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Sinology

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Sinology is the study of China, and things related to China, using a combination of Western and traditional Chinese methodologies, concepts, and theories. Some would date its origins as far back as Marco Polo in the 13th century. The systematic study of China began in the 16th century, when missionaries, notably Matteo Ricci, introduced Christianity to China. Early sinological research often concentrated on the compatibility of Christianity with Chinese culture.

During the Age of Enlightenment, sinologists started to introduce Chinese philosophy, ethics, legal system, and aesthetics into the West. Though often unscientific and incomplete, their works inspired the development of Chinoiserie and a series of debates comparing Chinese and Western cultures. At that time, sinologists often described China as an enlightened kingdom, comparing it to Europe, which had just emerged from the Dark Ages. Among those interested in China was Voltaire, who wrote the play L'orphelin de la Chine, inspired by the Orphan of Zhao.

In 1814, a chair of Chiese and Manchu was founded at Collège de France - Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat, who taught himself Chinese, became the first Professor of Chinese in Europe. Abel-Rémusat's counterpart in England and Germany were Samuel Kidd (1797–1843) and Hans Georg Conon von der Gabelentz respectively. Secular scholars gradually came to outnumber missionaries, and in the 20th century sinology slowly gained a substantial presence in Western universities. In modern history, sinology has seen its influence in politics, due to its role in think tanks.

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[edit] Etymology

Sino, derived from sina, possibly refers to the Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty to unite China. It may also refer to the Sinites, a Canaanite tribe mentioned in the Tanakh, particularly the Book of Genesis. Early missionaries to China speculated that the modern Chinese be the descendants of this tribe, whom they believed brought to China a primitive monotheism (the worship of heaven or Tian 天).

In China, sinology is known as 國學/国学 (Guóxué, "National Studies"). It is called 支那学 (shinagaku "China Studies") or 漢学 (kangaku "Han Studies") in Japanese.

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da:Sinologi de:Sinologie eo:Ĉinologo es:Sinología fr:Sinologie no:Sinologi pl:Sinologia pt:Sinologia fi:Sinologia sv:Sinologi zh:汉学

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