Charles-Joseph de Harlez de Deulin
Encyclopedia
Charles-Joseph de Harlez de Deulin (b. Liège
, 21 August 1832; d. Leuven
, 14 July 1899) was a Belgian Orientalist
, domestic prelate
, canon of the cathedral of Liège, and member of the Academie Royale of Belgium, who studied and translated the Zoroastrian holy texts.
The family of de Harlez was an old and noble family of Liège. On completing his ordinary college course de Harlez devoted himself to the study of law in the University of Liège. His success in legal studies was considerable, and a strong doctorate examination brought his career at the law school to a close. His family connections and his own ability gave promise of a bright future, but, growing dissatified with the law, de Harlez soon abandoned the legal profession altogether. He then took up the study of theology, and in 1858 was ordained priest. After his ordination he was appointed director of the college of St-Quirin in Huy
. In 1867 he was put in charge of a new arts school which had been established for young ecclesiastics in connection with the Catholic University of Leuven
(French: Louvain). This position he held for four years. An old predilection for Oriental studies began then to make itself felt again in him. He was appointed to a professorship in the Oriental department of the University of Leuven in 1871 and devoted himself with energy to the study of the Zoroastrian Bible - the Avesta
- of which he published a translation (1875–77).
Spiegel had already translated the Avesta into German and Anqueil-Duperron
had attempted a translation into French. The translation of de Harlez was an addition to Avesta exegesis
, and the second edition of the work appeared in 1881. The relationship between the Rig Veda and the Avesta were not yet fully understood, de Harlez set himself to determine it. He emphasized the differences, in spite of many apparent agreements, between the two texts. His view met with much opposition, but some of his opponents - for instance James Darmesteter
- reportedly came round to his point of view.
In 1883 Mgr de Harlez turned to a new department-the language and literature of China. In this department he was chiefly attracted by the problems of the ancient Chinese religion. He shows everywhere in his works this same taste for the study of religious developments, and founded and became first chief editor of a journal, Muséon, which was intended to be devoted to the objective study of history generally and of religious history in particular. It was founded in 1881, and many of the most important of its early articles were contributed by de Harlez. Though he was editor of the "Muséon" and still a keen student of Iranian and Chinese, de Harlez had time for other work. He was all the time professor of Sanskrit
in the university and produced a Sanskrit manual for the use of his students.
He also made himself familiar with Manchu
literature, and in 1884 he published in Louvain a handbook of the Manchu language. Under him the school of Louvain Oriental studies flourished. The Mélanges Charles de Harlez (Leyden. 1896), a collection of more than fifty scientific articles written by scholars of all countries and creeds, was presented to him on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his Louvain professorship.
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, 21 August 1832; d. Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, 14 July 1899) was a Belgian Orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
, domestic prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
, canon of the cathedral of Liège, and member of the Academie Royale of Belgium, who studied and translated the Zoroastrian holy texts.
The family of de Harlez was an old and noble family of Liège. On completing his ordinary college course de Harlez devoted himself to the study of law in the University of Liège. His success in legal studies was considerable, and a strong doctorate examination brought his career at the law school to a close. His family connections and his own ability gave promise of a bright future, but, growing dissatified with the law, de Harlez soon abandoned the legal profession altogether. He then took up the study of theology, and in 1858 was ordained priest. After his ordination he was appointed director of the college of St-Quirin in Huy
Huy
Huy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia, home to about two-thirds of the Walloon population...
. In 1867 he was put in charge of a new arts school which had been established for young ecclesiastics in connection with the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
(French: Louvain). This position he held for four years. An old predilection for Oriental studies began then to make itself felt again in him. He was appointed to a professorship in the Oriental department of the University of Leuven in 1871 and devoted himself with energy to the study of the Zoroastrian Bible - the Avesta
Avesta
The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language.-Early transmission:The texts of the Avesta — which are all in the Avestan language — were composed over the course of several hundred years. The most important portion, the Gathas,...
- of which he published a translation (1875–77).
Spiegel had already translated the Avesta into German and Anqueil-Duperron
Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron
Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron was the first professional French scholar of Indian culture. He conceived the institutional framework for the new profession. He inspired the founding of the Ecole francaise d'extreme orient a century after his death and, later still, the founding of the...
had attempted a translation into French. The translation of de Harlez was an addition to Avesta exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
, and the second edition of the work appeared in 1881. The relationship between the Rig Veda and the Avesta were not yet fully understood, de Harlez set himself to determine it. He emphasized the differences, in spite of many apparent agreements, between the two texts. His view met with much opposition, but some of his opponents - for instance James Darmesteter
James Darmesteter
James Darmesteter was a French author, orientalist, and antiquarian.He was born of Jewish parents at Château-Salins, in Alsace. The family name had originated in their earlier home of Darmstadt...
- reportedly came round to his point of view.
In 1883 Mgr de Harlez turned to a new department-the language and literature of China. In this department he was chiefly attracted by the problems of the ancient Chinese religion. He shows everywhere in his works this same taste for the study of religious developments, and founded and became first chief editor of a journal, Muséon, which was intended to be devoted to the objective study of history generally and of religious history in particular. It was founded in 1881, and many of the most important of its early articles were contributed by de Harlez. Though he was editor of the "Muséon" and still a keen student of Iranian and Chinese, de Harlez had time for other work. He was all the time professor of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
in the university and produced a Sanskrit manual for the use of his students.
He also made himself familiar with Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
literature, and in 1884 he published in Louvain a handbook of the Manchu language. Under him the school of Louvain Oriental studies flourished. The Mélanges Charles de Harlez (Leyden. 1896), a collection of more than fifty scientific articles written by scholars of all countries and creeds, was presented to him on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his Louvain professorship.
Other publications
- Manuel de la langue de l'Avesta (Paris, 1879; 2nd ed., 1888)
- Manuel du Pehlevi (Paris, 1880)
- Etudes éraniennes (Paris, 1880)
- La Bible dans l' Inde (The Bible in India; Paris, 1882)
- Le texte originaire du Yih-King (Original text of the I ChingI ChingThe I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
) - Védisme, brahmanisme et christianisme (Brussels, 1881)
- Textes Tâoïstes, graduit des originaux chinois et commentès. [Laozi, Daodejing] Annales du Musèe Giumet XX. (Paris, 1891) Erstmals mit Kommentar des Wang Bi!