CONFUCIUS (551-479 B.C.). Sinarum philosophus, sive scientia sinensis latine exposita. Edited by Prospero Intorcetta, Chrétien Herdtrich, François de Rougemont, and Philippe Couplet. Paris: Daniel Horthemels, 1687.
4 parts in one, folio (343 x 229 mm). Woodcut royal vignette of Louis XIV's monogram on title-page, engraved portrait of Confucius, engraved map, engraved head-pieces. (Small repair to map near letters, some occasional spotting in margins.) Contemporary French red morocco gilt with arms of Louis XIV (Olivier 2494 fer 10, 21) on both covers within gilt frame, cornerpieces with his royal monogram, spine in 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, gilt-lettering in second, others gilt again with his royal monogram, all edges gilt (spine a bit darkened). Provenance: contemporary notation on title-page dated 1693; contemporary marginalia on p.99.
IN A LOUIS XIV FRENCH ROYAL PRESENTATION BINDING.
FIRST EUROPEAN EDITION OF CONFUCIUS with a dedication to Louis XIV, preceded by only fragmentary translations. An early translation of Ta hsueh, Chung yung, and Lun yu, three of the four Confucian texts chosen by the neo-Confucian philosopher Chu Hsi in 1190 to be included in the collection known as the Sishu ("Four Books"). The fourth book, the works of Mencius, and the reason for not printing it, are discussed in a note printed on p.159 at the end of book three. The translation was done under special license from Louis XIV by members of the Jesuit Society. In addition to the first three books of Confucius, the work includes his biography, valuable essays on Chinese history and culture, and much factual information. This copy contains the one-page "Extrait du Privilege du Roy."
Brunet II, 2221; Cordier Sinica 1389-1393; Lust 724; Morrison 438-439; Pei-tang 1358; Pfister 326-327.
