Juan Cobo
Encyclopedia
Juan Cobo (ca. 1546-1592) was Spanish dominican
, diplomat, astronomer and sinologist.
Cobo was born in Alcázar de San Juan
. After becoming a priest of the Dominican order, he traveled to Mexico in 1586 and later to Manila in 1588. He was assigned by King Philip II
to bring Christianity to China along with Miguel de Benavides
. He translated into Chinese several works by Seneca
and the Catechism
. He also translated from Chinese into Spanish the work Mingxin baojian (明心寶鑑) compiled by Fan Liben 範立本 in 1393 under the title Espejo rico del claro corázón and published in 1593. Cobo's translation is considered to be "the first translation of a Chinese book into an European vernacular." Cobo also "has the distinction of being the first to introduce European philosophy and science to China, at least in print." He was sent to Japan by the governor of Manila and received by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
. He died when his boat sank during his return from Japan.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, diplomat, astronomer and sinologist.
Cobo was born in Alcázar de San Juan
Alcázar de San Juan
Alcázar de San Juan is a town and municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain...
. After becoming a priest of the Dominican order, he traveled to Mexico in 1586 and later to Manila in 1588. He was assigned by King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
to bring Christianity to China along with Miguel de Benavides
Miguel de Benavides
Miguel de Benavides y Añoza was a Spanish clergyman and sinologist, the third Archbishop of Manila, and founder of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.-Biography:...
. He translated into Chinese several works by Seneca
Seneca
-People:*Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Seneca the Younger aka Seneca , son of Seneca the Elder, Roman philosopher and playwright, tutor and advisor of Nero*Seneca the Elder , Roman orator and writer...
and the Catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
. He also translated from Chinese into Spanish the work Mingxin baojian (明心寶鑑) compiled by Fan Liben 範立本 in 1393 under the title Espejo rico del claro corázón and published in 1593. Cobo's translation is considered to be "the first translation of a Chinese book into an European vernacular." Cobo also "has the distinction of being the first to introduce European philosophy and science to China, at least in print." He was sent to Japan by the governor of Manila and received by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
. He died when his boat sank during his return from Japan.
See also
- Juan González de MendozaJuan González de MendozaJuan González de Mendoza was the author of the first Western history of China to publish Chinese characters for Western delectation. Published by him in 1586, Historia de las cosas más notables, ritos y costumbres del gran reyno de la China is an account of observations several Spanish travelers...
(c. 1540–1617), a Spanish bishop in Mexico, whose 1585 book summarizes what the Spanish in the Philippines knew about China as of a few years before Juan Cobo's arrival to the islands. - First book of the Spanish PhilippinesFirst book of the Spanish PhilippinesIn territories under the control of the Spanish Crown, books could not be printed except by royal licence. In 1556 a royal cedula prohibited the printing or sale of books concerning the Indies without a special licence...
Works
- Libro chino intitulado Beng Sim Po Cam, que quiere decir Espejo rico del claro corazón o Riquezas y espejo con que se enriquezca y donde se mire el claro y límpido corazón. Traducido en lengua castellana por fray Juan Cobo, de la orden de Santo Domingo. Dirigido al príncipe Don Felipe nuestro Señor (Manila, 1593)
- Beng Sim Po Cam o Espejo Rico del Claro Corazón. primer libro traducido en lengua castellana por Fr. Juan Cobo, O.P. (c.a. 1592); edición preparada y publicada por Carlos Sanz. Madrid: Lib. General Vict. Suárez, 1959.
- Catecismo chino
- Sententiae plures et graves philosophorum etiam gentilium ut Senecae et smilium ex eorum libris excertae et Sinicae reditae.
- Lingua sinica ad certam revocata methodum quatuor distinctis caracterum ordinibus generalibus, specificis et individualis; seu vocabularium sinensis.
- Shih-Lu: Apología de la verdadera religión = Testimony of the true religion; con introducciones por Alberto Santamaría, Antonio Domínguez, Fidel Villarroel; editado por Fidel Villarroel. Manila: University of Santo Tomás, 1986.
- Carta de Juan Cobo del 13 de junio de 1589 a otros religiosos.