Jean-Joseph Marie Amiot and the suppression of the Society of Jesus in China: a cultural mission within the border of the ancient mission

Jean-Joseph-Marie Amiot was a central figure during the suppression of the Jesuits, embodying the transition between the old Society's mission in China and its intellectual legacy. Despite the suppression, Amiot and fellow ex-Jesuits maintained a strong cultural and scholarly presence, especially through the French mission in Peking, which had been a hub for scientific and artistic exchange. Amiot's expertise in music, mathematics, and translation secured his position at the imperial court even as Christianity was banned across China. His work bridged East and West, contributing significantly to French knowledge of Chinese culture, politics, and philosophy. Funded by the French crown, the mission prioritized intellectual exchange over religious conversion. Through correspondence with Enlightenment figures like Bertin, Amiot provided insights into Chinese civilization while subtly defending Jesuit methods and Confucian traditions. His writings, including translations and ethnographic accounts, aimed to counter European perceptions of China as despotic. Ultimately, Amiot helped preserve a Jesuit legacy in China without formally reconstituting the order, transforming missionary activity into a cultural and diplomatic project aligned with French national interests.