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 308 CHINESE LITERATURE

works of importance on the same subject, enumerating no fewer than 950 miscellaneous publications on a variety of subjects. The famous " doctrine of signatures," which supposes that the uses of plants and substances are indi- cated to man by certain appearances peculiar to them, figures largely in this work.

Hsu KUANG-CH'I (1562-1634) is generally regarded as the only influential member of the mandarinate who has ever become a convert to Christianity. After graduating and taking his final degree in 1604, he enrolled him- self as a pupil of Matteo Ricci, and studied under his guidance to such purpose that he was able to produce works on the new system of astronomy as introduced by the Jesuit Fathers, besides various treatises on mathe- matical science. He was also author of an encyclopaedia of agriculture of considerable value, first published in 1640. This work is illustrated with numerous woodcuts, and treats of the processes and implements of husbandry, of rearing silkworms, of breeding animals, of the manu- facture of food, and even of precautions to be taken against famine. The Jesuit Fathers themselves scattered broadcast over China a large number of propagandist publications, written in polished book-style, some few of which are still occasionally to be found in old book" shops.

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