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| − | The [[Testament of Ba]] (Tibetan {{BigTibetan|[[དབའ་བཞེད]]}} or {{BigTibetan|[[སྦ་བཞེད]]}}; Wylie transliteration: [[dba' bzhed]] or [[sba bzhed]]) is an account written in {{Wiki|Old Tibetan}} of the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet and the foundation of the [[Samye Monastery]] during the reign of King Trisong Detsen (r. 755–797/804), reputedly as recorded by [[Ba Salnang]] (Tibetan {{BigTibetan|[[དབའ་གསལ་སྣང]]}} or {{BigTibetan|[[སྦ་གསལ་སྣང]]}}; Wylie transliteration: [[dba' gsal snang]] or [[sba gsal snang]]), a member of the king's court. The earliest known versions of the text are two manuscript fragments dating to the 9th or 10th centuries that are held at the {{Wiki|British Library}}. | + | The [[Testament of Ba]] ([[Tibetan]] {{BigTibetan|[[དབའ་བཞེད]]}} or {{BigTibetan|[[སྦ་བཞེད]]}}; [[Wylie]] transliteration: [[dba' bzhed]] or [[sba bzhed]]) is an account written in {{Wiki|Old Tibetan}} of the establishment of [[Buddhism]] in [[Tibet]] and the foundation of the [[Samye Monastery]] during the reign of [[King Trisong Detsen]] (r. 755–797/804), reputedly as recorded by [[Ba Salnang]] ([[Tibetan]] {{BigTibetan|[[དབའ་གསལ་སྣང]]}} or {{BigTibetan|[[སྦ་གསལ་སྣང]]}}; [[Wylie]] transliteration: [[dba' gsal snang]] or [[sba gsal snang]]), a member of the king's court. The earliest known versions of the text are two {{Wiki|manuscript}} fragments dating to the 9th or 10th centuries that are held at the {{Wiki|British Library}}. |
==Versions of the text== | ==Versions of the text== | ||
| − | The Testament of Ba was transmitted in manuscript form over many centuries, and so there are many different recensions of the text, but not one single, canonical printed version.<ref name="ref 1">{{Nolinking|van Schaik, Sam; Iwao, Kazushi (2009). "Fragments of the Testament of Ba from Dunhuang". [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_the_American_Oriental_Society Journal of the American Oriental Society] 128 (3): 477–487. ISSN 0003-0279}}</ref> Two early versions of the text have been identified by scholars: | + | The [[Testament of Ba]] was transmitted in {{Wiki|manuscript}} [[form]] over many centuries, and so there are many different recensions of the text, but not one single, [[Wikipedia:canonical|canonical]] printed version.<ref name="ref 1">{{Nolinking|van Schaik, Sam; Iwao, Kazushi (2009). "Fragments of the Testament of Ba from Dunhuang". [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_of_the_American_Oriental_Society Journal of the American Oriental Society] 128 (3): 477–487. ISSN 0003-0279}}</ref> Two early versions of the text have been identified by [[scholars]]: |
| − | * A manuscript in 31 folios discovered in Lhasa in 1997, titled Dba' bzhed (with a 'd' prefix to the Ba clan name), that is thought to be a revised copy of an 11th-century manuscript, and which was published in facsimile with an English translation in 2000;<ref>{{Nolinking|Wangdu, Hildegard; Diemberger (2000).}} [http://books.google.com/books?id=yEgnAQAAIAAJ dBa' bzhed: the royal narrative concerning the bringing of the Buddha's doctrine to Tibet]. {{Nolinking|Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.}} ISBN 978-3-7001-2956-1.}}</ref> | + | * A {{Wiki|manuscript}} in 31 folios discovered in [[Lhasa]] in 1997, titled [[Dba' bzhed]] (with a 'd' prefix to the Ba {{Wiki|clan}} [[name]]), that is [[thought]] to be a revised copy of an 11th-century {{Wiki|manuscript}}, and which was published in facsimile with an English translation in 2000;<ref>{{Nolinking|Wangdu, Hildegard; Diemberger (2000).}} [http://books.google.com/books?id=yEgnAQAAIAAJ dBa' bzhed: the royal narrative concerning the bringing of the Buddha's doctrine to Tibet]. {{Nolinking|Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.}} ISBN 978-3-7001-2956-1.}}</ref> |
| − | * Three manuscripts titled Sba bzhed (with an 's' prefix to the Ba clan name), one of which dates to the 12th century, that were used as the basis of an edition published in Beijing in 1980.<ref name="ref 1" /> | + | * Three manuscripts titled [[Sba bzhed]] (with an 's' prefix to the Ba {{Wiki|clan}} [[name]]), one of which dates to the 12th century, that were used as the basis of an edition published in {{Wiki|Beijing}} in 1980.<ref name="ref 1" /> |
| − | The Testament of Ba is also widely quoted in later Tibetan historigraphical works, for example the Scholar's Feast ([[mkhas pa'i dga' ston]]). The author of the Scholar's Feast calls the Testament the Rba bzhed (with an 'r' prefix to the Ba clan name), and refers to 'genuine', 'impure', 'large' and 'medium' versions of the text.<ref name="ref 1" /> | + | The [[Testament of Ba]] is also widely quoted in later [[Tibetan]] historigraphical works, for example the Scholar's Feast ([[mkhas pa'i dga' ston]]). The author of the Scholar's Feast calls the Testament the Rba bzhed (with an 'r' prefix to the Ba {{Wiki|clan}} [[name]]), and refers to 'genuine', 'impure', 'large' and '{{Wiki|medium}}' versions of the text.<ref name="ref 1" /> |
| − | A later, expanded version of the Testament of Ba, titled Sba bzhed zhabs brtags pa (Supplemented Testament of Ba), was produced during the mid 14th century. A manuscript copy of this text was published with a summary in French by {{Wiki|Rolf Stein}} in 1961.<ref name="ref 1" /> | + | A later, expanded version of the [[Testament of Ba]], titled [[Sba bzhed]] zhabs brtags pa (Supplemented [[Testament of Ba]]), was produced during the mid 14th century. A {{Wiki|manuscript}} copy of this text was published with a summary in {{Wiki|French}} by {{Wiki|Rolf Stein}} in 1961.<ref name="ref 1" /> |
| − | Up until 2009 it was thought that the Testament of Ba dated back to no earlier than the 11th or 12th century, and therefore its composition may not have been contemporaneous with the late 8th century events that it recorded.<ref name="ref 1" /> However, in 2009 {{Wiki|Sam van Schaik}} of the {{Wiki|British Library}} realised that two Tibetan manuscript fragments catalogued amongst the Chinese manuscripts of the Stein collection (and consequently previously overlooked by Tibetan scholars) preserved a section of the Testament of Ba relating to the arrival of the Indian monk Śāntarakṣita, abbot of Nalanda University, to Lhasa:<ref name="ref 3">{{Nolinking|Van Schaik, Sam (20 November 2009). [http://earlytibet.com/2009/11/30/the-abbot/ "The Abbot, or Ironing out History's Wrinkles"]. Retrieved 2011-01-23.}}</ref> | + | Up until 2009 it was [[thought]] that the [[Testament of Ba]] dated back to no earlier than the 11th or 12th century, and therefore its composition may not have been contemporaneous with the late 8th century events that it recorded.<ref name="ref 1" /> However, in 2009 {{Wiki|Sam van Schaik}} of the {{Wiki|British Library}} realised that two [[Tibetan]] {{Wiki|manuscript}} fragments catalogued amongst the {{Wiki|Chinese}} manuscripts of the Stein collection (and consequently previously overlooked by [[Tibetan]] [[scholars]]) preserved a section of the [[Testament of Ba]] relating to the arrival of the [[Indian]] [[monk]] [[Śāntarakṣita]], [[abbot]] of [[Nalanda University]], to [[Lhasa]]:<ref name="ref 3">{{Nolinking|Van Schaik, Sam (20 November 2009). [http://earlytibet.com/2009/11/30/the-abbot/ "The Abbot, or Ironing out History's Wrinkles"]. Retrieved 2011-01-23.}}</ref> |
* [http://idp.bl.uk/database/oo_loader.a4d?pm=Or.8210%2FS.9498A Or.8210/S.9498A] (6 lines) | * [http://idp.bl.uk/database/oo_loader.a4d?pm=Or.8210%2FS.9498A Or.8210/S.9498A] (6 lines) | ||
* [http://idp.bl.uk/database/oo_loader.a4d?pm=Or.8210%2FS.13683 Or.8210/S.13683] (1 line) | * [http://idp.bl.uk/database/oo_loader.a4d?pm=Or.8210%2FS.13683 Or.8210/S.13683] (1 line) | ||
| − | These two fragments came from the '[[Mogao Caves|Library Cave]]' at [[Dunhuang]], which was sealed in the early 11th century, and so pre-date all of the other known versions of the ''Testament of Ba''. Van Schaik dates the fragments to the 9th or 10th centuries.<ref name="ref 1" /> | + | These two fragments came from the '[[Mogao Caves|Library Cave]]' at [[Dunhuang]], which was sealed in the early 11th century, and so pre-date all of the other known versions of the ''[[Testament of Ba]]''. Van Schaik dates the fragments to the 9th or 10th centuries.<ref name="ref 1" /> |
| − | The text of the {{Wiki|British Library}} fragments is very close to that of the Dba' bzhed manuscript discovered in Lhasa in 1997, but has some differences that suggest that it represents an earlier recension of the Testament of Ba. Most notably, in the {{Wiki|British Library}} fragments the king is concerned that the foreign monk may have brought evil spirits with him, and so Śāntarakṣita is confined in the Jokhang and interrogated for three months through an interpreter called Ananta. However, the Lhasa manuscript softens the language, politely asking Śāntarakṣita to stay at the Jokhang rather than having him forcibly confined there.<ref name="ref 3" /> | + | The text of the {{Wiki|British Library}} fragments is very close to that of the [[Dba' bzhed]] {{Wiki|manuscript}} discovered in [[Lhasa]] in 1997, but has some differences that suggest that it represents an earlier recension of the [[Testament of Ba]]. Most notably, in the {{Wiki|British Library}} fragments the [[king]] is concerned that the foreign [[monk]] may have brought [[evil spirits]] with him, and so [[Śāntarakṣita]] is confined in the [[Jokhang]] and interrogated for three months through an interpreter called [[Ananta]]. However, the [[Lhasa]] {{Wiki|manuscript}} softens the [[language]], politely asking [[Śāntarakṣita]] to stay at the [[Jokhang]] rather than having him forcibly confined there.<ref name="ref 3" /> |
== Bibliography == | == Bibliography == | ||
| − | {{Nolinking|* [[Rolf Stein|Stein, R. A.]] 1961. ''Une chronique ancienne de bSam-yas : sBa-bzed'' (édition du texte tibétain et résumé français). Paris: Bibliothèque de l'Institut des Hautes Études chinoises, Textes et Documents. | + | {{Nolinking|* [[Wikipedia:Rolf Stein|Stein, R. A.]] 1961. ''Une chronique ancienne de bSam-yas : sBa-bzed'' (édition du texte tibétain et résumé français). Paris: Bibliothèque de l'Institut des Hautes Études chinoises, Textes et Documents. |
* Wangdu, Pasang, and Diemberger, Hildegard. 2000. ''dBa' bzhed: The Royal Narrative concerning the bringing of the Buddha's Doctrine to Tibet''. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-2956-1.}} | * Wangdu, Pasang, and Diemberger, Hildegard. 2000. ''dBa' bzhed: The Royal Narrative concerning the bringing of the Buddha's Doctrine to Tibet''. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-2956-1.}} | ||
Revision as of 12:52, 8 April 2014
The Testament of Ba (Tibetan དབའ་བཞེད or སྦ་བཞེད; Wylie transliteration: dba' bzhed or sba bzhed) is an account written in Old Tibetan of the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet and the foundation of the Samye Monastery during the reign of King Trisong Detsen (r. 755–797/804), reputedly as recorded by Ba Salnang (Tibetan དབའ་གསལ་སྣང or སྦ་གསལ་སྣང; Wylie transliteration: dba' gsal snang or sba gsal snang), a member of the king's court. The earliest known versions of the text are two manuscript fragments dating to the 9th or 10th centuries that are held at the British Library.
Versions of the text
The Testament of Ba was transmitted in manuscript form over many centuries, and so there are many different recensions of the text, but not one single, canonical printed version.[1] Two early versions of the text have been identified by scholars:
- A manuscript in 31 folios discovered in Lhasa in 1997, titled Dba' bzhed (with a 'd' prefix to the Ba clan name), that is thought to be a revised copy of an 11th-century manuscript, and which was published in facsimile with an English translation in 2000;[2]
- Three manuscripts titled Sba bzhed (with an 's' prefix to the Ba clan name), one of which dates to the 12th century, that were used as the basis of an edition published in Beijing in 1980.[1]
The Testament of Ba is also widely quoted in later Tibetan historigraphical works, for example the Scholar's Feast (mkhas pa'i dga' ston). The author of the Scholar's Feast calls the Testament the Rba bzhed (with an 'r' prefix to the Ba clan name), and refers to 'genuine', 'impure', 'large' and 'medium' versions of the text.[1]
A later, expanded version of the Testament of Ba, titled Sba bzhed zhabs brtags pa (Supplemented Testament of Ba), was produced during the mid 14th century. A manuscript copy of this text was published with a summary in French by Rolf Stein in 1961.[1]
Up until 2009 it was thought that the Testament of Ba dated back to no earlier than the 11th or 12th century, and therefore its composition may not have been contemporaneous with the late 8th century events that it recorded.[1] However, in 2009 Sam van Schaik of the British Library realised that two Tibetan manuscript fragments catalogued amongst the Chinese manuscripts of the Stein collection (and consequently previously overlooked by Tibetan scholars) preserved a section of the Testament of Ba relating to the arrival of the Indian monk Śāntarakṣita, abbot of Nalanda University, to Lhasa:[3]
- Or.8210/S.9498A (6 lines)
- Or.8210/S.13683 (1 line)
These two fragments came from the 'Library Cave' at Dunhuang, which was sealed in the early 11th century, and so pre-date all of the other known versions of the Testament of Ba. Van Schaik dates the fragments to the 9th or 10th centuries.[1]
The text of the British Library fragments is very close to that of the Dba' bzhed manuscript discovered in Lhasa in 1997, but has some differences that suggest that it represents an earlier recension of the Testament of Ba. Most notably, in the British Library fragments the king is concerned that the foreign monk may have brought evil spirits with him, and so Śāntarakṣita is confined in the Jokhang and interrogated for three months through an interpreter called Ananta. However, the Lhasa manuscript softens the language, politely asking Śāntarakṣita to stay at the Jokhang rather than having him forcibly confined there.[3]
Bibliography
- Stein, R. A. 1961. Une chronique ancienne de bSam-yas : sBa-bzed (édition du texte tibétain et résumé français). Paris: Bibliothèque de l'Institut des Hautes Études chinoises, Textes et Documents.
- Wangdu, Pasang, and Diemberger, Hildegard. 2000. dBa' bzhed: The Royal Narrative concerning the bringing of the Buddha's Doctrine to Tibet. Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-2956-1.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 van Schaik, Sam; Iwao, Kazushi (2009). "Fragments of the Testament of Ba from Dunhuang". Journal of the American Oriental Society 128 (3): 477–487. ISSN 0003-0279
- ↑ Wangdu, Hildegard; Diemberger (2000). dBa' bzhed: the royal narrative concerning the bringing of the Buddha's doctrine to Tibet. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-2956-1.}}
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Van Schaik, Sam (20 November 2009). "The Abbot, or Ironing out History's Wrinkles". Retrieved 2011-01-23.
