WIEGER, L.

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Chinese Characters: Their Origin, Etymology, History, Classification and Signification. First edition, first printing, a scarce complete set of this valuable reference, including information on the older forms of Chinese characters, an incisive introductory sketch, and a 500-page lexicon.Leon Wieger (1856-1933) joined the Jesuit order in 1881 and was posted to China in 1887, remaining there for the next 50 years. "His study of the language convinced him of the need to publish systematic works on Chinese culture. In addition to a considerable number of homiletic and catechetical books for missionaries to preach in Chinese languages (including the Hejianfu dialect), he wrote a ten-volume history of modern China and works on Chinese language and customs. Many appeared in several editions; some were also translated from French into English and are still in use today. For his outstanding contributions to sinology the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres in Paris three times awarded him the Stanislas Julien Prize" (Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity).

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