The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong, 1650-1785

It has been a surprise to discover prof. Mungello, but after reading this book I must celebrate him as a second-to-none sinologist. He has studied an aspect of European-Chinese interaction little known today, the work of Franciscan missionaries among the ordinary people. Unfortunately, too much attention has been focused on the Jesuits in Beijing or on petty conflicts at Macao, and most writers just repeat what other said without contrasting sources. It is not the case of Mungello. First, he displays rare gifts of intellectual honesty and rigour. His work is the result of thorough and referenced research of primary and secondary sources, mostly available in obscure journals, memorials and archives untouched before. Second, Mungello's vast culture and sensibiity let him weave the story beautifully but with restrain, avoiding subjetivism, common places, or premature conclussions. Last, this book is well written so that one enjoys it thorought with a feeling of gratitude. The epilogue will surely steer your emotions.After reading the book, the dense narrative and minucious attention to detail -the individuals, the events- emerge eloquent. "The Spirit and the Flesh in Shandong" goes beyond the encounter of two complex distant worlds at a momemt in time. It is a profound insight into Chinese and European cultures and into the common ground of universal values. A study of the past which is meaningful today, and an excelent scholarly contribution for others to follow...