The Polish Marco Polo – Explorer of Zhōngguó

The Contribution of Michael Boym (c. 1612-1659) to the European Perception of the Geography, Linguistics, History, Politics, Nature and Medicine of China

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.22.2025.100.09

Keywords:

Michał Boym, China, the Míng Dynasty, politics, cartography, geography, history, philosophy, medicine, nature, Catholic Church, Catholic Mission, Jesuits

Abstract

The failed diplomatic mission of Michael Boym is still a little-known episode. Nevertheless, Boym’s legacy goes beyond his missionary and political activities. This tireless researcher left us a collection of invaluable treatises that introduced Europeans to various phenomena of imperial China that were unknown at the time. Europe owes Boym a great deal of reliable knowledge about Chinese geography, history, philosophy, medicine, nature, local folklore and even astronomy. Boym’s rich scholarly output in these numerous subject areas, which was created during his numerous travels, is astonishing.

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Author Biography

  • Krzysztof Kościelniak, Jagiellonian University

    Full Professor of History (History of the Orient, Asian Studies, Islamic Studies, History of Religion, History of the Oriental Churches) at the Jagiellonian University, Faculty of International and Political Studies (Institute of the Middle and Far East), author of the research projects with Tamkang University Taipei (Taiwan 2016–2017 and 2022 – WSMiP.2.6.2022.4/1).

References

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28-11-2025

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“The Polish Marco Polo – Explorer of Zhōngguó: The Contribution of Michael Boym (c. 1612-1659) to the European Perception of the Geography, Linguistics, History, Politics, Nature and Medicine of China”. 2025. Politeja 22 (6(100): 159-90. https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.22.2025.100.09.