Review of Andrew Glass's Four Gandhari Samyuktagama Sutras
Journal name: Acta Orientalia
Original article title: Andrew Glass. Four Gandhari Samyuktagama Sutras (Senior Kharosthi Fragment 5).
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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K. R. Norman
Acta Orientalia:
(Founded in 1922 and published annually)
Full text available for: Andrew Glass. Four Gandhari Samyuktagama Sutras (Senior Kharosthi Fragment 5).
Year: 2008 | Doi: 10.5617/ao.7375
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
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Summary of article contents:
Introduction
The text under review is Andrew Glass's book titled Four Gandhari Samyuktagama Sutras, part of the Gandharan Buddhist Texts series. It is an edition and study of Senior Kharosthi Fragment 5, representing a significant contribution to the field of Gandharan studies. The book is based on Glass's 2006 PhD dissertation and follows years of collaborative efforts by researchers investigating the collection of Gandharan manuscripts found in Afghanistan. Notable figures in this endeavor include Richard Salomon, Mark Allon, and Timothy Lenz, who have collectively advanced the understanding of these ancient texts.
Critical Examination of Manuscripts
Glass's work emphasizes the significance of the Senior Collection, which comprises 24 birchbark scrolls containing various Buddhist texts. The collection's discovery in an earthenware pot, complete with dated inscriptions, points to its commissioned nature, likely produced by a Dharmaguptaka monastery around AD 130-40. This commissioned aspect lends a degree of homogeneity to the texts, which are noted for their connections to various extant versions across languages, including Pali, Chinese, and Tibetan. Glass outlines these connections in the book and highlights the importance of understanding the physical makeup and historical context of the manuscripts when analyzing their content.
Linguistic and Palaeographic Insights
In addition to textual analysis, the book provides detailed discussions on the palaeography and orthography of the Kharosthi manuscripts. Glass meticulously catalogs the variations of characters found in the text, contributing to the field’s understanding of the evolution of written forms in Gandhari. His study elaborates on phonological characteristics and morphological structures, presenting challenges and intricacies in understanding Gandhari as part of a broader continuum of Middle Indo-Aryan dialects. One key observation is that some Buddhist technical terms reflect earlier stages of linguistic development from non-Gandhari sources, highlighting the complexity of linguistic influences in ancient Buddhist texts.
Comparative Analysis of Sutras
Glass’s examination does not stop at the structural and linguistic analysis; it also includes a thorough comparative study of the individual sutras in the manuscript. Each of the four sutras contained within RS 5 is named and analyzed, with references made to parallels in Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan texts. This comparative effort showcases how interconnected these various traditions are, while also identifying unique aspects present in the Gandhari versions. The text reveals gaps in understanding certain sutras, notably where one sutra is incomplete, prompting discussions about scribal practices, potential misunderstandings, and the linguistic challenges faced by the scribe.
Conclusion
Andrew Glass's Four Gandhari Samyuktagama Sutras is a landmark study that combines meticulous editorial work with linguistic insights and comparative analysis of Buddhist texts. While revealing some errors that warrant further scrutiny, Glass’s work stands out as a foundational contribution to Gandharan studies—shedding light on the connections between various Buddhist traditions and the complexities of their manuscripts. The book is a testament to the collaborative effort in the academic community, and it sets the stage for future research into the Senior Collection and beyond.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What is the focus of Andrew Glass's book?
Andrew Glass's book offers an edition and study of Senior Kharosthi Fragment 5, providing a comprehensive analysis of its contents, physical description, paleography, phonology, and morphology, alongside comparisons with other Buddhist texts.
What collections of Gandharan texts have been studied?
Several collections of Gandharan texts have been studied, including the Senior Collection, Schoyen Collection, and Bajaur Collection, often named after their patrons or discovery locations.
What is the significance of the Senior Collection?
The Senior Collection consists of birchbark scrolls containing at least 41 Buddhist texts, believed to have been produced by a Dharmaguptaka monastery around AD 130-40.
How is the text in the study structured?
The book is structured with several chapters focusing on the arrangement, comparison, physical description, paleography, phonology, morphology, and includes transcriptions and translations of four sutras from the manuscript.
What are the main errors noted in the book?
The book contains a few errors, including incorrect cross-references, typographical mistakes, and unclear statements regarding the grammatical forms, which could have benefited from redrafting.
What future studies are anticipated in Gandhari research?
Future studies are expected to clarify variations in case forms and contribute to understanding the linguistic complexities of Gandhari texts, especially through the analysis of additional Senior manuscripts.
Glossary definitions and references:
Oriental and Historical glossary list for “Review of Andrew Glass's Four Gandhari Samyuktagama Sutras�. 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) Glass:
The term 'Glass' refers to Andrew Glass, a scholar engaged in the study of Kharosthi manuscripts and Gandhari texts. His work, including contributions to other publications in the field, is acknowledged for its significance in the study of Gandharan palaeography.
2) Pali (Palin):
Pali is one of the languages compared in the analysis of Gandhari texts in Andrew Glass's book. The comparison of Gandhari with Pali, along with Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan, helps to contextualize and understand the variations and similarities among these Buddhist texts.
3) Gandhari (Gamdhari):
Gandhari is the language of the manuscripts studied by Andrew Glass. It is a Middle Indo-Aryan language that shows specific regional linguistic features, such as a variation in character forms and phonological developments, which are pivotal to understanding the manuscripts.
4) Book:
The term 'Book' refers to the study conducted by Andrew Glass, which is a revised version of his Ph.D. dissertation. This book examines the Senior Kharosthi Fragment 5, focusing on its physical description, paleography, phonology, and the related Buddhist texts.
5) Sutra:
Sutra is a term denoting Buddhist scriptures. The book by Andrew Glass involves the study of certain Gandhari Sutras from the Senior Kharosthi Fragment 5, including their textual and phonological analysis, and their parallels in Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan.
6) Language:
[see source text or glossary: Language]
7) Sanskrit:
Sanskrit is one of the languages used for comparison in Andrew Glass's detailed study of Gandhari texts. It is essential for reconstructions and understanding the development of texts and terms that might have originated from Sanskrit or have parallels in it.
8) Buddhism (Buddhist tradition):
The term 'Buddhist' refers to the religious context of the texts studied in the book. The Gandhari manuscripts include Buddhist texts, and the study focuses on the linguistic, paleographic, and textual analysis of these Buddhist scriptures.
9) Tibetan:
Tibetan is another language compared in the book by Andrew Glass. The detailed analysis includes Tibetan versions of the texts, helping to reconstruct and understand the Gandhari manuscripts, and to find parallels and differences in Buddhist literature.
10) Future:
[see source text or glossary: Future]
11) Error:
The term 'Error' denotes both literal and typographical errors discussed in the review of Andrew Glass's book. These include issues like misplaced cross-references and minor typos that may or may not affect the interpretation of the Gandhari texts.
12) Kharoshthi (Kharosthi):
Kharosthi is the script used in the Gandhari texts studied by Andrew Glass. The book provides a detailed analysis of the script’s paleography and orthography, essential for understanding and interpreting the manuscripts accurately.
13) Sutta (Shutta):
Sutta is a Pali term similar to Sanskrit 'Sutra,' referring to Buddhist scriptures. The book by Andrew Glass includes the study of sutras written in Gandhari, and their comparison with Pali and other versions, helping to understand the textual transmission.
14) Buddhist Text:
[see source text or glossary: Buddhist Text]
15) Sutras:
Sutras are the Buddhist scriptures studied in the Gandhari manuscripts. Andrew Glass's book includes a detailed textual analysis of these sutras, comparing them with their counterparts in other languages like Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese.
16) Evam:
Evam is a term found in the Gandhari manuscripts. The book mentions the alternation of endings in Gandhari, and how such forms might cause difficulties in understanding the texts if not correctly interpreted.
17) Dharmaguptaka (Dharma-guptaka):
Dharmaguptaka is a Buddhist monastic order. The Sr. Collection manuscripts analyzed by Andrew Glass might have been produced by a member of a Dharmaguptaka monastery, according to the review, due to similarities with texts from that tradition.
18) Possession:
[see source text or glossary: Possession]
19) Confusion (Confused):
Confusion arises in the Gandhari texts due to variations in case endings and other linguistic features, which sometimes make the manuscripts difficult to interpret without contextual or parallel texts in other Buddhist languages.
20) Khandha (Khamdha):
[see source text or glossary: Khandha]
21) Aryan:
Aryan refers to the Indo-Aryan linguistic group, which includes the Gandhari language. Gandhari, as analyzed in the book, is one of the Middle Indo-Aryan languages with specific phonological and morphological features.
22) Cata:
Sadha is one of the sutras studied in Andrew Glass's book. It has parallels in the Pali texts dealing with the concept of khandhas, translated and reconstructed based on the Gandhari manuscript.
23) Asma (Ashma):
[see source text or glossary: Asma]
24) Shana (Sana):
Sana-sutra is one of the sutras analyzed in the book. It deals with perceptions and is named by Andrew Glass in analogy with similar Pali suttas listing perceptions, providing insight into its content and structure.
25) Khandha Samyutta (Khandha-samyutta):
[see source text or glossary: Khandha Samyutta]
26) Samyutta Nikaya:
Samyutta Nikaya is a Pali collection of connected discourses. In Andrew Glass's book, Gandhari versions of these connected discourses are compared with existing versions in Pali, shedding light on their textual relationships and variations.
27) Vasijata Sutta (Vasijata-sutta):
[see source text or glossary: Vasijata Sutta]
28) Communication (Communicate, Communicated, Communicating):
[see source text or glossary: Communication]
29) Afghanistan:
[see source text or glossary: Afghanistan]
30) Destruction:
Destruction refers to the physical state of the manuscripts, which were often found damaged, making the task of deciphering and reconstructing them considerably harder, as detailed by Andrew Glass in his book.
31) Theragatha (Thera-gatha):
[see source text or glossary: Theragatha]
32) Dharmapada (Dharma-pada):
[see source text or glossary: Dharmapada]
33) Perception:
[see source text or glossary: Perception]
34) Rhinoceros (Rhino):
[see source text or glossary: Rhinoceros]
35) Isolation:
Isolation might refer to the linguistic element where Gandhari had features similar to but distinct from other Middle Indo-Aryan languages, as discussed in Andrew Glass's book through the study of phonology and morphology.
36) Gandhara (Gamdhara):
Gandhara is the region from which the manuscripts originate. The study of Gandhari manuscripts provides historical insights into the linguistic and cultural aspects of Buddhist texts from this area, as detailed by Andrew Glass.
37) Pakistan:
[see source text or glossary: Pakistan]
38) Dialect:
Dialect refers to Gandhari being one of the many Middle Indo-Aryan dialects. The book studies how Gandhari shares features with other dialects within the Indo-Aryan group while retaining unique characteristics.
39) Nikaya (Nikâya):
[see source text or glossary: Nikaya]
40) Sandhi (Shandhi, Samdhi):
Sandhi refers to the grammatical phenomenon of combining sounds or morphemes. Andrew Glass's analysis addresses how sandhi rules apply to Gandhari words, influencing their pronunciation and written form in manuscripts.
41) Indian:
Indian refers to the broader linguistic and cultural context of the Gandhari texts, which belong to the Middle Indo-Aryan group of languages, forming part of the ancient Indian linguistic landscape covered in Andrew Glass's book.
42) Market:
[see source text or glossary: Market]
43) Sanna (Shanna, Samna):
[see source text or glossary: Sanna]
44) Riddhi (Rddhi):
Rddhi refers to a phonetic characteristic. Gandhari words like 'hirdha' show phonological developments rooted in Indo-Aryan languages. The book explains such phonetic shifts as part of the broader linguistic analysis.
45) Agara:
[see source text or glossary: Agara]
46) Judge:
[see source text or glossary: Judge]
47) Hope:
[see source text or glossary: Hope]