A Chinese Jesuit Catechism

This book is the first scholarly study of the famous Jesuit Chinese childrens primer, the Four Character Classic, written by Giulio Aleni (15821649) while living in Fujian, China. This book also includes masterful translations of both Wang Yinglins (15511602) hallowed Confucian Three Character Classic and Alenis Chinese catechism that was published during the Qing (16441911). Clarks careful reading of the Four Character Classic provides new insights into an area of the Jesuit mission in early modern China that has so far been given little attention, the education of children. This book underscores how Alenis published work functions as a good example of the Jesuit use of normative Chinese print culture to serve the catechetical exigencies of the Catholic mission in East Asia, particularly his meticulous imitation of Confucian childrens primers to promote decidedly Christian content.