ABSTRACT

This book gives a memorial to the throne presented to the K'ang-hsi emperor on the occasion of the completion of the K 'ang-hsi Perpelual Calendar in 1678 (see lap-Sin II, 156). In this memorial Verbiest recalled how an imperial order had been given to him to prepare a perpetual calendar based on the calendar which Adam Schall made for 200 years. Verbiest had it extended to 2000 years, filling thirty-two chilan, and had given it the title K'ang-hsi yung-nien li-fa "*"128 - a:: IU.~+ 1>1< , •• ,7]( -'t-" r § {-zA'

Verbiest was quite disturbed by this conferring of honors. He therefore sent in a memorial to the emperor to the effect that worldly honors are alien to the religious state and therefore he would feel happier not to accept these imperial favors. The emperor, however, was determined to reward his servant for the great work he had done. Verbiest had to obey.