20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

J.F. Rock and the study of Naxi ritualsHartmut WALRAVENSState Library – BerlinWhen rituals in China are the topic, one usually thinks of Buddhism,Mahâyâna Buddhism as practised in a large part of the country, orVajrayâna, the Tibetan form of it, often called Lamaism, that is commonin Central Asia but is also known in the Wutaishan (Shanxi) and Jehol(Chengde) where the Emperor had several temples built next to his summerresidence Bishu shanzhuang. Only in recent years also Taoist rituals havebecome an object of more intensive study; the current great interest in Naxirituals which show influences of the pre-Buddhist Bon religion, is owingto the pioneering work of Joseph F. Rock (1884-1962) who arrived asa botanical explorer in Lijiang, Yunnan, and liked it so much that he wasplanning to stay for good. The Lijiang xueshan was an excellent botanicalhunting-ground, and the mountains reminded him, perhaps, of his Austrianhomeland.Joseph F. Rock 1 grew up in Vienna where his father was an employeein the palace of Count Potocki. Young Rock had some idea of becominga priest or missionary and had a strong interest in the Chinese language butthen he went on an adventurous trip through the United States. In Hawaii theintelligent young man taught himself botany and eventually was appointedprofessor of systematic botany at the College of Hawaii. But the islandswere too small a territory for him – he became a collaborator of the USDepartment of Agriculture, Harvard University and the National Geographic1For biographical information see: ChOCk, Alvin K.: J.F. Rock, 1884-1962.Taxon 12.1963,89-102, portrait; SUTTON, Stephanne B. 1974: In China’s border provinces:The turbulent career of Joseph Rock, botanist-explorer. Illustrated with photographs. NewYork: Hastings House, Führer, Bernhard 2001: Vergessen und verloren. Die Geschichte derösterreichischen Chinastudien. Dortmund: Projekt Verlag (Edition Cathay 42.), 189-197.