Docere, mouere et delectare: the use of latin in the annual letters sent from China: Father Manuel Dias Júnior and the letter of December 30, 1616.

Abstract

We propose here a re-examination of the documents produced by the Jesuit missionaries from a literary and stylistic viewpoint, since this perspective has remained in the background, to the detriment of these documents’ importance as historical, ethnological, and sociological testimony. To explore this angle, we will analyze the account of the funeral of the Emperor of China’s mother in the annual letter sent from Macau in December 1616, by Father Manuel Dias Júnior.