Thomas Watters


Thomas Watters was an Oriental scholar.

Life

Thomas Watters was born on 9 February 1840 in Newtownards, in County Down, Ireland. He was home schooled by his father, the Rev. Thomas Watters, the Presbyterian Minister in Newtownards. He entered Queen's College, Belfast in 1857 and graduated with a B.A. from Queen's University in 1861 and an M.A. in 1861.
He was appointed to a post in the Consular Service of China in 1863 going first to Beijing. He was then posted in 1887-1888 as Acting Consul General in Korea, in Guangzhou 1891-1893 and then until April, 1895, Consul in Fuzhou, when failing health forced him to retire after 32 years' service in the Far East.

Partial list of works

  • A Guide to the Tablets in a Temple of Confucius, by T. Watters, H. M.'s Consul for Wuhu. Shanghai, China: - Printed at the American Presbyterian Mission Press, 1879, in-8, pp. xx-259.
  • Lao-Tzû 老子. A Study in Chinese Philosophy, by T. Watters, M. A.. Hong Kong: Printed at the "China Mail" Office, 1870, in-8, pp. 114 without the preface. A Large part of this work appeared previously in The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, Vol. I, pp. 31, 57, 82, 106, 128, 164, 209. In his brochure, M. Watters has added two chapters.
  • "Buddhism in China." By T. Watters.
  • "Notes on the "Miao-fa-lien-hua-ching, a Buddhist Sutra in Chinese", by T. Watters.
  • "Fa-Hsien and his English Translators." T. Watters. China Review. 1879-1880. In several sections.
  • "The A-mi-t'ê ching.". By T. Watters.
  • The Ta-yun-lun-ch'ing-yü-ching. 大雲輪请雨經 By T. Watters..
  • "The Eighteen Lohan of Chinese Buddhist Temples." By T. Watters..
  • "Kapilavastu in the Buddhist Books." By T. Watters..
  • "Notes on Chinese Mahometan Literature." By T. Watters.
  • "The Life and Works of Han Yü or Han Wên-kung. By T. Watters..
  • TAO 道: “An Essay on a Word." By T. Watters..
  • "Essays on the Chinese Language." By T. Watters.
  • "Chinese Notions about Pigeons and Doves." By T. Watters.
  • "Chinese Fox-Myths." By T. Watters.
  • Stories of Everyday Life in Modern China. Told by London, Royal Asiatic Society. Reprint, Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlal, 1973.