On Friendship: One Hundred Maxims for a Chinese Prince

By Matteo Ricci

"On Friendship, with its total of one hundred sayings, is the perfect gift for friends."--Feng Yingjing, renowned scholar and civic official, 1601

Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) is best known as the Italian Jesuit missionary who brought Christianity to China. He also published a landmark text on friendship--the first book to be written in Chinese by a European--that instantly became a late Ming best seller.

On Friendship distilled the best ideas on friendship from Renaissance Latin texts into one hundred pure and provocative Chinese maxims. Written in a masterful classical style, Ricci's sayings established his reputation as a great sage and the sentiments still ring true.

Available for the first time in English, On Friendship matches a carefully edited Chinese text with a facing-page English translation and includes notes on sources and biographical, historical, and cultural information. Still admired in China for its sophistication and inspirational wisdom, On Friendship is a delightful cross-cultural work by a crucial and fascinating historical figure. It is also an excellent tool for learning Chinese, pairing a superb model of the classical language with an accessible and accurate translation.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231149247
• ISBN13: 9780231149242
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 11.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 7.1"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher