Periodic Reporting for period 3 - BuddhistRoad (Dynamics in Buddhist Networks in Eastern Central Asia, 6th-14th Centuries)
Période du rapport: 2020-08-01 au 2022-01-31
The BuddhistRoad Project aims at providing an over-all understanding of the manner in which the Buddhist centres located along the Eastern Central Asian stretch of the Silk Road served as major conveyors of intercultural exchanges between the 6th to 14th centuries. The project highlights in various ways how the dynamic processes of transfer and exchange were the driving forces behind the development of a multicultural and mixed religious civilisation. The importance of understanding the developments that took place in Buddhist Central Asia can serve as a model for cultural exchanges in the medieval world a wider sense - and might even become applicable to modern and contemporary multi-cultural and multi-religious societies. The dynamics underlying the development of the Buddhist centres along the Silk Road were fuelled by a shared religious culture in which knowledge was transmitted across vast distances. In order to arrive at a broad, yet substantial understanding of how Buddhist cultures were fostered in Eastern Central Asia, the project builds on a serie of specific topics, such as legitimation, patronage, sacred space, pilgrimage, ritual practices, and transfer and exchange of material culture, non-Buddhist influences. Each of these will in turn be underlined by specific case studies so as to elucidate the finer 'mechanics' in cultural transfer.*
* This report of activities follows the topics outlined in the “Expected Results” as stated in the Grant Agreement (under section 2.b.4. in Annex 1): Book A, a monograph by the PI, Book B, most likely in two volumes co-authored by all team members, and working papers. As a major change to the original plan, 2-3 conference proceedings will be published additionally, and the format of working papers was upgraded by establishing the open access, peer reviewed BuddhistRoad Paper series (https://omp.ub.rub.de/index.php/BuddhistRoad/catalog).
* This report of activities follows the topics outlined in the “Expected Results” as stated in the Grant Agreement (under section 2.b.4. in Annex 1): Book A, a monograph by the PI, Book B, most likely in two volumes co-authored by all team members, and working papers. As a major change to the original plan, 2-3 conference proceedings will be published additionally, and the format of working papers was upgraded by establishing the open access, peer reviewed BuddhistRoad Paper series (https://omp.ub.rub.de/index.php/BuddhistRoad/catalog).
Specific Research Results and Achievements by Team Members (for peer reviewed, open access publications see continuous reporting):
1. Carmen Meinert (PI)
- 2018 publication of project overview (WP 1.7); 2018-19 contribution to co-authored chapters of book B (WP 1.4); 2019 article on Tantric ritual practices related to the cult of Vajravārāhī in the Tangut Empire (WP 1.2); 2020 together with Dr. Sørensen edited first conference volume on legitimation, patronage, sacred space and pilgrimage (WP 1.4 1.5); 2020 introduction with Dr. Sørensen and chapter on Tantric Buddhist sacred space in the Tangut Empire to this volume (WP 1.5);
- due to sick leave in most of 2019, Prof. Meinert has been unable to produce any academic results in the past, academic year (2019/2020).
2. Yukiyo Kasai
- front-line research on manuscripts and manuscript fragments written in the ancient language of the Uyghurs in Eastern Central Asia (‘Old Uyghur’) with special focus on their religious significance for the Buddhist and Manichaean communities in the Turfan region (WP 1.3); relationship of Buddhism in the Uyghur rulers’ strategy of legitimation (WP 1.4); doctrines (WP 1.1) and sacred space conceptions (WP 1.5) in Old Uyghur materials; contributions to three chapters of book B (WP 1.4 1.5);
- currently editing of second conference volume (together with Haoran Hou) (WP 1.2 1.6).
3. Henrik H. Sørensen (project-coordinator)
- focus on the study of Buddhism in mainly the oasis of Dunhuang with a wide range of research topics based on the study of manuscripts and cave-sanctuaries including patronage, donors, magical amulets, sacred space, ritual practices, theoretical formulations concerning Buddhist networks and systems of transference, a survey of the major Buddhist temples in Dunhuang, ascetic monks and cave dwellers, etc (WP 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.6); together with the PI editing of first conference volume (WP 1.4 1.5);
- currently working on Buddhist nuns in Dunhuang from the perspective of their social status and relations, and a chapter for the second volume of Book B (both WP 1.5).
4. Hou Haoran (new team member from 01.02.2019)
- as de facto replacement for Prof. Solonin research on issues pertaining to Buddhism in the Tangut Empire: ritual practices, and imperial participation in Buddhist rituals on behalf of the nation (WP 1.2 1.4); study of sources in three languages (Chinese, Tibetan, Tangut) in order to arrive at a more complete picture of Tangut Buddhist culture (book B section, WP 1.5);
- currently editing of second conference volume (together with Dr. Kasai) (WP 1.2 1.6).
5. Kirill Solonin (left the project after half a year on 31.07.2018):
- two studies relating to Buddhism in the Tangut empire, a section for the co-authored book B, vol. 1 on legitimation and a chapter to the first conference volume (WP 1.4).
6. Erika Forte (left the project after one year and seven months on 31.07.2019):
- work on archaeological sites in the oasis of Khotan (three sections for Book B and chapter for first conference volume, WP 1.4 1.5); editor of a special issue of the BuddhistRoad Paper 6.1 which includes contributions from a group of important international scholars in the field of Central Asian studies (WP 1.6;
- planned BuddhistRoad Paper entitled “Cultural Transfers in Central Asia and Votive Clay Plaques from Khotan” (WP 1.6).
1. Carmen Meinert (PI)
- 2018 publication of project overview (WP 1.7); 2018-19 contribution to co-authored chapters of book B (WP 1.4); 2019 article on Tantric ritual practices related to the cult of Vajravārāhī in the Tangut Empire (WP 1.2); 2020 together with Dr. Sørensen edited first conference volume on legitimation, patronage, sacred space and pilgrimage (WP 1.4 1.5); 2020 introduction with Dr. Sørensen and chapter on Tantric Buddhist sacred space in the Tangut Empire to this volume (WP 1.5);
- due to sick leave in most of 2019, Prof. Meinert has been unable to produce any academic results in the past, academic year (2019/2020).
2. Yukiyo Kasai
- front-line research on manuscripts and manuscript fragments written in the ancient language of the Uyghurs in Eastern Central Asia (‘Old Uyghur’) with special focus on their religious significance for the Buddhist and Manichaean communities in the Turfan region (WP 1.3); relationship of Buddhism in the Uyghur rulers’ strategy of legitimation (WP 1.4); doctrines (WP 1.1) and sacred space conceptions (WP 1.5) in Old Uyghur materials; contributions to three chapters of book B (WP 1.4 1.5);
- currently editing of second conference volume (together with Haoran Hou) (WP 1.2 1.6).
3. Henrik H. Sørensen (project-coordinator)
- focus on the study of Buddhism in mainly the oasis of Dunhuang with a wide range of research topics based on the study of manuscripts and cave-sanctuaries including patronage, donors, magical amulets, sacred space, ritual practices, theoretical formulations concerning Buddhist networks and systems of transference, a survey of the major Buddhist temples in Dunhuang, ascetic monks and cave dwellers, etc (WP 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.6); together with the PI editing of first conference volume (WP 1.4 1.5);
- currently working on Buddhist nuns in Dunhuang from the perspective of their social status and relations, and a chapter for the second volume of Book B (both WP 1.5).
4. Hou Haoran (new team member from 01.02.2019)
- as de facto replacement for Prof. Solonin research on issues pertaining to Buddhism in the Tangut Empire: ritual practices, and imperial participation in Buddhist rituals on behalf of the nation (WP 1.2 1.4); study of sources in three languages (Chinese, Tibetan, Tangut) in order to arrive at a more complete picture of Tangut Buddhist culture (book B section, WP 1.5);
- currently editing of second conference volume (together with Dr. Kasai) (WP 1.2 1.6).
5. Kirill Solonin (left the project after half a year on 31.07.2018):
- two studies relating to Buddhism in the Tangut empire, a section for the co-authored book B, vol. 1 on legitimation and a chapter to the first conference volume (WP 1.4).
6. Erika Forte (left the project after one year and seven months on 31.07.2019):
- work on archaeological sites in the oasis of Khotan (three sections for Book B and chapter for first conference volume, WP 1.4 1.5); editor of a special issue of the BuddhistRoad Paper 6.1 which includes contributions from a group of important international scholars in the field of Central Asian studies (WP 1.6;
- planned BuddhistRoad Paper entitled “Cultural Transfers in Central Asia and Votive Clay Plaques from Khotan” (WP 1.6).
Among the project’s achievements has been significant discoveries in the primary sources many of which have either been overlooked in the past, or were simply unknown. This has enabled the team to bring new results to the fore, some highly significant, as well as being in a better position to correct the mistakes of the past and provide new venues for accessing and understanding the primary issues of the field, including a vast amount of primary sources (in Chinese, Tangut, Tibetan, Old Uyghur).
Proceedings from the three conferences planned to take place in the course of the project are envisaged to result in two to three volumes of proceedings, an output not planned in the original proposal; however, due to the high quality of conference contributions, it was decided to aim to publish also conference volumes (first volume „Buddhism in Central Asia I: Patronage, Legitimation, Sacred Space, and Pilgrimage“, has been published in January of 2020 (https://buddhistroad.ceres.rub.de/en/publications/books/ second volume is currently being compiled).
According to the grant agreement, only working papers were envisioned for publishing ongoing research results, however this format was upgraded as the online, open access BuddhistRoad Paper series . So far, eleven BuddhistRoad Papers have been published, further 15 are currently produced or planned. This material constitutes in many ways the core of the project’s scholarly output, and as such represents cutting-edge research. This publication format attracted scholars from related fields. The EU as well as the German Research Council (DFG) both agreed to include the publication of research results from the related project “Nyang ral’s Codification of rNying ma Literature and Ritual” (under the category related research, two papers are currently in the peer review process, more papers are expected.
Proceedings from the three conferences planned to take place in the course of the project are envisaged to result in two to three volumes of proceedings, an output not planned in the original proposal; however, due to the high quality of conference contributions, it was decided to aim to publish also conference volumes (first volume „Buddhism in Central Asia I: Patronage, Legitimation, Sacred Space, and Pilgrimage“, has been published in January of 2020 (https://buddhistroad.ceres.rub.de/en/publications/books/ second volume is currently being compiled).
According to the grant agreement, only working papers were envisioned for publishing ongoing research results, however this format was upgraded as the online, open access BuddhistRoad Paper series . So far, eleven BuddhistRoad Papers have been published, further 15 are currently produced or planned. This material constitutes in many ways the core of the project’s scholarly output, and as such represents cutting-edge research. This publication format attracted scholars from related fields. The EU as well as the German Research Council (DFG) both agreed to include the publication of research results from the related project “Nyang ral’s Codification of rNying ma Literature and Ritual” (under the category related research, two papers are currently in the peer review process, more papers are expected.