EITEL, Ernst Johann (Ernest John E.). Esslingen am Neckar 13.2.1838 — Adelaide 10.11.1908. German Lutheran Missionary in China, Sinologist and Buddhist Scholar. Son of a cook, school at Esslingen. Studies at Schönthal Seminary and Tübingen University (M.A. 1860, Ph.D. 1871). A missionary of the Basel Protestant Mission in China from 1862. As his wish to marry an ex-catholic was rejected he moved in 1865 to London Missionary Society working in Hakka villages outside Canton, from 1870 in Hong Kong, in 1879-96 as Inspector of Schools. In 1896 moved to Australia and became the Pastor of St Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Adelaide, from 1898 until death also part-time Lecturer in German at the University of Adelaide. Dr. phil. h.c. Tübingen. In 1866 married Mary Anne Winifred Eaton (1838–1923) of Female Education Society, two sons and two daughters.
Publications: Handbook for the Student of Chinese Buddhism. 218 p. Hong Kong & L. 1870; 2nd rev. ed. 1888 and many editions, e.g. History of Chinese Buddhism. Being a Sanskrit–Chinese Dictionary of Buddhist Terms. Rev. by K. Takakuwa. 329 p. Tokyo 1904.
– Three Lectures on Buddhism. Hong Kong 1871; 2nd rev. ed. Buddhism: its historical, theoretical and popular aspects. 122 p. L. 1873; 3rd rev. ed. 1884.
– A Chinese Dictionary in the Cantonese Dialect. 1018+97 p. L. 1877; rev. ed. Hong Kong 1910-11.
– Edited: The China Review 1-25. 1892-1901.
– Europe in China: the History of Hong Kong. 575 p. L. 1895.
– Minor works and articles.
Sources: *JA 10:13, 1909; H. Cordier, TP N.S. 10, 1909, 92-94; works in N.U.C.; Wikipedia with photo (see also German version).
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