Joachim Bouvet
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Joachim Bouvet (July 18th, 1656 - October 9th, 1730) (Chinese:白晋 or 白進, courtesy name:明远) was a French Jesuit and Figurist. Born at Le Mans, he came to China in 1687, as one of six Jesuits, the first group of French missionary to China, sent by the Sun King.
The Jesuits were well received by Emperor Kangxi. Bouvert and Jean-François Gerbillon stayed at Peking, teaching the emperor mathematics and astronomy. Bouvet later served as the Chinese emperor's ambassador, and returned to France in 1697. He went back to China two years later, bringing more Jesuits to the country. In 1760, Kangxi decided to send Bouvet to Vatican to settle the Chinese Rites controversy, but took back his decision later. From 1708 to 1715, Bouvet and Jean-Baptiste Régis were engaged in a survey of the country and the preparation of maps of its various provinces.
As a sinologist, Bouvet focused his research on I Ching. Trying to find a connection between the Chinese classics and the Bible, Bouvet came to the conclusion that the Chinese had known the whole truth of the Christian tradition in ancient times and that this truth could be found in the Chinese classics. Even though he had some of his texts published, none of Bouvet's more extreme Figurist texts were published. He died in Peking on October 9th, 1730.
[edit] Major works
- Etat présent de la Chine, en figures gravées par P. Giffart sur les dessins apportés au roi par le P. J. Bouvet (Paris, 1697)
- Portrait histoique de l'empereur de la Chine (Paris, 1697)
[edit] Sources
- Entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Short biography in the Hong Kong Catholic diocesan Archive
