Remarks On Sanskrit Manuscript In Otani Collection

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The document is a collection of academic papers presented as part of a collaborative research project on the philological study of Sanskrit Buddhist manuscripts. The primary focus is on the Otani Collection of Sanskrit manuscripts, held at Ryukoku University Library.

Overall Research Project:

• Duration: Two years (Heisei 14-15, corresponding to 2002-2003).
• Goal: To continue the philological study of Sanskrit Buddhist manuscripts, building upon previous research conducted from 1998-2000.
• Key Objectives:
  1. Bibliographical and philological study of the Sanskrit manuscripts in the Otani Collection at Ryukoku University.
  2. Bibliographical and philological study based on microfilms of already collected manuscripts.
  3. Survey and collection of manuscripts held in institutions outside of Japan.

"Remarks on Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Otani Collection - Preliminaries to New Descriptive Catalog" by Naresh Man Bajracharya (and implicitly Yusho Wakahara):

This paper serves as an introduction to the Otani Collection and highlights the importance and specific details of several key manuscripts within it.

I. General Descriptions of the Otani Collection:

• Origins: The Otani Expedition collected an unknown number of Sanskrit manuscripts. Ryukoku University Library currently possesses at least 32.
• Source: Most of these are Nepalese manuscripts, with a few fragments possibly from Central Asia.
• Previous Cataloging and Facsimiles: A descriptive catalog by Prof. Sanada was published in 1961. Several manuscripts have also been published in facsimile editions.
• Koju-kai Society: Many of the manuscripts came from the Koju-kai Society, established by Rev. Kozui Otani in 1914, which aimed at studying Buddhism through Sanskrit manuscripts. The collection was transferred from the Otani family.
• Missing Manuscripts: At least eight other manuscripts from the original Koju-kai collection are currently unaccounted for.
• Acquisition History: The exact acquisition details for most manuscripts are unclear. However, specific notable acquisitions include:
  • Sukhāvati-vyūha (No. 701, "Sakaki ms."): Brought from Nepal in 1923 by Dr. Ryozaburo Sakaki, at the request of Rev. Otani. It is considered the best and oldest existing manuscript of this important Mahāyāna sutra.
  • Divyāvadāna, Mahāvastu (No. 609), and Sukhāvati-vyūha (No. 703, "Koju-kai ms. B"): Presented to Rev. Otani in 1923 by the Prime Minister of Nepal, Maharaja Chandra Shum Shere Jung Bahadur Rana, through the mediation of Dr. Sylvain Lévi.
• Estimated Collection Period: Based on Rev. Otani's statement about bringing back manuscripts from India around 1915/1916 and the dating of one manuscript (No. 615), the Nepalese manuscripts in the Ryukoku collection were likely collected between 1915 and 1923.

II. Descriptions of Selected Manuscripts:

1. (No. 701) Sukhāvati-vyūha (Sakaki ms.):

   • Material: Palm-leaf, with the first folio on paper.
   • Folios: 85 (fol. 67 missing).
   • Script: Old Nevārī (Bhujimmola) except for fol. 1.
   • Dating: Estimated to the middle of the 12th century based on the mention of King Sri-Anandadeva (1147-1167). Paleographical evidence supports this.
   • Significance: Considered the oldest and best manuscript of the Sukhāvati-vyūha among the 38 known Nepalese manuscripts. It is seen as potentially representing the original text of at least one recension.
   • Academic Impact: A critical edition by Dr. Ashikaga, based primarily on this manuscript, has been a cornerstone for research.
   • Comparison: It is compared favorably to a manuscript in the National Archives in Kathmandu, which is dated slightly earlier but is incomplete and in poorer condition.
   • Recent Discoveries: Mentions fragmental leaves of the Sukhāvati-vyūha in Brahmi script (6th/7th century) from the Schøyen Collection, which deviate from known versions, suggesting the sūtra circulated in diverse ways.

2. (No. 702-704) Sukhāvati-vyūha (Kojukai ms. A, B, C):

   • Material: Paper manuscripts.
   • Contents: All are complete.
   • Scripts: Newāri and Devanāgari.
   • Acquisition/Discovery:
     • Ms. B was a gift from the Nepalese Prime Minister.
     • Ms. A and B were rediscovered in 1971 by Prof. Bunpo Kojima after their whereabouts had been unknown for almost 50 years.
     • Ms. C was also found at the same time, its existence previously unknown.
   • Dating: All appear to be modern (undated).
   • Features: Ms. C has a picture of Amitābha Buddha pasted on it.

3. No. 617 Kapphiņābhyudaya:

   • Material: Palm-leaf.
   • Folios: 18 (incomplete, originally 56).
   • Script: Newāri.
   • Dating: Undated.
   • Significance: A rare, possibly the only, manuscript of this literary work, a mahā-kāvya (ornate poetry) by the 9th-century Kashmiri poet Śivasvāmin.
   • Previous Edition: An earlier edition by Prof. Shankar was unsatisfactory due to poor manuscript quality.
   • Revival: Prof. Hahn's research revived interest in this text.
   • Content: Based on a Buddhist narrative about King Kapphiņa from the Avadānaśataka. The author added detailed plot development to the original story to fit the mahākāvya genre.
   • Author's Affiliation: Śivasvāmin is considered either Buddhist or a Kashmiri Śaivite, and he composed the work at the request of his Buddhist friend Candramitra.
   • Manuscript Dispersal: The manuscript was divided, with 34 folios existing in the National Archives in Kathmandu. Four folios remain missing. Another copied manuscript of this text also exists in the National Archives.
   • Future Publication: Plans are underway to publish a facsimile edition of this unique text, combining the two portions, in collaboration with Prof. Hahn, to coincide with the centenary of the Otani Expedition.

III. Additional Remarks on Two Other Manuscripts:

• No. 614 Mahāyānasūtrālamkāra (Ryukoku B ms.) & No. 615 Mahāyānasūtrālamkāra (Ryukoku A ms.):
  • Detailed descriptions are available in a facsimile edition.
  • Seven manuscripts of this text were known, including these two.
  • A list of manuscripts with their Nepal Samvat dates and NGMPP (Nepal German Manuscript Preservation Project) reel numbers is provided.
  • The author notes finding three additional manuscripts from the NGMPP microfilms, which are discussed in recent articles.
  • A table illustrating the chronological relationship between different manuscripts of the Mahāyānasūtrālamkāra is presented.

IV. Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Otani Collection at Ryukoku University Library (CD-ROM Edition):

• Project: Ryukoku University's Institute for the Study of Buddhist Culture completed a project in 2000 resulting in the CD-ROM edition of the Otani Collection.
• Content: The CD-ROM set contains all 32 manuscripts held at Ryukoku.
• Production: Manuscripts were microfilmed in color, digitized into master CDs, and then reduced for practical distribution.
• Format: Uses FlashPix (TM) format with Live Picture Viewer 3.2 (TM) software.
• Compatibility: Designed for both Windows and Macintosh, browsable with Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
• Distribution: Distributed to academic institutions and scholars globally. Digitization of manuscripts on the university's web page is being considered.

Provisional List of Sanskrit Mss. in the Otani Collection: A numbered list of 32 manuscripts is provided, including their numbers and titles.

Notes on the List:

• Some manuscripts (Nos. 628-704) were not in the original Sanada catalog and were tentatively numbered.
• Several fragments (Nos. 622-627, 628) were initially unidentified but have since been identified and published by Profs. Karashima and Hori.

Table of Manuscripts, Microfilms, and CDs: This table provides technical details about the digitization process, including the number of frames, file sizes, and the CD number for each manuscript.

Summary of the Japanese Section: The appended Japanese section briefly describes the author's (implied to be associated with the research) involvement in a project to collect microfilms of Sanskrit manuscripts related to Abhidharmakośa and its commentaries, particularly Sphuṭārthābhidharmakośavyākhyā (AKV), by Yatomitra. The project has gathered 17 manuscripts so far, including the Abhidharmakośakārikā (AKK), Abhidharmakośabhāṣya (AKBh), and AKV. The author intends to provide a progress report and initial analysis to aid in future organization.

In essence, the document details a significant collaborative effort to catalog, study, and digitize a valuable collection of Sanskrit Buddhist manuscripts, with a particular emphasis on the historical context of their acquisition by the Otani Expedition and the scholarly significance of key texts like the Sukhāvati-vyūha and Kapphiņābhyudaya.