reference to the seven leaves bound at the rear of this copy, which reprint a medical translation published by Sir George Staunton in Canton in 1805. The treatise, originally composed by Dr Alexander Pearson, describes Jenner's work on smallpox vaccines and the successful inoculation of several locals in Canton and Macau. Pearson was the senior East India Company surgeon in Macau and partnered with Morrison on the setting up of a medical dispensary. Cordier 1396; Löwendahl 863; Lust 723. Peter J. Kitson, Forging Romantic China: Sino-British Cultural Exchange 1760-1840, 2013. Octavo (211 x 135 mm). Chinese characters in text. With 7-leaf Chinese text (George Staunton's 1805 translation of a British treatise on the smallpox vaccination, likely printed in 1820s) bound at end. Contemporary half calf, red label, spine rule and tooled in gilt, marbled sides and edges. Title with 1829 ownership signature of William Lamb, perhaps the Bengal Army officer (1808-1867) posted to India from 1826. Binding rather worn, joints cracked but cords holding, tidemark to front endpaper and binder's blank, a few contemporary paper repairs in gutter, paper somewhat brittle as usual, causing several short closed tears and fore-edge chips: very good.

Seller Inventory # 188512

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Chinese Classical Work Commonly Called the Four Books; Translated, and Illustrated with Notes.
• Publisher: Malacca: Printed at the Mission Press, 1828
• Edition: 1st Edition