Bringing Buddhism to Tibet: History and Narrative in the DBA' BZHED Manuscript

Open Access Published by De Gruyter 2021

Bringing Buddhism to Tibet

History and Narrative in the DBA' BZHED Manuscript

Edited by: Lewis Doney
Funded by: European Research Council (ERC)

Volume 10 in the series Beyond Boundaries

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110715309

About this book

Open Access

Bringing Buddhism to Tibet is a landmark study of the Dba’ bzhed, a text recounting the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet. The narrative of Buddhism’s arrival in Tibet is known from a number of versions, but the Dba’ bzhed—preserved in a single manuscript—is the oldest complete copy. Although the Dba’ bzhed stands at the head of a long tradition of history writing in the Tibetan language, and has been known for more than two decades, this book provides a full transcription of the Tibetan for the first time, together with a new translation.

The book also introduces Tibetan history and the Dba’ bzhed with several introductory chapters on various aspects of the text by experienced scholars in the field of Tibetan philology. These detailed studies provide analysis of the text’s narrative context, its position within traditional and current historiography, and the organisation and structure of the text itself and its antecedents.

Bringing Buddhism to Tibet is essential reading for anyone interested in Tibetan history and kingship, the nature of Tibetan historical narrative or the traditions of text transmission and codicology. The book will also be of general interest to students of Buddhism and the spread of Buddhism across Asia.

Full text of the Dba'bzhed, a key work for the early history of Buddhism in Tibet

Tibetan text and English translation in facing layout for the first time

Expert analysis and contextualization of the Dba'bzhed and its manuscript traditions

Author / Editor information

Lewis Doney, University of London, UK.

Topics

Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	I
Preface Lewis Doney Open Access Download PDF	V
Contents Open Access Download PDF	IX
In Memoriam: Tsering Dhundup Gonkatsang (1951–2018) John Bray Open Access Download PDF	XI
Abbreviations Open Access Download PDF	XV
Transliteration Open Access Download PDF	XVII
Figures and Tables Open Access Download PDF	XIX
Part One
Chapter 1 The Testimony of Ba: Literature and Exemplars Open Access Download PDF	1
Chapter 2 An Archaeology of the Dba’ bzhed Manuscript Michael Willis and Tsering Gonkatsang Open Access Download PDF	24
Chapter 3 Reflections on the Original Form and Function of the Testimony of Ba From Dunhuang Sam van Schaik Open Access Download PDF	55
Chapter 4 Archaisms and the Transmission of the Dba’ bzhed Brandon Dotson Open Access Download PDF	64
Chapter 5 Narrative Sources of the Great Debate Serena Biondo Open Access Download PDF	75
Chapter 6 History, Identity and Religious Dynamics in the Portrayal of Khri Srong lde btsan Lewis Doney Open Access Download PDF	88
Part Two
Text and Translation Tsering Gonkatsang and Michael Willis Open Access Download PDF	102
Tibetan-Language Sources Open Access Download PDF	158
Non-Tibetan Language Literature Open Access Download PDF	162
Index to the Dba’ bzhed Manuscript Open Access Download PDF	167
Subject Index Open Access Download PDF	173

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Scholars, students, and institues in the history of Tibet, Buddhism, Asia; religious studies; manuscript studies
Pages
- Front matter: 20
- Main content: 177
Illustrations
- Tables: 3
Keywords: Tibetan history; paleography; codicology; Buddhism

eBook

Published: December 16, 2020
ISBN: 9783110715309

Hardcover

Published: December 16, 2020
ISBN: 9783110715224