Angelo Zottoli

Angelo Zottoli (Chao Deli 晁德蒞, 1826–1902) was an Italian Catholic priest and missionary in China and a sinologist.[1]

Biography

Zottoli was born in Acerno on June 21, 1826 and, after joining the Jesuits in 1843. In Naples he studied theology and philosophy, and his work as a teacher was greatly appreciated by his religious brothers.[2] He then went as a missionary to China in 1848.[3]

From 1853 he taught, and was headmaster, in St. Ignatius College for Chinese Christian students founded in 1849. [4]

He was known for his sinological works, and was an important leader in the Shanghai Catholic community of Zikawei, encouraging figures such as Ma Xiangbo to carefully study the Chinese and Western classics.[5] During his stay in Zikawei, he also provided insights into the political, ritual and religious aspects of Chinese culture.[6]

Sinology

Zottoli produced a Latin textbook of Chinese Language Cursus litteraturae Sinicae neo-missionariis accommodatus in five volumes in octavo.[7] He also produced Latin translations of some classic works of Chinese literature (Confucius), a Chinese-Latin dictionary, and many theological texts in Chinese. He also produced several works in Latin and Chinese providing insights into Jesuit terminology in both languages, a key example is the Ascetica Nomenclatio (1877).[8]

1. De Caro, Antonio (2021). Angelo Zottoli, a jesuit in China, 1848 to 1902: his life and ideas. Christianity in modern China. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-981-16-5296-7.
2. Lettere Edificanti della Provincia Napoletana della Compagnia di Gesù. Vol. 9. Naples: Ricciardi. 1874–1901. pp. 129–130.
3. De Caro, Antonio (2022), De Caro, Antonio (ed.), "Angelo Zottoli and His Mission", Angelo Zottoli, a Jesuit Missionary in China (1848 to 1902): His Life and Ideas, Christianity in Modern China, Singapore: Springer Nature, pp. 1–20, doi:10.1007/978-981-16-5297-4_1, ISBN 978-981-16-5297-4, retrieved 2024-08-07
4. King, Gail (1997). "The Xujiahui (Zikawei) Library of Shanghai". Libraries & Culture. 32 (4): 456–469. ISSN 0894-8631. JSTOR 25548570.
5. Jiang, You Guo (September 2012). "Liberal Arts in China's Modern Universities: Lessons from the Great Catholic Educator and Statesman, Ma Xiangbo". Frontiers of Education in China. 7 (3): 292–308. doi:10.1007/BF03396948.
6. Caro, Antonio De (2023-08-10). "Converting Zi-ka-wei: Angelo A. Zottoli, S.J. (Chao Deli 晁德蒞, 1826–1902) and His Mission in Shanghai". Journal of Jesuit Studies. 10 (4): 640–653. doi:10.1163/22141332-10040006. ISSN 2214-1324.
7. Williams, Nicholas Morrow (3 July 2015). "Angelo Zottoli's Cursus litteraturæ sinicæ as Propaedeutic to Chinese Classical Tradition". Monumenta Serica. 63 (2): 327–359. doi:10.1080/02549948.2015.1106835. S2CID 162779246.
8. De Caro, Antonio (2024-10-07), "Teaching Jesuit Spirituality in Nineteenth-century Zi-ka-wei: The Dissertationes Theologicae (1849–1856) and the Ascetica Nomenclatio (1877) by Fr. Angelo A. Zottoli S.J.", Teaching Jesuit Spirituality in Nineteenth-century Zi-ka-wei: The Dissertationes Theologicae (1849–1856) and the Ascetica Nomenclatio (1877) by Fr. Angelo A. Zottoli S.J., De Gruyter, pp. 161–188, doi:10.1515/9783111308289-012/html, ISBN 978-3-11-130828-9, retrieved 2024-10-07

In 1884 he was awarded the Prix Stanislas Julien by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres of Paris for his Cursus litteraturae Sinicae neo-missionariis accommodatus.[1] He published several works on Chinese literature and Catholic theology in both Latin and Chinese.[2]

References

1. Comptes-rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, 1884 28(4) p. 479
2. De Caro, Antonio (2022), De Caro, Antonio (ed.), "Zottoli's Works in Dialogue with Chinese Culture and Jesuit Spirituality", Angelo Zottoli, a Jesuit Missionary in China (1848 to 1902): His Life and Ideas, Christianity in Modern China, Singapore: Springer Nature, pp. 73–82, doi:10.1007/978-981-16-5297-4_4, ISBN 978-981-16-5297-4, retrieved 2024-08-07