Jean Joseph Marie Amiot

Jean Joseph Marie Amiot was a French Jesuit priest who worked in Qing China, during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. He was born in Toulon, France on February 8, 1718 to Louis Amiot, the royal notary of Toulon, and Marie-Anne Serre. He entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus at the age of 19 and was ordained as a priest in 1746. He aspired to serve in an overseas mission and was eventually assigned a mission to China. He left France in 1749 and arrived at Beijing in 1751, where he remained for the rest of his life. Amiot served as an intermediary between the academics of Europe and China. His correspondence provided insight on the culture of China to the Europeans. He translated Chinese works into French, such as The Art of War by Sun Tzu, which was the first rendition of the work into a Western language. He also wrote several books on Chinese history, geography, music, astronomy, mathematics, and religion. He was especially interested in Confucianism and Taoism, and tried to find similarities with Christianity. He also helped verify certain geographical locations in China and contributed to the mapping of the country. Amiot enjoyed the favor and protection of the Qianlong Emperor, who appreciated his knowledge and skills. He was involved in several diplomatic missions and scientific projects under the emperor's patronage. He also taught French to some members of the imperial court and instructed them in Western music. He was one of the few foreigners who had access to the Forbidden City and the imperial library. Amiot died in Beijing on October 8, 1793 at the age of 75. He was buried in the Jesuit cemetery in Beijing, along with other missionaries who worked in China. His writings and translations are valuable sources of information on China during the 18th century. He is considered one of the most influential and prolific Jesuit missionaries in China.