Eugène Albert Puyou de Pouvourville (pen name: Matgioi; 7 August 1861 â 30 December 1939) was a French orientalist, mystic, poet, and translator.
Biography
He was born in Nancy into a military family, and took part in several expeditions in China serving in military and administrative capacities. He was a follower of the Christian mystical system Martinism, and was consecrated bishop in the (French Gnostic Church) taking the name of Tau Simon. His long periods of living in Tonkin and other provinces enabled him to understand Chinese thought. Under the influence of a Taoist master, he was initiated into a Chinese secret society, and adopted the name "Matgiol".
He eventually returned to France, and occupied himself with the teaching of Taoism. He presented Taoist doctrines in his works, especially La Voie Métaphysique and La Voie Rationale, emphasizing both the principles and the applications of the system. He also wrote several book on China and the French colonies in Asia.
He died in Paris.
Works
- Le Tao de Laotseu, translated from Chinese by Matgioi, Librairie de l'Art indépendant, 1894, 48 pp. (rééd. Hachette/BnF, 2012
- Le Te de Laotseu, translated from Chinese by Matgioi, Librairie de l'Art indépendant, 1894, 63 pp. (rééd. Hachette /Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2013
- L'esprit des races jaunes. ë Le Traité des Influences errantes û de Quangdzu, translated from Chinese by Matgioi, Paris, Bibliothèque de la Haute Science, 1896, 51 pp.
- L'Empire du Milieu, Schlercher frère, 1900
- Rimes chinoises, Lemerre, 1904
- La Voie Métaphysique, Paris, Société d'ÃÂditions Contemporaines : Bibliothèque de La Voie, 1905, 168 pp. (Rééd. Les ÃÂditions Traditionnelles, 1956, 1991).
- La Voie Rationnelle, Paris, Société d'ÃÂditions Contemporaines : Bibliothèque de la Voie, 1907, 269 pp. (Rééd. Les ÃÂditions Traditionnelles, 2003).
- La Chine des Lettrés, Librairie Hermétique (Bibliothèque de la Voie), 1910, 160 pp.
- Les Enseignements Secrets de la Gnose - T Simon (Albert de Pouvourville) T Théophane (Léon Champrenaud), ÃÂditions Arche, Milan 1999
- Le Livre de l'opium, sous le pseudonyme de Nguyen Te Duc, réédition Guy Tredaniel, Paris 2002
- Le Cinquième Bonheur, ÃÂd. Kailash, 2004
- LâÂÂArt indo-chinois, Librairie-Imprimeries Réunies Ancienne Maison Quantin, 1894. Coll. Bibliothèque de lâÂÂenseignement des Beaux-Arts
- Francis Garnier, Plon, 1931
- La Voie - revue mensuelle de haute science - articles àpartir du nð1 du 15 avril 1904
Bibliography
External links