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Jesuit on the Roof of the World: Ippolito Desideri's Mission to Tibet
Jesuit on the Roof of the World is the first full-length study in any language of Ippolito Desideri (1684-1733), a Jesuit explorer and missionary who traveled in Tibet from 1715 to 1721.
Based on close readings of a wide range of primary sources in Tibetan, Italian, and Latin, Jesuit on the Roof of the World follows Desideri's journey across the great Western deserts of Tibet, his entry into the court of the Mongol chieftain Lhazang Khan, and his flight across Eastern Tibet during the wars that shook Tibet during the early-eighteenth century. While telling of these harrowing events, Desideri relates the dramatic encounter between his Jesuit philosophy and the scholasticism of the Geluk monks; the personal conflict between his own Roman Catholic beliefs and his appreciation of Tibet religion and culture; and the travails of a variety of colorful characters whose political intrigues led to the invasion of Zünghar Mongols of 1717 and the establishment of the Chinese protectorate in 1720.
As the Tibetans fought among themselves, the missionary waged his own war against demons, sorcerers, and rival scholastic philosophers. Towering over all in the mind of the missionary was the "fabulous idol" Avalokitesvara and its embodiment in the Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso. In describing his spiritual warfare against the Tibetan "pope," the missionary offers a unique glimpse into theological problem of the salvation of non-Christians in early modern theology; the curious-and highly controversial-appeal of Hermetic philosophy in the Asian missions; the political underbelly of the Chinese Rites Controversy; and the persistent European fascination with the land of snows.
Based on close readings of a wide range of primary sources in Tibetan, Italian, and Latin, Jesuit on the Roof of the World follows Desideri's journey across the great Western deserts of Tibet, his entry into the court of the Mongol chieftain Lhazang Khan, and his flight across Eastern Tibet during the wars that shook Tibet during the early-eighteenth century. While telling of these harrowing events, Desideri relates the dramatic encounter between his Jesuit philosophy and the scholasticism of the Geluk monks; the personal conflict between his own Roman Catholic beliefs and his appreciation of Tibet religion and culture; and the travails of a variety of colorful characters whose political intrigues led to the invasion of Zünghar Mongols of 1717 and the establishment of the Chinese protectorate in 1720.
As the Tibetans fought among themselves, the missionary waged his own war against demons, sorcerers, and rival scholastic philosophers. Towering over all in the mind of the missionary was the "fabulous idol" Avalokitesvara and its embodiment in the Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso. In describing his spiritual warfare against the Tibetan "pope," the missionary offers a unique glimpse into theological problem of the salvation of non-Christians in early modern theology; the curious-and highly controversial-appeal of Hermetic philosophy in the Asian missions; the political underbelly of the Chinese Rites Controversy; and the persistent European fascination with the land of snows.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 22, 2009
Informative history but disappointing written by an academician and ..reads like a textbook assigned to freshmen religious studies history majors at a small Catholic college institution.
I really wanted to like this book.
Some of the facts are interesting but again it is dry like a textbook reporting narrative.
It would have been more effective to have a time -line with bullet points.
I will remove this from my list shortly as i am trying to post books that I like or in my judgment are well crafted.
I really wanted to like this book.
Some of the facts are interesting but again it is dry like a textbook reporting narrative.
It would have been more effective to have a time -line with bullet points.
I will remove this from my list shortly as i am trying to post books that I like or in my judgment are well crafted.
April 12, 2014
This was an interesting look at the positive impacts of cultural exchange and openness. Also, it provides commentary on the divisions inside the Catholic church during the eighteenth century. One of the books I actually enjoyed reading for class (grad school), despite thinking I would hate it at first. If you're interested in the history of Tibet or the Jesuits it's a great read.
October 4, 2016
Fascinating and demythologizing history of a Jesuit missionary to Tibet. Historically conscious and well argued, but disappointingly downplays the theological subtleties of the Catholic-Tibetan encounter, which come across as elementary.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews