2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Medicine and Magic from India to China via Turfan: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Tocharian Medical and Esoteric Buddhist Texts based on the Sanskrit, Pali, Chinese and Tibetan Parallels
| Project/Area Number |
23K12159
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
Pan Tao 京都大学, 文学研究科, 特定講師 (40961553)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-04-01 – 2026-03-31
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| Keywords | Tocharian / Buddhism / Linguistics |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Research conducted: The principal investigator (PI) has re-edited and translated Tocharian texts, specifying their parallel texts in Sanskrit, Pali, Chinese and other languages so as to decipher unclear Tocharian words based on the parallel texts or the original Sanskrit terms in the case of loan translation. Research on Tocharian medical and Buddhist texts has been carried out.
Results of the research conducted: PI has published several papers on Tocharian, given conference talks in Germany. PI has submitted several abstracts to conferences to be held in FY2024. PI has attended conferences in Tokyo and discussed research problems with Japanese and foreign colleagues. PI has conducted field work and research in archaeological sites in Xinjiang China.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
PI has been working on the Tocharian fragments related to the research project, i.e. medical and esoteric Buddhist texts. The relevant Tocharian texts are re-edited and translated into English with philological and buddhological commentary. Computer-assisted philological investigation and linguistic analysis of Tocharian lexemes are performed. Research concerning Tocharian Buddhism and linguistics continues as well. PI is now preparing three papers on newly discovered Tocharian and Sogdian texts in Xinjiang, Tocharian lexicon and etymology. International cooperation with colleagues in China and Europe is proceeding smoothly. PI has been working on his keynote speech about Tocharology’s contribution to Buddhist and historical studies during the 68th Toho Gakkai held in Kyoto.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
For FY2024 PI will keep working on the Tocharian medical and esoteric Buddhist texts, as well as Tocharian Buddhism and lexicon. Two conference talks about Tocharian lexicon, Buddhist texts and linguistics will be given in Austria and Switzerland. Two papers on Tocharian lexicon and Buddhism will be published. PI will have research stays in Xinjiang China, so as to have cooperation with Chinese colleagues there and investigate newly discovered Tocharian and Sogdian texts. PI will organise an international conference in Kyoto in October 2024, and the theme is "Kyoto Symposium of Silk Road Studies, from India to China via Turfan". Joint research with colleagues in China, Germany, Austria and Italy will be conducted regarding Tocharian texts and linguistics.
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