Difference between revisions of "Writing"
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| − | Until the colonial era, most education in [[Buddhist]] lands was in the hands of [[monks]]. In [[Sri Lanka]], many village [[monasteries]] had schools where boys were taught to read and write which meant that there was a high literacy rate amongst males of all classes. In other [[Buddhist]] lands, literacy was mainly confined to the upper class. After the [[Dhamma]] itself, [[writing]] and everything that follows from it – {{Wiki|literacy}}, {{Wiki|literature}}, {{Wiki|calligraphy}}, education and the [[transmission]] of [[knowledge]] – has been [[Buddhism]]’s greatest gift to the [[world]]. | + | |
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| + | [[Writing]] ([[lekhana]]) is the representing of words by a system of [[symbols]] called a [[script]] ([[lekhā]]). | ||
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| + | Nearly all the scripts of {{Wiki|Asian}} countries – {{Wiki|Sinhala}}, [[Burmese]], [[Thai]], {{Wiki|Malay}} (until its replacement by {{Wiki|Arabic script}} and then {{Wiki|Roman script}}), {{Wiki|Balinese}}, [[Tibetan]], etc. evolved from scripts which had been brought from [[India]] by either [[Indian]] {{Wiki|merchants}} or [[Buddhist]] [[monks]]. | ||
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| + | The same was true of many central {{Wiki|Asian}} scripts until the coming of {{Wiki|Islam}}. | ||
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| + | And the oldest examples of [[writing]] from all these regions pertain to [[Buddhism]]. | ||
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| + | The most [[ancient]] decipherable documents from [[India]] are the {{Wiki|edicts}} of the [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|monarch}} [[Aśoka]]. | ||
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| + | The earliest example of [[writing]] from the {{Wiki|Malay Peninsular}} is a small metal plate with the [[dependent origination]] [[formula]] inscribed on it. | ||
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| + | Until the colonial {{Wiki|era}}, most [[education]] in [[Buddhist]] lands was in the hands of [[monks]]. | ||
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| + | In [[Sri Lanka]], many village [[monasteries]] had schools where boys were [[taught]] to read and write which meant that there was a high literacy rate amongst {{Wiki|males}} of all classes. | ||
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| + | In other [[Buddhist]] lands, literacy was mainly confined to the upper class. | ||
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| + | After the [[Dhamma]] itself, [[writing]] and everything that follows from it – {{Wiki|literacy}}, {{Wiki|literature}}, {{Wiki|calligraphy}}, [[education]] and the [[transmission]] of [[knowledge]] – has been [[Buddhism]]’s greatest [[gift]] to the [[world]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 11:11, 27 February 2016
Writing (lekhana) is the representing of words by a system of symbols called a script (lekhā).
Nearly all the scripts of Asian countries – Sinhala, Burmese, Thai, Malay (until its replacement by Arabic script and then Roman script), Balinese, Tibetan, etc. evolved from scripts which had been brought from India by either Indian merchants or Buddhist monks.
The same was true of many central Asian scripts until the coming of Islam.
And the oldest examples of writing from all these regions pertain to Buddhism.
The most ancient decipherable documents from India are the edicts of the Buddhist monarch Aśoka.
The earliest example of writing from the Malay Peninsular is a small metal plate with the dependent origination formula inscribed on it.
Until the colonial era, most education in Buddhist lands was in the hands of monks.
In Sri Lanka, many village monasteries had schools where boys were taught to read and write which meant that there was a high literacy rate amongst males of all classes.
In other Buddhist lands, literacy was mainly confined to the upper class.
After the Dhamma itself, writing and everything that follows from it – literacy, literature, calligraphy, education and the transmission of knowledge – has been Buddhism’s greatest gift to the world.
