From the History of the Chinese Empire, the 16th -century European view of China
March 14, 2022 10:08 Source: "China Social Sciences" March 14, 2022 Author: Qian Wei

Juan González de Mendoza,1545-1618) is a well -known scholar and missionary in Spain history。He has never set foot in Chinese land in his life,I don’t understand Chinese,But I wrote a work that has an important impact in Europe- "History of the Chinese Empire",This cannot be surprising。This book introduced a panoramic introduction to China in the 16th century,Become a "Chinese Studies" book for the authorities at that time,It has a long -lasting and profound impact on the exchange of cultural exchanges in the East and West。

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Mendosa was a good education when he was young,17 years old to Mexico,Become a missionary。With Spain occupied the Philippine Islands,Various information about the Eastern World becomes a popular topic in Mexico,It also aroused Mertoza's interest in China。

1581,The King of Spain ’s destiny Men Dosa led the Pacific from Mexico,​​China Over the Philippines。But the political situation mutations at that time,resulting in the decline of the plan。Under helpless,Mexico returned to Spain from Mexico the following year。1583,He met Pope Geli Lee -thirty in Rome。At that time, the Holy See wanted to expand forces in the East,Pay special attention to China,But suffering from information occlusion,So I appointed Mendosa to write a book Bet365 lotto review that introduces China。Mendosa collected and sorted out the letter from the predecessor、writing、File、Make Hua report, etc.,Published the book "History of the Great Empire" in 1585。

This book is divided into two parts。The first part is an introduction to China National conditions,3 volumes。Volume 1 The following 10 chapters,Introduce China’s territory、Geographical Observatory、Climate、Soil Classification、Administrative District Plan, etc.。Volume 2 also has 10 chapters,Introduce the religious beliefs of Chinese people and worship of supernatural power。Chapter 3 Chapter 24,The Department of World Department involved in ancient Chinese emperors、Tax、Division、Army、Administrative Management、Justice、imperial examinations, etc.。The second part is composed of travel notes from three missionaries in China。

In the pen of Mendosa,China is an ancient civilization in the region,Chinese claim to be "Daming people",The whole country is divided into 15 provinces (the two Beijing and the Thirteen Chengzhi announced the political envoy),Each province has a vast area。There is a good road network in China,Connect the town。"Official Road" pavement flat、wide,15 people ride on horseback。Linli on the roadside shop、Green Tree Line,Like the Avenue of the Roman era。Some cities are connected to waterways inside。Chinese people are rich in architecture。Building materials in the world,A block (that Bet365 app download is, brick) made of "white soil" hard,It is difficult to smash it without a hoe。In Beijing,The mansion of the house is like a manor。China's majestic Great Wall,It is a very important military defense engineering。

Mendosa thinks,China is the country with the richest and very low prices in the world。Rich products in China,Vegetable species far more than Spain,There are three varieties in only oranges,Sweet、A moderate and sweet acids of acid。China's sugar texture is very good,Very white,The price is also low。Silk color brilliant,Quality exceeds the product of Granada, Spain city。Chinese velvet、Silk and cloth price is so low,It will surprise those who are familiar with the prices of Spain and Italian textiles。China's farmland is well managed,In the countryside,One piece of farming fields is scattered,It's like a garden。Handicrafts produced in China are extremely delicate。Porcelain utensils are beautiful and cheap,The most delicate porcelain is tribute,Buying and selling prosperity。China Business Development,Buying and selling prosperity。Merchants belonging to the same industry often open shops on the same street,People can know what kind of product is this street when they see the first store。There are many types of currencies in China,Gold、Used by weight。The craftsmanship of Chinese craftsmen is mainly inherited within the family。

Introduction to Mendosa,Chinese army has infantry,There are also cavalry。Bet365 app download China not only has warships,And can solicit and deploy in place quickly。Chinese soldiers are more than Europe,Being in a balanced position on the equipment。In China,The emperor has the power to rule the country。Administrative officials at all levels are produced by the imperial examination,You can also exercise your own power。China has unique legal system。

From the perspective of Mendosa,China has a long history,There is a unique educational system,Various books are very rich。Chinese are civilized and educated,They have high achievements in science and technology,Shipbuilding in China、papermaking and other processes are better than places better than European technology。Many Chinese people also have certain artistic cultivation,China has its own unique musical instrument。

To sum up,This book introduces the natural environment of China in the 16th century、History Culture、Customs etiquette、Religious beliefs and political and economic conditions,Analysis of the characteristics of Chinese civilization。So,It is a sensation after its presentation,It is soon translated into multi -country text widely spread,A "China Hot" in Europe。

  Extensive impact

Many people in Europe after reading the book,Opined Chinese civilization。For example,British philosopher Francis Bacon is affected by the book,I believe that China is more interested in getting silver than getting gold,China's gold price is the same as Italy's gold price,is often bet365 best casino games floating,But China's silver prices are generally relatively stable。,Bacon also mentioned in its works that China's use of artillery and the laws that foreigners have not allowed to enter the country without permission。French thinker、Writer Michel de Montaigne said in the third volume of his "Essays": "We exclaim for miracle artillery and printing,China on the other end of the world used it as early as a thousand years ago。"" "In terms of social governance and process development,We have some places better than others。I don’t know about this,Not to communicate with us,But in these aspects, we exceeded us。The history of China makes me understand,The world is far greater than we know、Various color。"The above content can be found in the" History of the Great Empire "。,Dutch businessmen、Lagoda Jan Huyghen Van Linschoten is also a fan of the book,It in "The Tour of East India" (German version 1596、English version 1598) The exposition of China written in the book is also based on "History of the Chinese Empire"。Author of "Europe and China"、British scholar Geoffrey Francis Hudson believes that the publishing of "History of the Great Empire" "can be regarded as a dividing line,Since then, it provides rich knowledge about China and its system "。French Sinologist Henri Bernard-MAITRERETER) means,"Even" Matteo Ricci China "... None of the victory with it"。

So,Why can this book have such a broad impact? In the final analysis,It was because it answered questions that European bet365 best casino games urgently wanted to know at that time,What kind of country is China,It provides a basis for formulating strategies for European countries。In short,This book meets the needs of the times。

The end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 16th century,The commercial huge change that occurred with geographical discovery brought opportunities to European industrial and agricultural production。but after the middle of the 16th century,A large amount of precious metals plundered from the Americas flow into Europe,Caused a decline in silver prices and rising prices,Economic decline in Europe。Western scholars call the socio -economic shock of this period the "price revolution" (also known as the "price revolution")。At the peak period of "Price Revolution",European economy is in severe depression,Prices soaring,All kinds of products are very scarce。and the same period,China is under the rule of the Ming Dynasty,The economy is booming,It can even provide cheap products for international markets。China's exquisite silk、Porcelain and various crafts constantly pour into Europe。Trade through commodity,Chinese culture has even affected Europeans' living customs and fashion。In this era background,"History of the Chinese Empire" born born,It coincides with a window for European countries to understand China。It is also through this book,The European countries at that time realized that they could only treat China as a trading partner rather bet365 Play online games than an invasive object,This curbs the attempt of Western colonists to invade China to a certain extent。

(Author Unit: School of Literature, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics)

Editor in charge: Cui Cen
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