Originally submitted as a PhD dissertation in 2006, this book is a most welcome documentation of the life and work of Franz Xaver Biallas (aka Bao Runsheng 鮑潤生, a scholar and Societas Verbi Divini (SVD) missionary), the early history of the journal Monumenta Serica, and oriental studies at the Catholic University of Peking (Peiping).
In the first part (to p. 165) Miroslav Kollár provides a detailed and extensive biography of Biallas. He outlines the various stations in his life including his early education at missionary training centres, the guidance he received from Wilhelm Schmidt (1868–1954), founder of the journal Anthropos, and his Sinological training in Berlin, Leipzig and Paris under De Groot (1854–1921), Forke (1867–1944), Conrady (1864–1925), Chavannes (1865–1910) and Pelliot (1878–1945). Under the supervision of Conrady in Leipzig, Biallas’ academic studies culminated in his PhD dissertation on Qu Yuan and an annotated translation (including commentary and introduction) of the “Yuanyou” (The Far-off Journey), published in two parts in the journal Asia Major (1927 and 1932).
At the age of forty-four Biallas finally arrived at Yanzhou where he engaged in missionary work in Shandong (1922–26), Shanghai (1926–33) and Peking (1933–36). At Fu Jen (Furen) Catholic University in Peking he was put in charge of preparing and implementing administrative changes to the university, established himself as a leading academic member of this institution and initiated Monumenta Serica for which he served as founding editor from 1935 until his untimely death.
As the only Steyler missionary with a credible Sinological qualification at the time in Peking, Biallas initiated the funding of an Institute of Oriental Studies at Fu Jen which aimed to provide academic training in Sinology for future missionaries, and he was instrumental in setting up academic co-operations with some of the leading Chinese academics at Fu Jen (and beyond) including scholars such as Chen Yuan (1880–1971) and Shen Jianshi (1887–1947). Biallas’ own academic contributions testify to his meticulous approach and solid reception of traditional as well as contemporary Chinese scholarship. In addition to a monograph on Confucius (1928), most of his Sinological work focuses on the Chuci (Songs of Chu) and remains highly laudable. It is, however, most unfortunate that the whereabouts of unfinished drafts of his work on a wider variety of topics remain unknown.
The second part of Kollár's book presents documents relevant to the life and work of Biallas and, most importantly, copies of his correspondence, which is divided into letters by and to Biallas as well as letters relating to him. This previously unpublished material provides valuable insights into the work of a man whose dedication to his tasks as a missionary and scholar is highly instructive. Among many other highly interesting topics this part offers minute planning outlines and proposals for the envisaged Institute of Oriental Studies at Fu Jen, curricula, and evaluations of Western and Chinese academics under consideration for joining that institute. The around 300 transcribed letters are well edited and presented with concise annotations.
The book is complemented by copies of documents relating to the life of Biallas, photographs, a bibliography and short biographies of persons mentioned in the letters, which serve as convenient points of reference for the reader. Chinese names of persons and place names are provided in an appendix. Given the number of names appearing in the letters, this reader would have appreciated an overall index so as to facilitate the use of this rich compilation for later reference purposes.
This documentation on the life and work of Franz Xaver Biallas, based on his correspondence and correspondence about him, unearths and makes available an abundance of highly valuable information on more than one individual and the Steyler Mission. It sheds light on the complex relationship between missionary activities and academia as well as on the wider environment in which Sinology and the China-mission interacted during the first half of the twentieth century. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in missionary studies or the history of Sinology.
