Debate After His Death
After the death of Huang on October 1, 1716, Fourmont became officially responsible for classifying papers of the deceased. He made a very negative report on the contents of these documents and continued to criticize the work of Huang. Continuing his work on the languages of Europe and Asia (and therefore the Chinese), he took all the credit for the dissemination of the two hundred and fourteen key system in France, and finally published a French-Chinese lexicon and a Chinese grammar, without mentioning the work of Huang, whom he was continuing to denigrate publicly.
Meanwhile, Fréret, also an Academician, and above all friend and first student of Arcadio Huang, wrote a thesis on the work and role of Arcadio in the dissemination of knowledge about China in France. Documents saved by Nicolas-Joseph Delisle, Arcadio's second student, also helped to publicize the role of the Chinese subject of the king of France.
Since then, other researchers and historians investigated his role, including Danielle Elisseeff and her compilation of the Memories of Arcade Huang.
Read more about this topic: Arcadio Huang
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