Title
Ancient Buddhist Scrolls From Gandhara: The British Library Kharosthi Fragments (Gandharan Buddhist Texts)
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As The Dead Sea Scrolls Have Changed Our Understanding Of Judaism And Early Christianity, So A Set Of Twentynine Scrolls Recently Acquired By The British Library Promise To Provide A Window Into A Crucial Phase Of The History Of Buddhism In India. The Fragmentary Birch Bark Scrolls, Which Were Found Inside One Of A Set Of Inscribed Clay Pots, Are Written In The Gandhari Prakrit Language And In Kharosthi Script. Dating From Around The Beginning Of The Christian Era, The Scrolls Are Probably The Oldest Buddhist Manuscripts Ever Discovered.The Manuscripts And Pots Come From A Region Known In Ancient Times As Gandhara, Corresponding To Modern Northern Pakistan And Eastern Afghanistan. At The Peak Of Its Influence, Gandhara Was The Capital Of A Series Of Wealthy And Powerful Dynasties And Became One Of The World'S Most Important Centers Of Buddhism And The Gateway Through Which Buddhism Was Transmitted From India To China And Other Parts Of Asia. Gandhara Was Also A Principal Point Of Contact Between India And The Western World. Despite Abundant Archeological Evidence Of Gandhara'S Thriving Culture, Until Now There Has Been Virtually No Documentary Evidence Of Its Literary And Religious Canon.This Volume Introduces A Groundbreaking Project To Decipher And Interpret The Gandhran Texts. It Provides A Detailed Description Of The Manuscripts And A Survey Of Their Contents, Along With A Preliminary Evaluation Of Their Significance. Also Included Are Representative Samples Of Texts And Translations.This Discovery Sheds New Light On The Regional Character Of Early Indian Buddhist Traditions, The Process Of The Formation Of Standardized Written Canons, And The Transmission Of Buddhism Into Central And East Asia. Ancient Buddhist Scrolls From Gandhara Will Appeal To A Broad Audience With Interests In Buddhism, Comparative Religion, And Asian Languages.For More Information Go To The Early Buddhist Manuscript Project Web Site At Http://Www.Ebmp.Org/
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- Q: What are the Ancient Buddhist Scrolls from Gandhara? A: The Ancient Buddhist Scrolls from Gandhara are a collection of twenty-nine fragmentary birch bark scrolls written in the Gandhari Prakrit language and in Kharosthi script. They are considered some of the oldest Buddhist manuscripts ever discovered, dating back to around the beginning of the Christian era.
- Q: What is the significance of these scrolls? A: These scrolls provide crucial insights into early Buddhism in India and the development of Buddhist texts. They shed light on the regional character of early Indian Buddhist traditions and the transmission of Buddhism from India to other parts of Asia.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The book 'Ancient Buddhist Scrolls from Gandhara' is authored by Richard Salomon.
- Q: What types of content can I expect in this volume? A: The volume includes detailed descriptions of the manuscripts, a survey of their contents, representative text samples, and translations, along with a preliminary evaluation of their significance.
- Q: What is the binding type of this book? A: The book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: When was this book published? A: The book was published on March 1, 1999.
- Q: How many pages does this book contain? A: The book contains a total of 320 pages.
- Q: Is this book suitable for beginners in Buddhism? A: Yes, 'Ancient Buddhist Scrolls from Gandhara' is suitable for a broad audience, including those new to Buddhism, as it provides foundational knowledge and context for understanding early Buddhist texts.
- Q: Where can I find more information about the scrolls? A: Additional information can be found on the Early Buddhist Manuscript Project website at http://www.ebmp.org/.
- Q: Are the scrolls part of a larger collection? A: Yes, the scrolls were found inside inscribed clay pots and are part of a larger project to decipher and interpret Gandharan texts.