(died 1732) Jesuit scholar and missionary; born Le Mans, France; died Peking. Arriving in China, 1688, he was appointed mathematician to Emperor Khang-hi, and from 1708-1715 made a survey of the empire, and prepared maps of the provinces. He shared all the labors of his fellow missionaries, who were aided by his influence with, the emperor, and compiled a Tatar treatise on mathematics and a Chinese dictionary.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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