Eugène-Albert Puyou de Pouvourville

Eugène Albert Puyou de Pouvourville (pen name: Matgioi; 7 August 1861 – 30 December 1939) was a French orientalist, mystic, poet, and translator. He was born in Nancy into a military family, and took part in several expeditions in China serving in military and administrative capacities. He was a follower of the Christian mystical system Martinism, and was consecrated bishop in the (French Gnostic Church) taking the name of Tau Simon. His long periods of living in Tonkin and other provinces enabled him to understand Chinese thought. Under the influence of a Taoist master, he was initiated into a Chinese secret society, and adopted the name "Matgiol". He eventually returned to France, and occupied himself with the teaching of Taoism. He presented Taoist doctrines in his works, especially La Voie Métaphysique and La Voie Rationale, emphasizing both the principles and the applications of the system. He also wrote several book on China and the French colonies in Asia. He died in Paris. Le Tao de Laotseu, translated from Chinese by Matgioi, Librairie de l'Art indépendant, 1894, 48 pp. (rééd. Hachette/BnF, 2012 Le Te de Laotseu, translated from Chinese by Matgioi, Librairie de l'Art indépendant, 1894, 63 pp. (rééd. Hachette /Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2013 L'esprit des races jaunes. « Le Traité des Influences errantes » de Quangdzu, translated from Chinese by Matgioi, Paris, Bibliothèque de la Haute Science, 1896, 51 pp. L'Empire du Milieu, Schlercher frère, 1900 Rimes chinoises, Lemerre, 1904 La Voie Métaphysique, Paris, Société d'Éditions Contemporaines : Bibliothèque de La Voie, 1905, 168 pp. (Rééd. Les Éditions Traditionnelles, 1956, 1991). La Voie Rationnelle, Paris, Société d'Éditions Contemporaines : Bibliothèque de la Voie, 1907, 269 pp. (Rééd. Les Éditions Traditionnelles, 2003). La Chine des Lettrés, Librairie Hermétique (Bibliothèque de la Voie), 1910, 160 pp. Les Enseignements Secrets de la Gnose - T Simon (Albert de Pouvourville) T Théophane (Léon Champrenaud), Éditions Arche, Milan 1999 Le Livre de l'opium, sous le pseudonyme de Nguyen Te Duc, réédition Guy Tredaniel, Paris 2002 Le Cinquième Bonheur, Éd.