Confucio nella cultura italiana: studi e traduzioni - Kongzi zai Yidali wenhua zhong: yanjiu yu fanyi

It is an excursus on the main studies and translations of the chinese classics in Italian literature, in particular of the Four books (sishu), starting from the earliest translations by the Jesuits to the XX century. The first part explores the role of the Five classics and the Five books in Chinese history until the Ming dynasty. In 1592 A. Valignano S.I. (1539-1606) met Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) and suggested him to translate the Four Books. A manuscript of the Four Books translated in Latin is found in the V. Emanuele Library in Rome; it is ascribed to Michele Ruggieri (1543-1607) but probably the author of the translation was Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), whereas M. Ruggieri was the copyist. The work of partial translation of the four books was continued by Prospero Intorcetta (1652-1696) and other Jesuits who, in 1687, published the Confucius Sinarum Philosophus. The essay ends with a description of the main translations of the Four Books in Italy in the XX century.