Review of Oskar von Hinüber's Collected Works on Pāli Buddhism

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Journal name: Acta Orientalia
Original article title: Harry Falk, Walter Slaje (eds.), Oskar von Hinüber: Kleine Schriften. Teil I, II. Glasenapp-Stiftung, Band 47.
ACTA ORIENTALIA is a journal focused on the study of Oriental languages, history, archaeology, and religions from ancient times to the present. The journal includes articles reviewed by a senior scholar in the relevant field.
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Author:

Georg von Simson


Acta Orientalia:

(Founded in 1922 and published annually)

Full text available for: Harry Falk, Walter Slaje (eds.), Oskar von Hinüber: Kleine Schriften. Teil I, II. Glasenapp-Stiftung, Band 47.

Year: 2010 | Doi: 10.5617/ao.7339

Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0


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Summary of article contents:

Introduction

The book review discusses the two-volume collection "Kleine Schriften" edited by Harry Falk and Walter Slaje, which compiles the works of Oskar von Hinüber, a prominent scholar in the field of Pāli Buddhism. Published by the Glasenapp Foundation, these volumes encompass a significant array of Hinüber's writings from 1969 to 2006, highlighting his extensive contributions and scholarly rigor. The review acknowledges the importance of combining methods from Indology, Classical Philology, and diachronic linguistics, as emphasized by the editors.

The Art of Pāli Scholarship

One notable aspect of Hinüber's work is his thorough examination of Buddhist literature and textual traditions. In the first section of the volumes, Hinüber delves into underexplored Pāli texts and complex Dhāraṇīs from Central Asia and China. His articles also shed light on the historical development of the Pāli Canon and its legal terminologies, illustrating his depth of research in the origins and evolution of Buddhist texts. Furthermore, Hinüber’s investigations into manuscript traditions, especially those from Thailand, provide valuable insights into the text-critical practices concerning Theravāda canonical texts, reflecting his commitment to understanding the nuances of Buddhist literature.

Conclusion

Georg von Simson's review emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the two volumes and the significant impact of Oskar von Hinüber's scholarly work in the fields of Indology and Pāli studies. The collection not only showcases a wide range of topics, from linguistic analysis to cultural history, but also presents a well-structured format for accessibility through various indexes. Overall, these volumes serve as an essential resource for scholars and students interested in the intricacies of Buddhist texts and their historical contexts.

FAQ section (important questions/answers):

What are the main themes covered in Oskar von Hinüber's works?

The works are divided into themes like Buddhist literature, textual tradition, linguistics, Gilgit, cultural history, Varia, and reviews, showcasing a comprehensive examination of Pāli-Buddhism and its related fields.

What contribution has Oskar von Hinüber made to Pāli studies?

Oskar von Hinüber has significantly contributed to Pāli studies through numerous publications since the 1970s, combining methodologies from Indology and Classical Philology, which have influenced the analysis of Pāli Buddhist texts.

How is the content of the published volumes organized?

The volumes are organized into sections based on themes and types of writings, including original studies, reviews, and discussions, with extensive bibliographies and indexes for thorough navigation of the content.

Glossary definitions and references:

Oriental and Historical glossary list for “Review of Oskar von Hinüber's Collected Works on Pāli Buddhism”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of History, Linguistics, Religion, Philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc.

1) Pali (Palin):
Pāli is a significant keyword in Buddhist studies and language research, prominently featured in Oskar von Hinüber's various studies. It is the liturgical language of the Theravāda Buddhist canon and is frequently addressed in the texts discussed in the book review, highlighting its artificial nature and its role in Buddhist Middle Indic language variants.

2) Book:
[see source text or glossary: Book]

3) Sanskrit:
Sanskrit appears in the context of Buddhist texts and philology, notably in the critical analysis of lexicography, such as the Sanskrit-Wörterbuch der buddhistischen Texte aus den Turfan-Funden, and v. H.'s contributions to Sanskrit historical dictionary projects in Poona.

4) Buddhism (Buddhist tradition):
The book review elaborates on Buddhist topics extensively, including the Pāli-Buddhism, Middle Indic languages, and the cultural history related to Buddhist manuscripts found in regions like Gilgit, emphasizing Oskar von Hinüber's contributions to the understanding of Buddhist texts.

5) Gujarat:
Gujarat is mentioned in relation to historical and cultural research on India. Specifically, v. H. analyzed ancient land grant documents and expressions used within epigraphs, examining terms like 'vāpī' in his comprehensive studies of irrigation and agricultural practices in early medieval Gujarat.

6) Vinaya:
Vinaya refers to the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community. Included in the analysis within the book, v. H. has explored its terminology and relationship with other parts of the Pāli Canon, such as in his papers on the evolution of these texts.

7) Vapi:
In the cultural history section, vāpī is a term examined by Oskar von Hinüber, often found in land grant documents from early medieval Gujarat. It refers to a water reservoir or stepwell and highlights the complexities in interpreting ancient Indian epigraphic records.

8) Abhidhamma (Abhidharma):
Abhidhamma is part of the Pāli Canon's initial formations discussed by v. H. His works, such as 'Vinaya und Abhidhamma,' shed light on its early development and its structural relationship with the Vinaya and other sections of the canon.

9) Theravada (Thera-vada):
Theravāda, a main tradition of Buddhism, is key to v. H.'s studies. His work includes significant research on the Theravādins, especially their textual criticism, focusing on how Thai manuscripts impact the understanding of the Theravadins' Canon.

10) Language:
The analysis of language is critical in v. H.'s work, discussed within Buddhist linguistic history and the evolution of languages like Pāli, Paiśācī, and Buddhist Sanskrit, highlighting their artificial constructs and diverse Indic variants.

11) Religion:
Buddhism, as a religion, is at the center of much of the work reviewed. The everyday life of monks in ancient Indian Buddhist monasteries is explored, emphasizing both their spiritual practices and human experiences within the religious context.

12) Dharani (Dharanimamdala):
Dhāraṇīs, Buddhist incantations or protective chants, are covered in von Hinüber's studies, especially those sourced from Central Asia and China. These texts are often complex and less examined, shedding light on the cultural diffusion of Buddhism.

13) Paishaci (Paisaci, Paishachi):
Paiśācī is discussed in context of Buddhist Middle Indic languages. v. H.'s studies focus on it being a variant of these languages, further explored in the book and significant to the linguistic history of early Buddhist texts.

14) Jataka:
Das Jātaka-Sammlung is key to understanding Buddhist literature as reviewed in the book. The Jātakas are stories about the previous lives of the Buddha, and v. H. has made important contributions to their study and the structure of the Pāli Canon.

15) Khotan:
Khotan-Sakisch contributions are noted among v. H.'s numerous engagements. These studies involve examining texts from the Khotan region, indicating the breadth of his research interests and his focus on central and south-central Asia.

16) Indian:
Indian studies include broad cultural, historical, and linguistic contexts. v. H. has made notable contributions to various aspects of Indian history, including technology, everyday monastic life, and specific regional script analysis.

17) China:
China is relevant regarding Buddhist texts found in Central Asia and their linguistic examination. v. H.'s research includes studies on such texts and their complexities, revealing the broader spread of Buddhist practices.

18) Poona:
Poona is noted for its encyclopedic dictionary projects, specifically the Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Sanskrit on Historical Principles. v. H.'s critical reviews of this dictionary highlight its theoretical and practical implications for Sanskrit studies.

19) Indus:
The Indus region is part of v. H.'s research, particularly in relation to Iranian and Indian names in ancient texts. These studies contribute to understanding the cultural interchange in the area and its historical significance.

20) Indu (Imdu):
[see source text or glossary: Indu]

21) Anga (Amga):
Aṅga refers to the nine divisions (the nine Aṅgas) of the Pāli Canon's structure, an area thoroughly analyzed by v. H. in the 1994 paper 'Die neun Aṅgas,' providing insights into the canonical formation of Buddhist texts.

22) Rand:
In the book review, the term 'Rand' is mentioned with regard to a specific issue in the reproduction of text, where the left margin is cut off on page 115. This technical note underscores the importance of accurate text reproduction.

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