1710年意大利人马国贤来到中国，从此他以天主教会传教士、康熙皇帝宫廷画师的双重身份，在京师度过了十三年。本书即是马国贤神父对其在清廷供职期间以及在中意往返途中所见所闻的回忆录，具有特殊的文献价值，一直被西方大学里的中国课程列为重要参考书。

作者的描写为我们提供了“中国礼仪之争”的第一手资料；同时又以西方入的眼光，展示了清初皇帝的宫廷生活、民俗、地貌等一般吏书所没有的细节。全书行文语气淡然，通俗易懂，既是西方汉学奠基之作，也是普通读者了解清初北京风貌、窥探九重宫禁的独特窗口。

  CHAPTER I

Early Life -- An Impressive Sermon --Duty of a Confessor --Resolution

  to enter the Church --Mysterious Vision --Order to proceed to China

--Departure for Rome --Sojourn in the Ecclesiastical College  1

 CHAPTER II

Pilgrimage to Loreto -- Roman Police--Inhospitable Monks--St. Chiara's

  Heart--Return to Rome--Mission to Capradosso--Vendetta--

  Extraordinary Reconciliation    7

 CHAPTER III

Departure for China--The Pope's farewell Gifts--Scene at Bologna--

  Awful Visitation at Brixen--Detention at Cologne--Disguise--Arrival

  in London--English Women--Drawing Lots for a Saint  13

 CHAPTER IV

Setting sail for Bengal--Loss of Luggage--Flying-fish--The Christening--

  Rigid Observance of the Sabbath--Catching a Shark--Climbing to the

  Main-top--The Cape of Good Hope--Conversions aboard  21

 CHAPTER V

The Mouth of the Ganges--Ignorance of a Monk--Recruiting

  Missionaries--Advice to Authors--Sun-Worshippers--St. Thomas's

  Prophecy--The Transmigration of Souls--A Woman Exorcised  27

 CHAPTER VI

     t

Departure for Manilla--Miraculous Escape--Preaching in earnest--

  Cardinal de Tournon's Imprisonment in Macao--His Death--The

  Population of China-- Order to Paint for the Emperor   32

CHAPTER VII

Departure for Peking--The Candle-Hills--Chinese Porters--Navigation of

  the River Nan-kiang-huo-- Sacrifices--Fishing-Birds   39

CHAPTER VIII

Dangers of Medical Practice--Missionary Pride--Foundlings--

  Mahomedans   44

 CHAPTER IX

Introduction to the Emperor--The Ko-tow -- Climate and Clothing--

  Abundance of Game--Chinese Stoves--Description of Peking  49

  CHAPTER X

Oil-Painting--Chinese Delicacies--The New Year--Parental Authority--

  Jealousy--Punishment by Proxy--Women's Feet--Visiting-Cards  58

 CHAPTER XI

Sacrifice to Heaven--Fireworks--The Emperor's Palace near Peking--

  Landscape Gardening--Chinese Flattery  64

CHAPTER XII

Survey of China, Tartary, and Corea--Order to engrave--Fall from a

  Horse--Tartar Surgeon--Water Cure   70

CHAPTER XIII

The Great Wall--Mountain near Je-hol--Attempts to engrave--

  Description of Je-hol--The Emperor's Country Life  75

CHAPTER XIV

The Emperor's Retinue- The Little Hunt--Stag-hunting- Tiger-hunting-

  Wrestling and Archery--Silence in the Camp  81

 CHAPTER XV

Chinese Letters--Imperial Condescension--The Christians in Danger--

  Conversions--Strict Discipline--The Crown Prince deposed--The

  Emperor's Sixtieth Birth-day    88

CHAPTER XVI

Public Rejoicings--Provincial Deputations--Strawberries and

Asparagus--The First Pupil--Regard of the Chinese for their Beards--

Russian Priests    94

CHAPTER XVII

Dread of the Plague--Death of Father Tilisch--Alarm among the

Christians--Firmness of the Emperor--His Avarice--Origin of the

Chinese College   100

CHAPTER XVIII

Chapels for Women--Chinese Jealousy--Don Pedrini arrested--

Machinations against the School--Lucio--John In withdrawn--His

Father's Death--His Return--A Dream  105

      o

CHAPTER XIX

Arrival of the Russian Embassy--Point of EtiqUette--Imperial

      /.

  Manifesto--Mutual Concessions    111

CHAPTER XX

Reception of Count Ismailof--Court Dinner--Eulogy of the European

  Missionaries--Presents--The Emperor's Advice to the Czar  117

CHAPTER XXI

The Emperor in Bed--Life at Je-hol--A quid pro quo--Hard Living--

  Illness of Scipel    125

CHAPTER XXII

Death of the Emperor Kang-hy--Funeral Rites--Punishment of two great

  Mandarins    130

CHAPTER XXIII

Exclusion of Europeans from the Imperial Palace--Plotting--Death of the

  Emperor's Mother--Difficulties--Final resolution to depart  136

CHAPTER XXIV

Permission to quit China--Farewell Presents--Departure from Peking--

Cheap Travelling--Variations of Climate--Arrival at Canton--Pecuniary

Difficulties-- Supematural Agency--Providential Occurrence  143

CHAPTER XXV

Setting Sail for England--Chinese in Trouble--Staying a Storm--

Again--Chinese Modesty--Mr. Edmund Godfrey--A Substitute for the

Compass--Anonymous Liberality   149

  CHAPTER XXVI

Casting Anchor at Deal--Importunity of Boatmen--Rapacity of Custom-

  House Officers--National Monuments--Liberality of King George I.-

  Of the East India Company's Directors--Of Mr. Edmund Godfrey--

  Sailing for Leghorn   154

  CHAPTER XXVII

Arrival at Naples--St. January's Blood--Permission to establish the

  Chinese College--Reception of two Chinese Students  160

  CHAPTER XXVIII

Examination of two Chinese Students--Their Departure for China--Death

of John In--Flight of Lucio U. --His Arrest and Trial--His Evasion

and Recapture--Mysterious End   165

 CONCLUSION

A Visit to the Chinese College at Naples founded by Father Ripa  172

  APPENDIX

Copper-engravings of the 36 Views of the Imperial Mansion at Je-hol 176