Introduction to Tibetan “Literature”

SALC 25200 What constitutes “Literature” and what are its boundaries?

• Literary/oral qualities • Content • Form • Genres • Language/Register • Other

How define boundaries of “Tibetan”? • Geographical • Linguistic • Political • “Literary” • Religious • Cultural • Other Who defines these boundaries?

• “Tibetans” (emic approach) • Scholars (Tibetan and Euro-American) • Others?

So…..If ’s literature stretches over 1300 years, why do we know so little about Tibetan literature?

. Relative geographical isolation

. Scholars’ preoccupation with (religious interest) over literary interests

Features of Tibetan Literature

• Like other world literatures, Tibetan literature is marked by the increasing dominance of written over oral forms • Like that of the ancient states of Southeast Asia, Tibetan Literature is marked by an increasing Indianization, which went hand-in- hand with the growth of Buddhist influence • To a degree virtually unparalleled in Asia, Tibetan Literature is marked by a continued intensification of the influence of religious— especially Buddhist--concerns

Cabezón, Editor’s Introduction in Tibetan Literature: Studies in Genre, 13-15 When do we find the earliest Tibetan “Literature”? Yarlung/Pugyel Empire (600 CE-900 CE) • First writings set down during the 7th century, with introduction of Buddhism • Legend of Thonmi Sambhota; Songtsen Gampo • Transition from clan rule to unified kingdom • Conversion of Tri Songdetsen to Buddhism • Patronage of Translation activity ( to Tibetan and Mongolian to Tibetan) The Political Expansion of Songtsen Gampo

Sources of Tibetan Tradition p. 11

Sources of Tibetan Tradition p. 13

Sources of Tibetan Tradition p. 16

Sources of Tibetan Tradition p. 19 Sources of Tibetan Tradition p. 21-22 What writings are available for this period? (600-900 CE) • The Old Tibetan Chronicles: “principles of Tibetan kingship through an epic retelling of the deeds of its kings and ministers” • Old Tibetan Annals: Tibet’s oldest extant History • Administrative documents (tribute payments, contracts, etc.) • Imperial edicts from Central and Far Eastern Tibet:  Conversion edict of Tri Songdetsen, Samyé and other Pillar Inscriptions  Imperial decree on translation (Drajor Bampo Nyipa); composed for translation college of monastery, established by Tri Songdetsen during eightth and early 9th centuries • Tibetan translations of Sanskrit and Mongolian texts: tantras, sadhana, sutras, philosophical texts, medical manuals

The

• When ‘composed’? Why study epic first? • A “Tibetan Buddhist” epic? • Some recensions, such as the “Lower Ladakhi Version” display “pre-Buddhist” elements • Other recensions show heavy influence by Tantric Buddhist teachings What is an Epic? Definition from Encyclopedia Britannica Academic Edition: epic, long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds, although the term has also been loosely used to describe novels, such as Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, and motion pictures, such as Sergey Eisenstein’s Ivan the Terrible. In literary usage, the term encompasses both oral and written compositions. The prime examples of the oral epic are Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

Examples of “epic” literature

• Illiad and Odyssey (Greek) • Epic of Gilgamesh (Sumerian) • Mahābhārata and Ramāyaṇa (Sanskrit) • Chanson de Roland (medieval French) • Heike monogatari (Japanese) • Virgil’s Aeneid and Lucan’s Pharsalia (Latin) • Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando furioso and Torquato Tasso’s Gerusalemme liberata (Italian) • Cantar de mio Cid (Spanish) • John Milton’s Paradise Lost , Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene (English) • Epic of Gesar (Tibetan) Features of “epic” literature

• Content: generally myths, heroic legends, histories, edifying religious tales, animal stories, or philosophical or moral theories • Authorship: Generally collective • Form: often poetic • Style: highly influenced by oral features of the language • Length: considerable!

What are some features of the Epic of Gesar?

 Content: myths, heroic legends, histories, edifying religious tales, animal stories, or philosophical or moral theories?  Authorship/Editing?  Poetic form?  Oral elements ?  Length ?  Other features?

How does the Epic of Gesar conform to your expectations of “epic literature”?

How does it differ from other epics?

What, if anything, is distinctly ‘Tibetan’ about The Epic of Gesar? Next week in Intro to Tibetan Literature….

• Tuesday: Buddhism and Narratives of conversion in Early Tibetan writings: Avalokiteśvara in the Mani Kambum, Testament of 'Ba, and the Clear Mirror

• Thursday: Indian literary identity in Tibet and the influence of Paṇḍita