Robert H. van Gulik
Robert H. van Gulik was born 1910 in Holland. At the age of 25, he already was doctorate by the University of Leiden, and was proficient in many languages: English, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese, besides the Dutch. Parallelly to his diplomatic career - which took him even to occupy the post of ambassador in Japan - he dedicated many efforts in the study of the Asian history and culture, especially the Chinese ones. Two of his works are focused on the guqin - he learnt to play it from great masters and he liked to play it in meetings with friends and colleagues. After an intense diplomatic career and numerous publications, Robert H. van Gulik died in Holland 1967 because of a lung cancer.
The best book in english language focused on the history and the ideology of the guqin is undoubtedly a van Gulik work: The Lore of the Chinese Lute, first published in a series of 4 articles in the magazine Monumenta Nipponica and later published as a book. There are two editions, the first at 1940 and the second at 1969.
It is very difficult to obtain a copy of the second edition - in a few used book stores it is possible to purchase a copy in good condition (click the link above). It is easier to obtain a copy of his other work about the guqin: Hsi K'ang and his Poetical Essay on the Lute.
This book is a translation from the poetic essay of a neotaoist, Ji Kang, about the guqin. The work includes the translation from the essay written by Ji Kang, thus as his biography and details of his work as poet, musician and philosopher.
Janwillem van de Wetering wrote in 1987 a biography of his Dutch compatriot that was published in 1998 in paperback again. It is a very recommendable reading!
Bibliographic references
- The Lore of the Chinese Lute, R.H.van Gulik. Sophia University & Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969.
- Hsi K'ang and his Poetical Essay on the Lute, R.H.van Gulik. Sophia University & Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1969.
- Robert van Gulik: His life, his work, Janwillem van de Wetering. Soho Press, New York, 1998.
