Acta Orientalia 2011 - Vol. 64

Imre Bangha:

Unearthing a forgotten poet: Vājīd in legends and in manuscripts. - In: AOH. - 64,1 (2011), S. 1-12
DOI: 10.1556/AOrient.64.2011.1.1

Abstract: The paper shows on the example of Vājīd, a poet once popular but neglected in colonial and nationalist historiography, that rich treasures of Indian literature still await unearthing and philological work. The extraordinary popularity of Vājīd (fl. 1600) in Hindi before the advent of western modernism is shown by the high number of manuscripts containing his works and by the fact that he was considered to be the best exponent of the poetic form arilla. Hardly anything of his more than hundred and twenty works is published today and he is scarcely mentioned in modern literary histories. The paper examines early sectarian and secular sources on Vājīd’s life, compares them with Vājīd’s poetry and with early manuscript material, follows up his modern reception and presents the range of this poet’s works.

Nirmala Sharma:

Surocolo bronzes and their tantric text. - In: AOH. - 64,2 (2011), S. 209-219
DOI: 10.1556/AOrient.64.2011.2.6

Abstract: New identifications of seven statuettes from Surocolo are proposed on the basis of the Nayasūtramaḍḍala from the Shingon denomination of Japanese Mantrayāna, whose central Buddha is Vajrasattva.

Kōichi Kitsudō

Two Chinese Buddhist texts written by Uighurs. - In: AOH. - 64,3 (2011), S. 325-343
DOI: 10.1556/AOrient.64.2011.3.5

Abstract: In the Mongol period, the Uighurs who settled around the Turfan region not only translated Chinese Buddhist works into the Uighur language, but also directly copied them in Chinese characters or composed original works with the combination of arbitrary quotations from Chinese works. The Insadi-Sūtra is such a work in question. The author of this paper succeeded in identifying two Chinese Buddhist texts written by Uighurs. They will help us better understand the background in which these Uighur-Chinese mixed texts came about.

Abdurishid Yakup:

An Old Uyghur fragment of the Lotus Sūtra from the Krotkov collection in St. Petersburg. - In: AOH. - 64,4 (2011), S. 411-426
DOI: 10.1556/AOrient.64.2011.4.2

Abstract: This paper presents an edition of a newly identified Old Uyghur fragment of the Lotus Sūtra from the Krotkov collection in the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The text mainly explains the merit of preaching, reciting and hearing the Lotus Sūtra through three parables, claiming that the text is from the nom čäčäki sudur ‘Law-Flower-Sūtra’, the Old Uyghur title of the Lotus Sūtra. However, there is no identical passage in the known Chinese translations of the Lotus Sūtra. Presumably, the Old Uyghur text is a unique composition by Uyghurs, though one cannot exclude the possibility that the Old Uyghur text might also be a translation of an unknown Chinese text of similar content.

Beáta Kakas:

Hayagrīvavidyā: Spell to the horse-necked one. - In: AOH. - 64,4 (2011), S. 427-435
DOI: 10.1556/AOrient.64.2011.4.3

Abstract: The Hayagrīvavidyā included in a Gilgit manuscript belongs to the earliest works invoking the god Hayagrīva. It is a spell which could be applied to achieve several aims. The god destroys the enemies, rescues from danger, his mantra protects against all sorts of evil, demons and black magic. His mare-face is believed to counteract the effects of enemy mantras.