Philological Essayist
@pessayist.bsky.social
The site I share translations and thoughts of philological interest on: https://philologicaltryouts.substack.com/. Enjoys dabbling in Literary Chinese, Semitic Studies, Sanskrit, Pāli, Polemical Texts, and other stuff. Trying to discover Albanian & Burmese
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天學問答 - Argumentative Text Against Catholicism by Korean Scholar An Chŏngbok 安鼎福 (from 1790 AD) - Part 9
Previous parts of the translation:
philologicaltryouts.substack.com
Dear Everyone, Part 9 of the ongoing translation of a late 18th Century text from Neo-Confucian Korea, arguing against Roman Catholicism, has been published. philologicaltryouts.substack.com/p/argumentat... Comments, likes, and share/reskeets all appreciated!
Reposted by Philological Essayist
it's amazing that in this iteration of "AI" they've managed to develop truly anti-social media, media actively antagonistic to the very notion of a public space and the public use of reason
November 21, 2025 at 3:40 AM
it's amazing that in this iteration of "AI" they've managed to develop truly anti-social media, media actively antagonistic to the very notion of a public space and the public use of reason
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Shout it from the rooftops!
This is explosive stuff. Evidence that Jeffrey Epstein not only ran a child sex trafficking operation for powerful men, he also seems to have advised & supported Farage’s far right political projects in Europe and the UK, including Brexit, via Steve Bannon.
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/19/d...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/19/d...
Dinner with Mr Brexit: Bannon’s European Revolution – Planned with Farage, Backed by Epstein
Nigel Farage was the figurehead and his partner Laure Ferrari started it. Steve Bannon and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were providing almost daily support
bylinetimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Shout it from the rooftops!
Reposted by Philological Essayist
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
It should be bigger news that the German chancellor left COP 30 with arrogant and xenophobic comments about Brazil. This guy is not fit to lead a country www.dw.com/en/germany-c...
What did Germany's chancellor say to make Brazil so upset? – DW – 11/19/2025
Has Friedrich Merz insulted Brazil? Brazilian news outlets seem to think so after his remarks following a short trip to the United Nations Climate Summit in Belem.
www.dw.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:18 AM
It should be bigger news that the German chancellor left COP 30 with arrogant and xenophobic comments about Brazil. This guy is not fit to lead a country www.dw.com/en/germany-c...
Reposted by Philological Essayist
My book has a webpage!
In case you want to pre-order a copy (or, more probably, request that your library does so).
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
In case you want to pre-order a copy (or, more probably, request that your library does so).
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
global.oup.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
My book has a webpage!
In case you want to pre-order a copy (or, more probably, request that your library does so).
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
In case you want to pre-order a copy (or, more probably, request that your library does so).
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
A good reminder that much thinking around "useful skills" and "worthwhile knowledge" is rooted in whiteness & colonialism.
"They have a degree in underwater basket-weaving" is meant to be a statement that someone lacks useful, marketable skills.
The phrase *may* originate from a 1956 article on traditional Inuit/Yupik weaving technique where bark remains submerged between stages of weaving, to keep strips pliable.
The phrase *may* originate from a 1956 article on traditional Inuit/Yupik weaving technique where bark remains submerged between stages of weaving, to keep strips pliable.
November 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
A good reminder that much thinking around "useful skills" and "worthwhile knowledge" is rooted in whiteness & colonialism.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Monbiot beschrijft glashelder wat er met de wereld aan de hand is. Het informatiesysteem, en daarmee alles, is gekaapt door de superrijken.
"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." Malcolm X.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Dark forces are preventing us fighting the climate crisis – by taking knowledge hostage | George Monbiot
The fundamental problem is this: that most of the means of communication are owned or influenced by the very rich, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Monbiot beschrijft glashelder wat er met de wereld aan de hand is. Het informatiesysteem, en daarmee alles, is gekaapt door de superrijken.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Fossil fuels are the source material for most plastics + for the chemicals added to them. As firms lose their iron grip on energy production, indications are they're shifting to using oil + gas for plastic production, which has more than doubled since 2000 + looks set rise 40% in the next 10 years.
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Fossil fuels are the source material for most plastics + for the chemicals added to them. As firms lose their iron grip on energy production, indications are they're shifting to using oil + gas for plastic production, which has more than doubled since 2000 + looks set rise 40% in the next 10 years.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
The best Christian movie of the 21st century being an austere Dutch Neocalvinist polemic against megachurch charismaticism is kinda funny.
November 16, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The best Christian movie of the 21st century being an austere Dutch Neocalvinist polemic against megachurch charismaticism is kinda funny.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Sima Qian is suffering from an incurable case of Qin Derangement Syndrome (QDS). He was viewed last night in an uncontrollable rage, likely due to the fact that his "historical annals" is a Ratings DISASTER. Aside from everything else, Sima has no testicles, and he should be buried IMMEDIATELY!
November 16, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Sima Qian is suffering from an incurable case of Qin Derangement Syndrome (QDS). He was viewed last night in an uncontrollable rage, likely due to the fact that his "historical annals" is a Ratings DISASTER. Aside from everything else, Sima has no testicles, and he should be buried IMMEDIATELY!
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Seems like an improvement honestly?
November 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Seems like an improvement honestly?
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Reposted by Philological Essayist
This Open Access volume might be interested for some Sinology scholars and historians on here! #lateimperialchina #chinesehistory
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Quantitative History of China
This Open Access book showcases a collection of new findings concerning China's political, social, and economic history based on large historical datasets.
link.springer.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This Open Access volume might be interested for some Sinology scholars and historians on here! #lateimperialchina #chinesehistory
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Reposted by Philological Essayist
This is a good article about data sovereignty, AI grift, the marginalization of Indigenous languages, and how these and many other things converge to wreak superfluous harm on Indigenous communities.
November 15, 2025 at 3:25 AM
This is a good article about data sovereignty, AI grift, the marginalization of Indigenous languages, and how these and many other things converge to wreak superfluous harm on Indigenous communities.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
North Korea has reduced shell supplies to Russia and is sending outdated ones – Ukraine's Defence Intelligence | Ukrainska Pravda www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...
North Korea has reduced shell supplies to Russia and is sending outdated ones – Ukraine's Defence Intelligence
North Korea has more than halved its supply of shells to Russia this year and has been sending outdated ones, as Pyongyang has exhausted its stockpiles.
www.pravda.com.ua
November 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
North Korea has reduced shell supplies to Russia and is sending outdated ones – Ukraine's Defence Intelligence | Ukrainska Pravda www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...
Reposted by Philological Essayist
A really interesting online talk in our research colloquium on eye-tracking experiments with Northern Khanty speakers!
On Monday, 17 November, at 14:15–15:45 CET, Sofya Ganieva (University of Zurich) will give a talk on Planning passive sentences in a passivizing language based on her eye-tracking experiments with Northern Khanty speakers. The Zoom link is here: www.finnougristik.uni-muenchen.de/forschungssc...
November 15, 2025 at 10:16 AM
A really interesting online talk in our research colloquium on eye-tracking experiments with Northern Khanty speakers!
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Reposted by Philological Essayist
@bokane.org my 师妹 who works at the Palace Museum (Beijing) occasionally reports on visits from the palace cats and apparently there is one named 饺子 who takes turns sleeping on everybody’s desks 😁 sadly not an orange cat but a pure white one, so maybe not Gyoza’s brother from another mother
October 19, 2025 at 6:03 AM
@bokane.org my 师妹 who works at the Palace Museum (Beijing) occasionally reports on visits from the palace cats and apparently there is one named 饺子 who takes turns sleeping on everybody’s desks 😁 sadly not an orange cat but a pure white one, so maybe not Gyoza’s brother from another mother
Reposted by Philological Essayist
貓兒房，近侍三、四人，專飼御前有名分之貓。凡聖心所鍾愛者，亦加升管事職銜。牡者曰「某小廝」騸者曰「某老爺」，牝者曰「某丫頭」
The Cat Office employed three or four attendants to feed cats of recognized status. Favorites of the Emperor received promotions: males were styled “pages;” females, “maids;” neutered cats were addressed in the manner of senior eunuchs.
The Cat Office employed three or four attendants to feed cats of recognized status. Favorites of the Emperor received promotions: males were styled “pages;” females, “maids;” neutered cats were addressed in the manner of senior eunuchs.
November 14, 2025 at 7:59 AM
貓兒房，近侍三、四人，專飼御前有名分之貓。凡聖心所鍾愛者，亦加升管事職銜。牡者曰「某小廝」騸者曰「某老爺」，牝者曰「某丫頭」
The Cat Office employed three or four attendants to feed cats of recognized status. Favorites of the Emperor received promotions: males were styled “pages;” females, “maids;” neutered cats were addressed in the manner of senior eunuchs.
The Cat Office employed three or four attendants to feed cats of recognized status. Favorites of the Emperor received promotions: males were styled “pages;” females, “maids;” neutered cats were addressed in the manner of senior eunuchs.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Something everyone needs to know about @sfdirewolf.bsky.social Alice Wong was her commitment to Palestine. Just a year ago, she & I wrote a letter in @literaryhub.bsky.social defending six Palestinian journalists. Sadly, Alice now joins two of them on the other side: Anas al-Sharif & Hossam Shabat
November 15, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Something everyone needs to know about @sfdirewolf.bsky.social Alice Wong was her commitment to Palestine. Just a year ago, she & I wrote a letter in @literaryhub.bsky.social defending six Palestinian journalists. Sadly, Alice now joins two of them on the other side: Anas al-Sharif & Hossam Shabat
Reposted by Philological Essayist
If Trump still sues the BBC, notwithstanding their apology, he is in a far less strong position than if the BBC had not apologised.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
November 15, 2025 at 1:23 AM
If Trump still sues the BBC, notwithstanding their apology, he is in a far less strong position than if the BBC had not apologised.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
The apology was tactically a sensible, prudent move by the BBC whether Trump sues or not.
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Our beloved Alice Wong has joined the ancestors. It was one of the great honors of my life to call Alice my friend, co-author & co-conspirator. She was a true genius, a force of nature the likes of which the world has never seen before. I love you, Alice, and am equal parts grateful and devastated
November 15, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Our beloved Alice Wong has joined the ancestors. It was one of the great honors of my life to call Alice my friend, co-author & co-conspirator. She was a true genius, a force of nature the likes of which the world has never seen before. I love you, Alice, and am equal parts grateful and devastated
Reposted by Philological Essayist
Jeffrey Epstein Was a Warlord. We Have to Talk About It. | The Nation www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Jeffrey Epstein Was a Warlord. We Have to Talk About It.
Mainstream media is ignoring the fact that the late sex trafficker was a power broker who shaped global policy.
www.thenation.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Jeffrey Epstein Was a Warlord. We Have to Talk About It. | The Nation www.thenation.com/article/soci...