Acceso usuarios
, Rubén García Benito
Diego de Pantoja (1571-1618), jesuita español, contribuyó decisivamente al desarrollo de la transcripción de los caracteres chinos en letras latinas, junto con su indicación de los tonos. Se trata de una versión primitiva del pinyin, un método actual que es clave para el aprendizaje del chino. Su original contribución reside en el uso que hizo del pentagrama musical para facilitar el correcto aprendizaje de los tonos chinos. A pesar de la importancia de su invención, este aspecto de la obra de Pantoja no ha podido ser claramente dilucidado hasta la fecha, tal vez debido a la escasez de fuentes históricas y a su deficiente interpretación. Nuestro estudio analiza meticulosamente fuentes primarias de los periodos Ming y Qing para explorar e interpretar los perfiles básicos del método de transcripción musical creado por Pantoja, y de su relevancia en la historia del diálogo intercultural Oriente-Occidente.
Diego de Pantoja (1571-1618), a Spanish Jesuit, stands out as a pioneering Western contributor to the development of transcription of Chinese characters into Latin script, along with tonal marks. It is a method that can be regarded as an embryo of current hanyu pinyin, a cornerstone in learning the Chinese language. His unique approach integrated his knowledge of music, utilizing musical staffs as an innovative tool to facilitate mastery of Chinese tones. Despite the significance of this contribution, there has been a noticeable gap in both Chinese and international academic circles, with a lack of comprehensive study on this aspect of Pantoja’s work. This oversight may stem from the fragmentary nature of the historical sources concerning this invention. Consequently, the method’s details often remain unexplored in discussions about Pantoja’s contributions. Our study aims to bridge this gap by meticulously analyzing primary sources from the Ming and Qing dynasties. We provide an in-depth exploration and discussion of Pantoja’s musical transcription method, offering new insights into its application and impact on the early European settlers in China. This research not only sheds light on Pantoja’s innovative techniques but also contributes to a better understanding of the cross-cultural exchange during this period.
