An Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa (1704 book)
From Kook Science
_-_title_page.jpg) Title page of the first English edition, 1704. | |
| Author | George Psalmanaazaar |
|---|---|
| Pub. date | 1704 |
An Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa, an Island Subject to the Emperor of Japan: Giving an Account: Giving an Account of the Religion, Customs, Manners, &c., of the Inhabitants is a 1704 book by George Psalmanazar (Psalmanaazaar), presented by the author as a factual reporting on his claimed native country of Formosa (now known as Taiwan), including the culture and language of the Formosans. While successful at first, his claims fell under deep scrutiny, and, having experienced setbacks in his further attempts to capitalise on his claims, Psalmanazar eventually conceded that his former declarations regarding Formosa were entirely fraudulent.
Editions
- Psalmanaazaar, George; Oswald (trans.) (1704), An Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa, an Island Subject to the Emperor of Japan: Giving an Account of the Religion, Customs, Manners, &c., of the Inhabitants. Together With a Relation of What Happened to the Author in His Travels; Particularly His Conferences With the Jesuits, and Others, in Several Parts of Europe. Also the History and Reasons of His Conversion to Christianity, With His Objections Against It (in Defence of Paganism) and Their Answers. (1st ed.), London: Printed for Dan. Brown, at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar; G. Strahan, and W. Davis, in Cornhill; and Fran. Coggin, in the Inner-Temple-Lane, https://archive.org/details/historicalgeogr00psal
- Psalmanaazaar, George; Oswald (trans.) (1705), An Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa, an Island Subject to the Emperor of Japan: Giving an Account of the Religion, Customs, Manners, &c., of the Inhabitants. Together With a Relation of What Happened to the Author in His Travels; Particularly His Conferences With the Jesuits, and Others, in Several Parts of Europe. Also the History and Reasons of His Conversion to Christianity, With His Objections Against It (in Defence of Paganism) and Their Answers. (2nd ed.), London: Printed for M. Wotton, Abel. Roper and B. Lintott; Fr. Coggan, G. Strahan and W. Davis., https://archive.org/details/historicalgeogra00psal
Formosan Language
- See our Psalmanaazaaran Formosan Dictionary for an index of terms extracted from the book, including side-by-side Latin script transliterations and Psalm-Formosan forms with accompanying English translations. Also includes revised copies of the alphabet table and Psalmanazar's translations of The Lord's Prayer, The Apostles' Creed, and The Ten Commandments, as well as details on the Psalm-Formosan numerical system.
Illustrations
The Altars of the Sun, the Moon, and the 10 Stars, fig. 3
The Funeral, or Way of Burning the Dead Bodies, fig. 4
_-_The_Altars_of_the_Sun,_the_Moon,_and_the_10_Stars,_fig._3.jpg)
_-_The_Funeral,_or_Way_of_Burning_the_Dead_Bodies,_fig._4.jpg)