Tun Huang Manuscripts Of Tibetan Ramayana Story

Added to library: September 2, 2025

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First page of Tun Huang Manuscripts Of Tibetan Ramayana Story

Summary

This document is a summary of the Tibetan Rāmāyana story found in the Tun-huang manuscripts, as described by J. W. de Jong.

Here's a breakdown of the key information:

  • Source Material: The text is based on six manuscripts containing the Rāmāyana story in Tibetan, originating from the Tun-huang collection. Four of these were in the India Office Library (described by F. W. Thomas), and two were later discovered in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris (by Marcelle Lalou).
  • Two Recensions: The six manuscripts contain two distinct versions (recensions) of the story. Recension I is represented by manuscripts D, A, C, and F. Recension II is represented by E and B.
  • Manuscript Details:
    • D and A are from the same original manuscript.
    • Manuscript B has interlinear annotations, which can be difficult to read.
  • Editorial Conventions: De Jong outlines the specific conventions used in his edition of the texts to indicate manuscript readings and editorial additions/corrections. This includes:
    • i for the reversed gi-gu.
    • Round brackets () for interlinear words.
    • Angled brackets <> for editor-added letters.
    • Square brackets [] for deleted letters/words.
    • Curly brackets {} for letters/syllables written below preceding letters.
    • Asterisks ** for unreadable letters.
  • Summary of the Story: De Jong mentions that in a previous article (cited as Toung Pao, LVIII, 1972, pp. 190–202), he provided a summary of the story divided into 46 sections, which serves as the basis for the division of the six manuscripts in his edition.
  • Corrections to Previous Work: The document also lists several corrections to misprints and references in his earlier article.
  • Content of the Extracts: The provided text consists of translated excerpts from these manuscripts, showcasing early sections of the Tibetan Rāmāyana narrative. These sections appear to describe:
    • Magical settings and descriptions: Mentions of cities, beautiful landscapes, mythical trees (dpag bsam gyi sin), precious gems, and sounds.
    • Introduction of characters and conflicts: The emergence of the demon king Yagsakori (Yafsakori) and his powerful reign, contrasting with the deities and humans.
    • Prayers and appeals: The deities appeal to a hermit and a goddess for help against Yagsakori.
    • The birth of heroes: The lineage and early life of sons are described.
    • Royal succession and conflict: Discussions about lineage, succession, and potential usurpation of power.
    • The journey and supernatural elements: Descriptions of characters traveling, encountering magical elements, and engaging in battles or feats of strength.
    • Divine intervention and curses: The involvement of deities, curses, and the supernatural in the narrative.
    • Human relationships and emotions: Interactions between characters, expressions of love, jealousy, and loyalty.

In essence, this is a scholarly introduction to the Tibetan Rāmāyana manuscripts from Tun-huang, providing context, editorial details, and samples of the text to illustrate the narrative. The focus is on presenting and analyzing these historical linguistic and literary artifacts.