European Falconry in Qing China

European Falconry in Qing China: The Treatise on Falcons (Jincheng yinglun 進程鷹論) by Ludovico Buglio S.J. (1606–1682), translated, edited, and introduced by Paolo De Troia, offers a fascinating glimpse into a little-known aspect of Sino-European cultural exchanges in the 17th century.

This unique work presents Buglio’s Chinese adaptation of selected passages from Ornithologiae, a natural history of birds by Ulysses Aldrovandi (1522–1605), focusing on the breeding, care, and training of falcons for hunting. By choosing falconry, a practice cherished by both European and Chinese (especially Manchu) elites, Buglio used a shared aristocratic tradition as a cultural bridge. His aim was to win the favour of the young Kangxi emperor (1654–1722, r. 1661–1722), a keen falconer himself, and to support the broader Jesuit missionary effort in the Qing empire. Rather than translating Aldrovandi’s Latin text word-for-word, Buglio produced a digest in Chinese, adapting the material to resonate with his target audience. The book features an English translation of the Chinese text, with the corresponding Latin source passages provided in footnotes for reference. Richly illustrated and including a facsimile of the original Chinese edition, this volume will appeal to scholars and readers interested in Jesuit missions in China, Qing history, Manchu culture, and the global history of falconry.