Ignaz Kögler

Ignaz Koegler (Chinese戴进贤/戴进贤, Pinyin Dài Jinxian; born May 11, 1680 in Landsberg am Lech, † March 30, 1746 in Beijing) was a German Jesuit and missionary.

Born the son of craftsmen, he first attended the Jesuit school in his home town of Landsberg. After his religious admission he was in 1712 professor of mathematics, ancient languages ​​and Hebrew at the University of Ingolstadt. 1716 sent him the Order line at his request as a missionary to China.

There Koegler made ​​at the court of the Qing emperors, who were less interested in the Christian religion as contrary to scientific and cultural achievements of Europeans, fast career. 1720 appointed him to head the Kangxi Astronomical Office in Beijing and the Imperial Observatory. In this role, Koegler was also responsible for the supervision of the Chinese calendar. Like most of his monks, he spoke in favor of the so-called accommodation, which the Chinese converted to Christianity maintaining the external rites and ceremonies of traditional religions should be allowed. Even after Pope Benedict XIV had increased 1742/44 expressly forbidden by the bull Ex quo singularities and Omnium solicitudinum this practice ( Rites Controversy ) and the pressure of the imperial family to the Christian missionaries in China, Koegler has remained largely untouched. As Mandarin 2nd class he enjoyed the special confidence and the respect of Emperor Qianlong.

Koegler distinguished himself as a writer. His works were published partly in Latin, partly in Chinese. Examples there can be his attempt at a history of the Jews in Sina and description of the Jewish hl. Called; books in the synagogue to Kaifongfu (Hall 1806 Notitiae SS Bibliorum Iudaeorum in imperio sinensi ).

After his death in 1746 he was buried among his monks on the missionary graveyard Zhalan on the western edge of Beijing.

It was also named after him one of the high schools in Landsberg am Lech, the Ignaz- Koegler High School.