Aims

Improving in Buddhist philology through the acquiring of the capability to read original texts in several ancient languages from Southern or Central Asia.

Main themes

The lectures are devoted to the grammatical study of the ancient languages from South Asia (Pâli, Gândhârî, Buddhist Sanskrit) or Central Asia (Tokharian, Khotanese, Sogdian, Tibetan, Uighur), in which Buddhist works were composed or translated, as well as to the commented reading of selected texts in these languages. Besides the lectures, each student prepares by himself a text written in one of these languages, chosen according to his interest and his level of learning.

Content and teaching methods

This course provides a specialisation in Buddhist philology, and more specifically in the reading of original texts in several ancient langages of Southern and Central Asia, in which Buddhist works were composed or translated. The lectures are devoted, depending on the year (even/uneven), to the grammatical study of Indo-Aryan languages (Pâli, Gândhâri, Buddhist Sanskrit), Middle-Iranian languages (Khotan Saka, Sogdian) or Tocharian, as well as to the commentary of selected texts.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

A basic knowledge of the Sanskrit language is presupposed for attending the class.

Other credits in programs