Karel Slavíček
Encyclopedia
Karel Slavíček, , was a Jesuit missionary and scientist, the first Czech sinologist and author of the first precise map of Beijing
.
, a small town straddling the historical border between Bohemia
and Moravia
. His father, Václav Vojtěch Slavíček, was a teacher and town councillor writer. After finishing Gymnasium (school)
in Brno
, Slavíček entered the Jesuit order as a novice
in 1694. Later he studied at Faculty of Philosophy and Faculty of Theology of Olomouc University. After finishing his studies, he stayed at the University as a teacher of mathematics
and Hebrew language
and history
. Later he went to Prague
, where he studied Theology
at Charles University. He was ordained as a priest in 1707. Astronomy
soon became his hobby. During his studies in Prague Slavíček took part in making precise map of the capital.
After finishing studies in Prague he went to teach in Jičín
, subsequently lecturing mathematics at the University of Wrocław, finally also returning to the University of Olomouc, where he obtained Doctorate of Philosophy, became professor of mathematics and, in 1712, a fully-fledged member of the Jesuit Order . In 1714 he went to Brno, where his work involved assisting his former Olomouc professor Jakub Kresa
. Soon after this he decided to become missionary
. Because of his knowledge of mathematics as well as music, it was decided that he should be sent to China.
In 1715 he left Brno for Prague, where he joined Ignaz Kögler
. Together they went to Lisbon, where they joined with a Jesuit from Portugal. On March 13, 1716 they left for China. It took them 170 days to get there, surviving a major storm, during which many of their belongings were damaged.
After reaching Macao
they acquired local clothes and adopted local haircuts. On February 3, 1717 Slavíček was introduced to the Kangxi Emperor
in Beijing
, who employed him as court musician. (Slavíček was a Spinet
player).
In 1717 Slavíček made the first precise map of Beijing, putting to use know-how obtained previously while working on the map of Prague. At the same time he clarified the latitude of Beijing
.
Slavíček soon became ill and left Beijing
in order to recover away from the city. Meanwhile the Kangxi Emperor
was succeeded in 1722 by the Yongzheng Emperor
, who was much less friendly towards Christians. Yongzheng ordered all the Jesuits in China to be accommodated in Beijing
: consequently Slavíček had to return there.
Slavíček learned the Chinese language
rather fast. He worked on astronomy
and mathematics
and compiled a Treatise
on Chinese music: however this treatise has not survived. Although forced to move back to Beijing, Slavíček did not become isolated. Indeed, he was in frequent contact by letter with European scientists, such as Stéphane Souciet and Guillaume de L'Isle. Many of the letters have been lost, but those that survive provide insight to Slavíček's life in China, and are now housed in the library of Strahov Monastery
.
Slavíček died after 18 years in China; he was succeeded by another Czech Jesuit Jan Walter from Bílina
.
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Early life and studies in the Czech lands
Karel Slavíček was born in a house called ("By the Sun") on the main square in JimramovJimramov
Jimramov is a small town in Žďár nad Sázavou District in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic.The town covers an area of , and has a population of 1,185 ....
, a small town straddling the historical border between Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
and Moravia
March of Moravia
The March or Margraviate of Moravia, was a marcher state, sometimes de facto independent and varyingly within the power of the Duchy, later Kingdom of Bohemia...
. His father, Václav Vojtěch Slavíček, was a teacher and town councillor writer. After finishing Gymnasium (school)
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, Slavíček entered the Jesuit order as a novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
in 1694. Later he studied at Faculty of Philosophy and Faculty of Theology of Olomouc University. After finishing his studies, he stayed at the University as a teacher of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and history
Jewish history
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their religion and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions and cultures. Since Jewish history is over 4000 years long and includes hundreds of different populations, any treatment can only be provided in broad strokes...
. Later he went to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he studied Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Charles University. He was ordained as a priest in 1707. Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
soon became his hobby. During his studies in Prague Slavíček took part in making precise map of the capital.
After finishing studies in Prague he went to teach in Jičín
Jicín
Jičín is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It lies approximately 85 km northeast of Prague in the scenic region of the Bohemian Paradise under the Prachov Rocks ....
, subsequently lecturing mathematics at the University of Wrocław, finally also returning to the University of Olomouc, where he obtained Doctorate of Philosophy, became professor of mathematics and, in 1712, a fully-fledged member of the Jesuit Order . In 1714 he went to Brno, where his work involved assisting his former Olomouc professor Jakub Kresa
Jakub Kresa
Jakub Kresa, , was one of the most important Czech mathematicians of the Baroque era.-Early life:Jakub Kresa was born into a smallholder's family at Smržice, not far from Prostějov. He studied at the Jesuit gymnasium in Brno. There he proved to be an extraordinary student...
. Soon after this he decided to become missionary
Jesuit China missions
The history of the missions of the Jesuits in China is part of the history of relations between China and the Western world. The missionary efforts and other work of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, between the 16th and 17th century played a significant role in continuing the transmission of...
. Because of his knowledge of mathematics as well as music, it was decided that he should be sent to China.
In 1715 he left Brno for Prague, where he joined Ignaz Kögler
Ignaz Kögler
Ignaz Kögler was a German Jesuit missionary in China.-Life:...
. Together they went to Lisbon, where they joined with a Jesuit from Portugal. On March 13, 1716 they left for China. It took them 170 days to get there, surviving a major storm, during which many of their belongings were damaged.
In China
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
they acquired local clothes and adopted local haircuts. On February 3, 1717 Slavíček was introduced to the Kangxi Emperor
Kangxi Emperor
The Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, who employed him as court musician. (Slavíček was a Spinet
Spinet
A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ.-Spinets as harpsichords:While the term spinet is used to designate a harpsichord, typically what is meant is the bentside spinet, described in this section...
player).
In 1717 Slavíček made the first precise map of Beijing, putting to use know-how obtained previously while working on the map of Prague. At the same time he clarified the latitude of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Slavíček soon became ill and left Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in order to recover away from the city. Meanwhile the Kangxi Emperor
Kangxi Emperor
The Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
was succeeded in 1722 by the Yongzheng Emperor
Yongzheng Emperor
The Yongzheng Emperor , born Yinzhen , was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the third Qing emperor from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military...
, who was much less friendly towards Christians. Yongzheng ordered all the Jesuits in China to be accommodated in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
: consequently Slavíček had to return there.
Slavíček learned the Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
rather fast. He worked on astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and compiled a Treatise
Treatise
A treatise is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay, and more concerned with investigating or exposing the principles of the subject.-Noteworthy treatises:...
on Chinese music: however this treatise has not survived. Although forced to move back to Beijing, Slavíček did not become isolated. Indeed, he was in frequent contact by letter with European scientists, such as Stéphane Souciet and Guillaume de L'Isle. Many of the letters have been lost, but those that survive provide insight to Slavíček's life in China, and are now housed in the library of Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery is a Premonstratensian abbey founded in 1149 by Bishop Jindřich Zdík, Bishop John of Prague, and Prince Vladislav II. It is located in Strahov, Prague, Czech Republic.-The founding of a monastery:...
.
Slavíček died after 18 years in China; he was succeeded by another Czech Jesuit Jan Walter from Bílina
Bílina
Bílina is a town in the Teplice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic. It is located on the river Bílina. It is known for its comforting and relaxing spas.-Location:...
.