Mongolian Kanǰur / edited by Lokesh Chandra ; from the collection of Prof. Raghuvira.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Lokesh Chandra, editor, writer of preface.

Raghu Vira, associated name.

National Mission for Manuscripts (India), issuing body.

John G. Hartman Memorial Library Fund.

Standardized Title:

Kanjur (Mongolian version)

Language:

English

Mongolian

Subjects (All):

Buddhism--Sacred books.

Buddhism.

Buddhism and culture--Asia.

Buddhism and culture.

Asia.

Genre:

Sacred books.

Sacred works.

Physical Description:

108 volumes : facsimiles ; 29 cm x 40 cm

Place of Publication:

New Delhi : National Mission for Manuscripts, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Ministry of Culture, Government of India & International Academy of Indian Culture : Aditya Prakashan, 2020.

Language Note:

Preface in English, text in Mongolian (in Vertical script).

Summary:

"The development of the Mongolian Kanjur can be traced back to the Yuan dynasty when under the reign of the Yuan Emperor Khaisan Kulug (1308-11), Chos.kyi.hod.zer started the translation of Buddhist sutras into Mongolian. Several other literati followed him. During the reign of Altan Khan of Tumed (1507-82?) Siregetu guusi corjiva, Mergen dayicing tayiji and others translated the major part of the Kanjur. In 1628-29 Ligdan Khan (1604-34) commissioned the redaction of "this jewel of the Kanjur translation into Mongolian" and it was written in gold and silver in 113 volumes (chronicle Altan Erike of 1817). The translation was effected from the Tibetan Kanjur by 35 scholars under the supervision of Kun.dgah.hod.zer mergen manjusiri Pandita and of Siditu Anadai (chronicle Bolur Erike of 1774-75 on the basis of earlier evidence). The chronicle Altan Erike mentions Qutuytu manjusiri nom.un qan Kun.dgah.hod.zer nom.un gerel, Samdan sengge, Gundeng guusi as translators of the Kanjur. The entire project was completed in two years 1628-29, at the Qotala bayasqu monastery, on the basis of a set of the Tibetan Kanjur in the library of Erdeni bilig.tu secin ombu (Altan erike, fol.19). The spread of the Ligdan Khan edition was delimited by the stupendous labour involved in preparing its hand-copies. It was so rare that its sets found special mention in historical works. The hagiography of Neyici toyin (1739) refers to a copy he commissioned in 1650 for East Mongolian Princes. The Lotus-gold Kanjur (badam altan ganjur) of Ligdan Khan is mentioned as a heirloom of Prince Geligrabai (Dge.legs.rab.rgyal) of the Kesigten Banner (East Mongolia) by the Altan Erike of 1817. Under Imperial orders of K'ang.hsi the Kanjur was revised, edited, cut into blocks and blockprinted in 1717-20 by a commission of scholars. This was in response to a widely felt need among the Mongols. In vol.108 (fol.23a) of the Kanjur it is stated: Mongyol ganjur-un keb ugei bogesu: yekede ulu delgeremui "the Mongolian Kanjur would not spread much were it not printed." In 1717 Rasi (Bkra.sis) proclaimed an Imperial Order for the preparation of the xylographic blocks of the Mongol Kanjur, after a comparison of the previous Mongol Kanjur with its Tibetan counterpart. Which copy of the Ligdan Khan Kanjur was used for collation and editing cannot be ascertained. Scholars from all the banners were summoned for the project. By 1718 the editorial commission seems to have made fair progress, as calligraphists "who command the Mongol script well" were called to the Dolonor monastery by its Abbot in the summer of 1718. The editorial commission made very few changes in the Ligdan Khan Kanjur as it is shown by comparison with other editions of canonical texts based on the Ligdan Khan Kanjur. The block-cutting of the Imperial Red edition was completed by 1720 and in 108 volumes. The 113 volumes of the Ligdan Khan Kanjur were thus re-distributed to arrive at the auspicious number of 108. My father Prof. RaghuVira envisioned the publication of the 108 volumes of the Mongolian Kanjur, which symbolises the cultural symphony of India and Mongolia over the centuries, embodying the Mongolian versions of 1161 Sanskrit works, most of which have perished in India. His life was cut short by a car accident in 1963 and it is after constant perseverance for a decade that in 1973 I could fulfill his dream of bringing to light the immense corpus of the Mongolian Kanjur so that it became accessible to the world of learning as a foremost oeuvre of Mongolia's literary legacy to mankind. One volume of the original was reproduced in one volume of the Indian edition. After a long lapse of two and a half centuries this second edition could appear in the Land of Sakyamuni. This 'pearl of Mongolian literature' in the words of Prof. U. Rinchen was sent to Mongolia, Buryatia, Kalmykia, China, Japan, twelve libraries in the USA, and to all the major countries of Europe. After the cultural renaissance in Mongolian lands from the 1990s, where all the sets of the Kanjur were put on fire during the 'socialist' period, urgent need has arisen to consecrate the new monasteries with the sacred scriptures. Eminent leaders and leading abbots have requested Indian leaders to replenish the library-altars of monasteries with the 108 volumes of the Sacred Canon."--Lokesh Chandra

Notes:

Mongolian text: 2 numbers to a page.

"First published 1974" -- title page verso.

Contains new preface by the editor.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the John G. Hartman Memorial Library Fund.

Finding Aid/Index:

See Louis Ligeti's "Catalogue du Kanǰur mongol imprimé" for title listing.

ISBN:

9788194085072

8194085071

OCLC:

1313478057