Reporter's Notes: Meeting the Analects of Confucius in Paris Introduction to the Analects | Bernier | The Analects

China News Service, Paris, May 5th: Encountering the Analects of Confucius in Paris

In Paris, there is an ancient French classic that witnesses hundreds of years of cultural exchanges between China and France.

As a classic of Chinese traditional culture, "The Analects" was introduced to Europe as early as the 17th century. In 1688, French scholar Bernier compiled French on the basis of Latin and completed the book "Introduction to the Analects of Confucius", which was the first time that Confucius' thoughts were systematically expressed in French.

However, the publication of this book was interrupted due to Bernier's sudden death, leaving only a few manuscripts handed down. Five years ago, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited France, French President Macron gave one of them as a national gift, and it has been kept in the National Library of China ever since.

Since 1750, another manuscript of Bernier's "Introduction to the Analects" has been stored in the Arsenale Library of the French National Library. This library is located in the Marais district, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris. Walking on the mottled stone streets, traces of the old times can be seen everywhere.

The Arsenal Library has a solemn and honest appearance. It was originally a French weapons depot in the 16th century and was later converted into a library. It houses more than 1 million ancient books such as manuscripts, engravings, and maps. In the historical library, there are many brown wooden bookshelves. Many citizens are reading on weekend afternoons with focused expressions.

Interior view of the Arsenale Library in Paris, France. Photo by China News Service reporter Sheng Jiapeng

The reporter searched for "Bernier" on the library computer, and the first information displayed was the information of the original manuscript of "Introduction to the Analects of Confucius": No. MS-2331, 168 pages. After much communication and struggle, Kailu, the assistant director of the library, took out the original manuscript, which is not usually displayed to the public. With a cowhide cover, gold-plated flutter, and red book lip, this is an ancient classic that is full of the book binding characteristics of the French Enlightenment period.

Kailu carefully flipped through the pages, constantly reminding him to use a pencil when recording to avoid accidentally spilling ink on the paper. The yellowed paper, the elegant cursive calligraphy, the slightly different old French, and the occasional traces of alterations between chapters and sentences have all become witnesses of the past civilizational exchanges between China and France.

Opening the brown cover, there are faint writings on the title page. Bernier wrote in the opening chapter "To the Reader" that the book is "a key and entry point to reading Confucius." Bernier hoped that French readers, especially the monarchs and nobles of the time, would learn from Confucius' moral philosophy and "cultivate the spirit of benevolence, gentleness, integrity and humanity" after reading this book.

Conveying Confucius' thoughts in French for the first time, this book was like opening a door to thought. It stirred up the European continent for a long time and attracted the attention of French Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire and Rousseau. When Macron gave the "Introduction to the Analects of Confucius" to Xi Jinping, he commented: "Confucius' thoughts profoundly influenced Voltaire and others, and provided valuable ideological inspiration for the French Enlightenment Movement."

indeed so. Voltaire, who was laid to rest in the Pantheon, highly admired the Analects during his lifetime and believed that "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you" advocated by the Analects should become everyone's motto. Because of his praise of Confucianism, Voltaire was also nicknamed the "European Confucius". This Enlightenment thinker always had a gaze and exploration of Eastern thought.

In the evening, when the reporter left the Arsenal Library, not far away was a cafe called "Voltaire". The clerk informed that Voltaire spent the last days of his life in this building on the banks of the Seine. Above the brick wall at the corner of the cafe, next to a beautiful stone-framed window, a simple French nameplate was nailed to the wall: Voltaire, died here on May 30, 1778.

Café Voltaire on the banks of the Seine in Paris. Photo by China News Service reporter Huang Yuqin

From the Arsenal Library to the Café Voltaire, the two nearby places can’t help but make people wonder: Whether Voltaire had read this “Introduction to the Analects” may be difficult to answer, but after hundreds of years, it may be difficult to answer. Walking on the streets of Paris, I encountered the Analects of Confucius again. The moment when different civilizations met is still fascinating.