Doctrina Cristiana
Encyclopedia
Doctrina Christiana was written by Fray Juan de Plasencia
, and is believed to be one of the earliest books printed in the Philippines, in the year 1593.
The Doctrina Christiana is remarkable not only for having been printed at such an early age in a elaborated Gothic font of the Spanish language
, but also for having copies made in Tagalog
versions, both in Latin script and the commonly used Baybayin
script of the natives at the time, plus another translation made in traditional Chinese language
.
There is some controversy about which of the versions is the first book of the Spanish Philippines
, with some scholars believing that the Chinese language version titled Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua China (Wuchi t’ien-chu cheng-chiao chen-chuan shih-lu) was printed in 1590 to 1592 by the Chinese printer Keng Yong in Manila before the Spanish and Tagalog versions.
One of the earliest references to both versions come from Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas, the seventh governor-general of the Philippines, who wrote a letter to Philip II of Spain on June 20, 1593, that read:
Literally translated from Spanish as “Christian Doctrine” the primary goal of the book was to propagate the Christian teachings across the Philippines archipelago. Common Catholic vocal prayers were all included in the book. After a syllabary comes the Pater Noster
, followed by the Ave Maria, Credo, Salve Regina, Articles of Faith, Ten Commandments, Commandments of the Holy Church, Sacraments of the Holy Church, Seven Mortal Sins, Fourteen Works of Charity, Confession and Catechism.
Missionary fathers placed the Doctrina among the books necessary to have in print in foreign lands. As such, the Filipino book is similar to the one printed in Mexico
in 1539 in Spanish and local Mexican vernacular, followed by St. Francis Xavier
’s "Doutrina Christão" in Malay language printed by the Jesuit press at Goa
, in India, in 1557. Another Doctrina was printed in Spanish and the native languages at Lima
in 1584.
The volume was printed using the xylographic technique, printing each page of text from one hand-carved wood block. Vertical lines long the inner margins of some pages were made by the inked edge of the block, and the grain of the wood appears as striations throughout the printed areas.
in Washington, DC, there aren't any other known copies in existence today. Both the quality of the paper, passing of time, natural agents and destructive events, such as earthquakes and fires all contributed to the disappearance of most printed copies. The only known existing copies of early Philippine books are those that were sent to Europe during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries—so there may be additional copies uncatalogued in some library.
Such was the case for the copy sent to the King of Spain Philip II by the Governor of the Philippines in 1593. This is believed to be the same copy that reappeared in 1946 in the possession of a Paris bookseller and collector who specialized in Pacific imprints. William H. Schab, a New York dealer, purchased the book from him and took it to the United States, where he resold it to Lessing J. Rosenwald, who in turn presented it to the Library of Congress, where it remains. The only known surviving copy of the Chinese version is at the Biblioteca Nacional
in Madrid.
Juan de Plasencia
Juan de Plasencia was a Spanish friar of the Franciscan Order.He spent most of his missionary life in the Philippines, where he founded numerous towns in Luzon and authored several religious and linguistic books, most notably, the Doctrina Cristiana , the first book ever printed in the...
, and is believed to be one of the earliest books printed in the Philippines, in the year 1593.
The Doctrina Christiana is remarkable not only for having been printed at such an early age in a elaborated Gothic font of the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, but also for having copies made in Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
versions, both in Latin script and the commonly used Baybayin
Baybayin
Baybayin , is a pre-Spanish Philippine writing system. It is a member of the Brahmic family and is recorded as being in use in the 16th century...
script of the natives at the time, plus another translation made in traditional Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
.
There is some controversy about which of the versions is the first book of the Spanish Philippines
First book of the Spanish Philippines
In territories under the control of the Spanish Crown, books could not be printed except by royal licence. In 1556 a royal cedula prohibited the printing or sale of books concerning the Indies without a special licence...
, with some scholars believing that the Chinese language version titled Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua China (Wuchi t’ien-chu cheng-chiao chen-chuan shih-lu) was printed in 1590 to 1592 by the Chinese printer Keng Yong in Manila before the Spanish and Tagalog versions.
One of the earliest references to both versions come from Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas, the seventh governor-general of the Philippines, who wrote a letter to Philip II of Spain on June 20, 1593, that read:
Contents of the book
The book consists of thirty-eight leaves and seventy-four pages of text in Spanish, Tagalog transliterated into roman letters, and Tagalog in Tagalog characters, under a woodcut of St. Dominic, with the verso originally blank, although in contemporary versions bears the manuscript inscription, "Tassada en dos reales", signed Juan de Cuellar.Literally translated from Spanish as “Christian Doctrine” the primary goal of the book was to propagate the Christian teachings across the Philippines archipelago. Common Catholic vocal prayers were all included in the book. After a syllabary comes the Pater Noster
Pater Noster
Pater Noster is probably the best-known prayer in Christianity.Pater Noster or Paternoster may also refer to:* Paternoster, a passenger elevator which consists of a chain of open compartments that move slowly in a loop up and down inside a building* Paternoster, Western Cape, South Africa* Pierres...
, followed by the Ave Maria, Credo, Salve Regina, Articles of Faith, Ten Commandments, Commandments of the Holy Church, Sacraments of the Holy Church, Seven Mortal Sins, Fourteen Works of Charity, Confession and Catechism.
Missionary fathers placed the Doctrina among the books necessary to have in print in foreign lands. As such, the Filipino book is similar to the one printed in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1539 in Spanish and local Mexican vernacular, followed by St. Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...
’s "Doutrina Christão" in Malay language printed by the Jesuit press at Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, in India, in 1557. Another Doctrina was printed in Spanish and the native languages at Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
in 1584.
Physical characteristics
The book was printed on paper made from the paper mulberry. The size of the volume, which is unbound, is 9⅛ by 7 inches, although individual leaves vary somewhat due to chipping. Some of the leaves have become separated from their complements, but enough remain in the original stitching to indicate that the book was originally made up in four gatherings, the first of twelve leaves, the second of ten, the third of ten, and the fourth of six. Although the book is of the size called quarto, the method of printing must have been page by page, so it is doubtful that each sheet was folded twice in the usual quarto manner, but more probable that it was printed four pages to a sheet of paper approximately 9⅛ by 14 inches, which was folded once.The volume was printed using the xylographic technique, printing each page of text from one hand-carved wood block. Vertical lines long the inner margins of some pages were made by the inked edge of the block, and the grain of the wood appears as striations throughout the printed areas.
Printed copies in existence
Apart from the copy that may be found at the Library of CongressLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in Washington, DC, there aren't any other known copies in existence today. Both the quality of the paper, passing of time, natural agents and destructive events, such as earthquakes and fires all contributed to the disappearance of most printed copies. The only known existing copies of early Philippine books are those that were sent to Europe during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries—so there may be additional copies uncatalogued in some library.
Such was the case for the copy sent to the King of Spain Philip II by the Governor of the Philippines in 1593. This is believed to be the same copy that reappeared in 1946 in the possession of a Paris bookseller and collector who specialized in Pacific imprints. William H. Schab, a New York dealer, purchased the book from him and took it to the United States, where he resold it to Lessing J. Rosenwald, who in turn presented it to the Library of Congress, where it remains. The only known surviving copy of the Chinese version is at the Biblioteca Nacional
Biblioteca Nacional
Biblioteca Nacional may refer to:*Biblioteca Nacional de España, in Spain*Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, in Portugal*Biblioteca Nacional de la República Argentina, in Argentina*Fundação Biblioteca Nacional, in Brazil...
in Madrid.
External links
- Full text of Doctrina Christiana at Project Gutenberg
- Doctrina Christiana: The First Book Printed in the Philippines available at Filipiniana.net