The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Hong Kong, Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government–Macao Central Library, and Macau Ricci Institute jointly host the exhibition “Between Science and Art: The Marvels of Asia in the Eyes of Polish Jesuit Michał Piotr Boym, SJ.”, to be opened on 8 November 2014, Saturday, at the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library (No. 3, Largo de Santo Agostinho) at 6:00 pm.

Ground-breaking European sinologist Fr. Michał Piotr Boym, SJ (1612-1659) - acknowledged as the 'Polish Marco Polo' - was a renowned 17th century Polish missionary, sinologist and painter. The exhibition showcases 40 reproductions of Boym's works, including maps, scientific illustrations of fauna and flora as well as a human anatomy chart of immense historical significance and artistic value.  In addition to drawings, valuable books relating to Boym are also showcased.

Father Michał Piotr Boym, SJ (1612-1659), a renowned 17th Century Polish missionary, sinologist and painter, was the pioneer of the European Sinology. He played a very important role in the Sino-Western cultural exchange, and was recognized as the‘Polish Marco Polo’. In 1643, Boym sailed from Lisbon, Portugal and reached Macao after undergoing a series of twists and turns. He started learning Chinese and instructing in a Jesuit school. Subsequently, he was ordered to participate in official affairs in China, and was sent to visit the Vatican as an envoy of Emperor Yongli of the Southern Ming Dynasty, enhancing the first formal diplomatic activity between the two parties. He was the first person to introduce Chinese medicine to the West, making important contributions to the spreading of Chinese culture westward. Today, Boym remains the research object of many Western sinologists. He has even aroused great attention from, and is widely considered important by, Chinese academia.

Flora of China was an important work of Boym’s. It was the first flora of China to be described by a Western missionary to China and had ground breaking significance in terms of the transference of knowledge of Chinese plants to the West.

Boym took the lead in introducing Chinese medicinal masterpieces like Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of Huangdi) and Mo Jing (The Pulse Classic), a crucial act in the transmission of Chinese medicinal plant knowledge to the West. He opened the door for studies of Chinese medicine in the West and was the first person to have conducted comparative studies of Sino-Western medicine.

Boym was one of the Westerners who brought a Chinese map drawn in the 17th Century to Europe. His illustrated Atlas of China accurately reflects the Chinese geography of the day. The maps not only precisely depict the geographical locations of Chinese provinces, important cities, rivers and the Great Wall, which rectified the incorrect portrayal of China by European cartographers, but indicated the distribution of Chinese animals, plants and minerals at that time. Compared to his predecessors, this work more accurately reflects the geography of China at that time.

“Michał Piotr Boym, SJ – Man of science and faith entirely devoted to the service of the Chinese and European courts – his feat revisited in Macau”

The seminar will be conducted with Mandarin and English (interpretation services will not be provided) ;
Free Admission;
Seating is limited, please make your reservation at 28377117

Michał Boym’s Asian Garden – Bubble Garden Floriculture Workshop

Visit our Exhibition and take part in our prize quiz game on the Educational Pamphlet. Drawn participants answering the four questions correctly can get a limited edition souvenir specially designed for the Exhibition (200 prizes). List of winners will be posted on the Macao Central Library website in early February 2015.

Biblioteca Central de Macau