Italian Studies on Far Eastern Thought in Comparative Philosophy

We can say that first comparative studies to focus on Chinese and Far Eastern philosophies and religions began with Jesuits, and that Italian Jesuits played a fundamental role in cultural intermediation-for example, Matteo Ricci (Li Madou, 1552-1610), who was guided by a comparative approach in his pioneering missionary activities. At end of nineteenth century, several contributions to study of Chinese language, history, and religions came from Italian scholars Zottoli, Severini, Puini, Valenziani, and Nocentini. In first part of twentieth century, most eminent scholars were professors D'Elia and Tucci. Giuseppe Tucci, founder of Italian Institute for Middle and Far East (IsMEO), and a great specialist in religious thought in Eurasia, made a tremendous contribution to comparative studies. At center of his interest in religious world was humanity, subject that in different ways is constantly in search of universal and absolute: immortal suns in heavens of apotheosis of mankind, the Minoan and Mycenean and Assyro-Babylonian cultures, tormented dramatists and lucid thinkers of Greece, Zarathustra, Upanishads, Buddha and Mahavira, Laotze and Confucius. His broad linguistic knowledge-from ancient Persian to Chinese-allowed him to roam from Chinese philosophy to Indian and Tibetan religions. His most famous studies are centered on Buddhism: Pre-Dinnaga Buddhist Texts on Logic from Chinese Sources (Baroda, 1929), On Some Aspects of Doctrines of Maitreya(natha) and Asanga (Calcutta, 1930), Minor Buddhist Texts (Rome, 1956, 1957, 1971), and The Religions of Tibet (London 1980), just to mention a few works. The interdisciplinary character of his studies, which include, for example, research on religion and psychology, is evident in many works, like The Theory and Practice of Mandala, where he resorts to theories of Jung. Remarkable also has been production of our colleague and friend Paolo Beonio Brocchieri (who recently passed away), which ranged from religion to politology, and from philosophy to ethics. His works, which are characterized by a broad sense for cultural significance, scientific accuracy, and great clarity of expression, include a synthesis, Filosofia Cinese e dell'Asia orientale (Chinese and East Asian Philosophy) (Milan, 1977), and individual essays on Japanese thought, all of which present a steady, comparative approach. His interest in comparative studies emerged in an early article, Problems of Philosophical Historiography: Validity and Limits of a Comparative Philosophy, in East and West 11 (1960), to reappear in essays Osservazioni sul '700 in Italia e in Paolo Santangelo

Epistemology · Chinese history and philosophy · Eurasian Exchange Networks · History · Indian and Buddhist Studies · Philosophy