Introducing “the Heavenly Empire of China” (le Céleste Empire de la Chine)

Abstract

Abstract Joseph Alexandre Saint-Yves d’Alveydre (1842–1909) is an eminent figure in the history of French esotericism who introduced a specific view on the history of humankind that evolves around various cycles of civilizations and their supposed remains in important cultural and religious traditions of the world. Although India obviously plays the most important role, a thorough study of his interest in China and its heritage clearly shows that in some points he even favors the latter. The present study aims at contextualizing his take on China in the longer reception history of East Asia in the European context.