This is the first edition of the first work on the Chinese language to be published in Europe. It contains a comprehensive summary of what was known of the Chinese language in the mid-17th century. The book’s contribution to Sinology is important because it summarized
what could be known about the Chinese language from the published Western literature at that time, and because it was the first effort to make a systematic book-length attempt to define the place of Chinese among the languages of the world.
This work attempts to construct a case that Chinese was the original language of mankind before the building of the tower of Babel. Having never visited China or mastered the Chinese language, Webb based his essay on the reports of the Jesuit missionaries at that time.

Author:
John Webb, (1611 - 1672)
Noted English architect John Webb (1611-1672) was born in Butley in Somerset and became son-in-law and personal assistant to fellow architect and theatre designer Inigo Jones having married Jones’ niece, Anne. Jones and Webb’s joint credits include the Banqueting House at Whitehall in central London and Wilton House. Among other structures, Webb designed the King Charles Court in 1662 and rebuild of Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire between 1654 and 1668. Webb was also a noted painter and set designer.
In addition to his architectural career, Webb also had a second and less famous career as an amateur scholar. In 1655, he collaborated with Inigo Jones and Walter Charleton to produce a book about Stonehenge. Ten years later, he published his own work, Vindication of Stonehenge Restored, followed shortly afterwards by the work on the Chinese language.