Victor Segalen
Encyclopedia
Victor Segalen was a French
naval doctor, ethnographer, archeologist, writer, poet, explorer, art-theorist, linguist and literary critic.
He was born in Brest
. He studied naval medicine in Bordeaux
. He traveled and lived in Polynesia
(1903–1905) and China
(1909–1914 and 1917). He died by accident in a forest in Huelgoat
, France ('under mysterious circumstances' and reputedly with an open copy of Hamlet
by his side).
He gave his name to the Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 University
of medicine
, literature
and social sciences
in Bordeaux
under the Academy of Bordeaux.
Posthumous publications:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
naval doctor, ethnographer, archeologist, writer, poet, explorer, art-theorist, linguist and literary critic.
He was born in Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
. He studied naval medicine in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. He traveled and lived in Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
(1903–1905) and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(1909–1914 and 1917). He died by accident in a forest in Huelgoat
Huelgoat
Huelgoat is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Huelgoat are called in French Huelgoatains.-Geography:...
, France ('under mysterious circumstances' and reputedly with an open copy of Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
by his side).
He gave his name to the Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 University
Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 University
Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 is the medicine and life sciences center in the University of Bordeaux system, under the Academy of Bordeaux....
of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
under the Academy of Bordeaux.
Works include
- A dreuz an Arvor (1899)
- L'observation médicale chez les écrivains naturalistes (Thesis, Bordeaux, 1901)
- Les Immémoriaux (under the pseudonym Max Anély) (1907)
- Stèles (prose poemsProse poetryProse poetry is poetry written in prose instead of using verse but preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery and emotional effects.-Characteristics:Prose poetry can be considered either primarily poetry or prose, or a separate genre altogether...
, 1912) - Peintures (1916)
Posthumous publications:
- Orphée-Roi (1921)
- René Leys (1922)
- Mission archéologique en Chine (in collaboration with Gilbert de Voisins and Jean Lartigue) (1923–1924)
- Équipée. De Pékin aux marches thibétaines (1929)
- Voyage au pays du réel (1929)
- Lettres de Chine (1967)
- La Grande Statuaire chinoise (1972)
- Journal des îles (1978)
- Essai sur l´exotisme (1978)
- Le Fils du ciel : chronique des jours souverains (1985)
Works about Segalen
- Henry Bouillier: Victor Segalen (Mercure de FranceMercure de FranceThe Mercure de France was originally a French gazette and literary magazine first published in the 17th century, but after several incarnations has evolved as a publisher, and is now part of the Éditions Gallimard publishing group....
, 1961) - Gilles Manceron: Segalen
- Charles Forsdick: Victor Segalen and the Aesthetics of Diversity (Oxford University Press, 2000)
External links
- Stèles 古今碑錄 (complete French text and online book of Chinese sources)
- Website about Victor Segalen (in French)
- Bibliography on Victor Segalen (in French)