The Jews at K'ae-Fung-Foo: Being a Narrative of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jewish Synagogue at K'ae-Fung-Foo, on Behalf of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews; With an Introduction.

SMITH, George.

Edité par Shanghai: Printed at the London Missionary Society's Press, 1851

A propos de cet article

First edition of this report of a breakthrough mission to Kaifeng in 1850, sent by the Anglican Bishop of Hong Kong to establish contact with the city's Jewish community, about which Western evangelicals knew almost nothing. This scarce work is among the most important sources on 19th-century Chinese Judaism, and only a few copies (not all complete) are recorded in private hands. George Smith (1815-1871) was appointed to the bishopric of Hong Kong in 1849. For the mission, he chose two Chinese Christians, K'hew T'hëen-Sang and Tsëang Yung-Che, whose written accounts form the core of this work. K'hew and Tsëang were sent with a letter of introduction in Hebrew, provided by three Jewish merchants (originally from Baghdad) who were resident in Shanghai and connected with Sassoon & Co. in Canton. The two left Shanghai on 15 November 1850 and reached Kaifeng on 9 December, having journeyed almost 700 miles. "Although the messengers were. suddenly interrupted in their researches within the synagogue, and their departure from the city itself was subsequently hastened by fear, they remained for a period sufficient to enable them to accomplish the main object of their visit. They copied many interesting inscriptions in Chinese, and a few in Hebrew" (pp. ix-x). The work ends with a letterpress notice announcing the successful completion of a second mission to Kaifeng in 1851. During this second visit, K'hew and Tsëang purchased six precious scrolls of the Torah, one of which was subsequently presented by the London Missionary Society to the British Museum and now resides at the British Library. This is the copy of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews, which financed the expedition. Founded in 1809, the society numbered among its early members William Wilberforce, and over the course of the 19th century it grew into a global missionary organizations. Its ownership stamp, giving the address of 16 Lincoln's Inn Fields, is on the verso of the original front wrapper. Cordier 1356; not in Löwendahl. Octavo (215 x 140 mm). With folding map, Chinese characters in text. Recent half calf (ticket of Period Binders, Bath), spine lettered in gilt on brown label, marbled sides, original yellow wrappers (laid down on paper to stabilize soon after publication) bound in. Original wrappers rather worn, text somewhat affected, rear wrapper with old tissue and adhesive tape repair on verso, spotting to text, map with neat tissue repair at foot: a very good copy of a delicate work.

N° de réf. du vendeur 180716

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: The Jews at K'ae-Fung-Foo: Being a Narrative of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jewish Synagogue at K'ae-Fung-Foo, on Behalf of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews; With an Introduction.
• Éditeur: Shanghai: Printed at the London Missionary Society's Press, 1851
• Édition: Edition originale