I just came across a blog entry about Ricci as lyricist . . . (or poet)

http://animperfectpen.blogspot.com/2009/01/matteo-riccis-hymns.html

Just for entertainment, here is the Google Translate version of the same text:

Conferred by the Creator of human spirit, spiritual enlightenment, as most things, it noted the case of million class consciousness can remember, while the difference in possession of, if the treasury of natural wealth and goods storage. And attempted to use, then randomly out of the million class, well structured well, no mixing. However, people knowledge and ability to remember but I do not know why hidden storage, so the difference between those where walls and Xi by the fruit where the deposition of the wonderful facilities and finally Monensin language Morohito. This is God revealed secret secret, WO fine Yun Yun, who Utrecht and measuring the peace? I try on their takes between Xi Shi. Hereby once again first on the left, in order to empathy.

I'm somewhat relieved to know I'm working in a field where machines do not yet operate at the level of trained humans . . .

原本篇 第一 Origin Chapter (1)

人受造物主所赋之神魂，视万物最为灵悟，故遇万类悉能记识，而区别以藏之，若库藏之贮财货然。及欲用时，则万类各随机而出，条理井井，绝无混杂。然人知能记忆，而不知所以藏贮、所以区别者从何而致，且翕受果在何处，其敷施之妙，卒莫能语诸人。此则造物主显露密秘，运斡精蕴，人乌得而测之乎？吾西士间尝论其概。兹再次第于左，以求同理。

Of all the abilities given man by the Creator, vision is the most able. So, when encountering the multitudes of types, they can be remembered completely. They can be distinguished and stored as if storing goods in a warehouse. When [one] wishes to access these [memories], the multitudes of types will come out as needed. They will be in perfect order, and will definitely not be mixed up. So . . . man knows he can remember, but doesn't know how things are stored and distinguished, or where the ? is kept. He is not able to communicate the method to other people. Boy, this last line is hard. Here the Creator has revealed the secret, ???, how is man to achieve and guess at it? Western scholars have made efforts to discuss it, and here again I discuss it in an orderly fashion.

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《西国记法》was written by the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci in 1595 to pass on his knowledge of the 'memory palace' method of memorization to his hosts in the city of Nanchang, China.

This blog is part of a long-term slow-food appreciation of this text, and will contain both the original text (in simplified Chinese) and a constantly evolving translation into English.

Henry Buchtel