777 research outputs found
Glossary of Tibetan Terms Relating to Manuscripts, Xylographic Prints, and their Manufacture
No full textThis chapter contains the specialized Tibetan vocabulary used in connection with the features and manufacture of books. This is mainly based on Michela Clemente's work on the Mang yul Gung thang prints and other sources on xylographic printing and on Matthew Kapstein's culling of terminology found in Tibetan bibliographical sources and recent publications on traditional books
On a Particular Aspect of the Identification of Tibetan Xylographs: Preliminary Remarks on the Importance of Craftsmen
No full textThis essay briefly discusses the early history of Tibetan printing by comparing some facets of this subject with the European phenomenon. Printing started to be a means of dissemination of texts in Tibet and Europe at roughly the same time. Recent research indicates that although printing in Tibet does not seem to have had the kind of socially transformative effects highlighted in Elisabeth Eisenstein’s study, it did have some important consequences and also similarities with the European printing history. This article also presents a Marie Sklodowska Curie project on Tibetan xylographs entitled Tibetan Book Evolution and Technology (TiBET), which was carried out at the University of Cambridge (Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit) from 2013 to 2015. This paper focuses in particular on one of the aspects of the above-mentioned project, that is to say, the craftsmen who worked on sixteenth century xylographs and their importance for the identification of Tibetan prints. These artists were allowed to sign their work, a peculiarity that was typical of the earliest stage of printing and is extremely relevant for locating the printing house where a certain xylograph was produced. By comparing the different signatures and patterns of carving, writing or drawing, we might learn to distinguish the diverse style of each artist. This would help us in identifying those who worked on xylographs that lack signatures and do not mention them in colophons. From these prints we can also extract information about the craftsmen and the printing projects with which they were associated
A case study of a nang gi rnam thar: The example of Kun spangs pa Chos kyi rin chen’s autobiography
No full textThis paper presents a case study of a Tibetan inner biography, one of the three levels existing in the literary genre of life stories. This typology recounts the specific meditative cycles, initiations, etc. imparted to the master and taught by him to his disciples. This essay focuses on Kun spangs pa Chos kyi rin chen, a bKa' brgyud pa master who lived in the 17th Century. This paper also includes a layout of the biography, translated from Tibetan by the author for the first time
Discussing the creation of a template for the identification of Tibetan Xylographs
No full textThis essay focuses on peculiar features of Mang yul Gung thang xylographs. It is particularly devoted to three codicological aspects, namely, front page, layout, and ductus.The title page or frontispiece of both Tibetan manuscripts and xylographs may be a key element to identify the origin of a literary artefact and, likely, its dating as they may have particular styles or drawings which can be associated with a certain place, school, artist, etc. The study of ductus in both manuscripts and xylographs presents several issues. My article lists and discusses the possible causes of variations occurring in xylographs
PERSPECTIVES ON TIBETAN CULTURE A Small Garland of Forget-me-nots Offered to Elena De Rossi Filibeck Introduction
No full textThis volume originated as the initiative of two former students of Elena De Rossi Filibeck, Michela Clemente and Federica Venturi, and of Oscar Nalesini, who
collaborated with her on several projects over the years, in order to celebrate her as a teacher, colleague and dear friend. The result is this tome, which combines the efforts of many of Professor Filibeck’s students, who wanted to thank her for directing their first steps in the field of Tibetology, and of some of her closest
colleagues, who gladly presented a piece in appreciation of her friendship, warmth and genuine fellowship through the years
Introduction
No full textThis essay is the introduction to the volume entitled "Traditional Paths, Innovative Approaches and Digital Challenges in the Study of Tibetan Manuscripts and Xylographs", which may be considered as an interdisciplinary tool for scholars working on Tibetan manuscripts and xylographs from multifarious perspectives (codicological, historical, artistic, anthropological, etc.), but it is also addressed to a wider audience, namely to codicologists, paper conservators, biologists, art historians, IT experts interested in projects involving digital humanities, history, archival documents, and so on. The introduction presents Tibetan book culture in general and explains how the various topics related to books are explained in the volume
The troubled story of the Tucci Tibetan collection and its new life. A preliminary codicological overview of the Bon Corpus
No full textThis essay has the twofold aim of recounting the story of the Tucci Tibetan Collection, as well as showing its renewed life. This collection should be considered as one of Giuseppe Tucci’s most important legacies to the Oriental School of Rome and his living tradition. The first part of this article is dedicated to the story of thousands of Tibetan manuscripts and xylographs, whichmwere gathered by Tucci during his expeditions in Tibet in the first half of the twentieth century and travelled with him from the Himalayas to Italy. After going through some ordeals, these books are currently preserved at the National Central Library of Rome in a dedicated room called “IsIAO Library” – African and Oriental Collections Room. The second part of this essay focuses on the Bon corpus included in the Tucci Tibetan Collection to which an ongoing project is dedicated and provides
a preliminary codicological overview of its 77 volumes
Colophons as sources: Historical information from some Brag dkar rta so Xylographies
No full textTibetan colophons are not only a very intriguing and peculiar literary subject to study, but also significant historical sources to develop. This article has a threefold aim: to present colophons as sources, to provide a detailed description of the surviving Brag dkar rta so works, and to give examples of translation. By extracting information from colophons, it is possible to have a most accurate picture of lHa btsun Rin chen rnam rgyal (1473-1557), one of gTsang smyon Heruka's closest disciples, and his entourage, and the progress of lHa btsun's work at Brag dkar rta so, a well-known monastery founded by him
Review of "The Light of Kailash. A History of Zhang Zhung and Tibet. Vol. 1, The Early Period" by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and D. Rossi
No full textThis essay provides the review of the first volume of the trilogy on Zhang Zhung's history written by Namkhai Norbu and translated into English and edited by Donatella Rossi under the title "The Light of Kailash". The book takes the title from the renowned Mount Kailash, which stood at the heart of the ancient realm of Zhang Zhung
Yidali de Tuqi zangxue yichan yafei yanjiuyuan tushuguan zangpinzhong yixie wenxian de yanjiu zongshu
No full textThis is the abridged version in Chinese of an essay devoted to the Tucci Tibetan Collection of the IsIAO Library, and in particular to the research carried on by Italian scholars on several works included in the Collection. It examines studies published by Tucci and his disciples based on manuscripts and xylographs of the Collection, and continued with research carried on by scholars of the so-called Roman Oriental School
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