Author: Filippo De Filippi
Editor(s): Filippo De Filippi
Publisher: Rupa
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 560
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8129107775
Description
Written more than 250 years ago, this record of Father Ippolito Desideri’s stay in Tibet, extending over a period of five years, provides the first accurate general description of Tibet in all its particulars-the flora, fauna, products of the soil, the inhabitants and their special customs, the constitution of the family, the nuptial and funerary rites, the social organization, and finally a complete exposition of Lamaism derived from the author’s study of the canonical books and their commentaries and from a daily and familiar intercourse with he doctors of Lamaism and the life of the Lamaseries, made possible by his knowledge of the Tibetan language.
Divided into four books, the work describes the author’s journey of three and a half years form Rome to Lhasa and his mission work there; the nature, character, customs, and civil government of Tibet; Tibetan religion and its hierarchy; and his return, by a different route, to Europe, and of other missions in which he was engaged for some time.
Born at Pistoia in 1684, Ippolito Desideri took the habit of St Ignatius of Loyola in Rome, and was ordained on 28 August 1712. On 27 September of the Same year he left Rome for India as Apostolic Missionary. On 4 November 1727 he returned form India in charge of various commissions for the Holy See. He passed away on 14 April 1733, aged forty-eight.
REVIEW
I shall not attempt to excuse the unadorned and even rugged style of these pages. Who brings new and rare fruits from a foreign land need not make excuses if their flavour is not perfect, or they are presented in a rustic basket.
-From the Foreword
Contents
INTRODUCTION
The Jesuit Mission in Tibet, 1625-1721 by C Wessels, S J
PREFACE
By The Editor
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THIBET
And an Account of the Mission and Travels in that Country by Father Ippolito Desideri of the Society of Jesus, Written by Himself 1712-1733.
FOREWORD
By the Author
BOOK THE FIRST
Describing the Journey from Rome to Lhasa, Capital of Third Thibet, and my Mission there.
BOOK THE SECOND
Containing an Account of the Country, Customs and Civil Government of Thibet.
BOOK THE THIRD
Describing the False and Peculiar Religion Prevailing in Thibet
BOOK THE FOURTH
How the Mission Departed form Lhasa and returned to Europe after visiting other Missions.
APENDIX: Report on Tibet and its Routes by Emanoel Freyre, S J
Notes to Introduction By C Wessels, S J
Notes to Book the First
Notes to Book the Second
Notes to Book the Third
Notes to Book the Fourth
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF THE WORK QUOTED
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DESIDERI
GENERAL INDEX
INDEX OF TIBETAN WORDS