History of the Big Kingdom of the China. - Juan González of Mendoza

The History of the Big Kingdom of the China, written by brother Juan González of Mendoza (1545-1618), turned from his publication in 1585 into an authentic one "best seller" since, before finishing the century, the editions in Castilian would overcome the ten and the translations different languages (Italian, French, English, German, Dutch, Latin...) they reached also amazing numbers for the epoch.

The author, despite having being named by Felipe II in the 1580 responsible for an embassy to China, never went so far as to visit the vast empire that, nevertheless, it would describe with enormous mastery, it being based on the reading of diverse works realized for religious that yes they traveled to the immense Asian country: fundamentally the relations of Martín de Rada and Agustín de Tordesillas (partner of Pedro de Alfaro, considered to be the first European sinólogo and author of a pioneering book on the Chinese language), and the brother's itinerary Martín Ignacio. Also, González de Mendoza consulted numerous texts of Chinese authors, provided by Alfaro, which it ordered to translate for his intention. The final score was this book, which principal value takes root in the meticulous description that his pages offer on the everyday life of China in the XVIth century, penetrating into the traditions, customs and religious beliefs of his inhabitants, as well as into the history, the economy, the geography and the political and social situation of, already for, mysterious Empire of that time of the Big Wall.

In sum, the History of the Big Kingdom of the China constitutes a milestone of the first order in the field of the western sinology, which finds in her an essential reference to the study of China in the epoch of the dynasty Ming.

González de Mendoza, Juan. - History of the Big Kingdom of the China. Kapok tree Editions. Madrid. 2008

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