Jitari: A critical edition, translation and historical-philosophical study on the basis of a new Sanskrit manuscript at the China Tibetology Research Denter (Beijing)

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It has been known for some time that a large number of rare Sanskrit manuscripts are preserved in Lhasa. In 1961 a collection of 250 manuscripts was sent to the library of the Palace of National Minorities, Beijing. Most of the manuscripts were returned to Lhasa in 1993, but photocopies and microfilms of them were made in 1987 and are kept now in the China Tibetology Research Center (CTRC), Beijing. Recent agreement between the CTRC and the Austrian Academy of Sciences has already enabled two major publications: Jenendrabuddhi’s Pramāṇasamuccayaṭīkā (ch. 1) and Dharmakīrti’s Pramāṇaviniścaya (ch. 1 & 2). (see also Steinkellner 2004, Franco 2006). Further publications on the basis of these precious materials are now under preparation. However, access to these rare documents remains highly restricted. We (my colleague Dr. Chu and myself) are therefore fortunate to have been granted access to a major manuscript (218 leafs, see also the Report in Attachment 2) containing several works, some hitherto completely unknown, of the philosopher Jitāri (ca. A.D. 940-980).Jitāri is a renowned Buddhist philosopher who exercised a strong influence in the later period of the history of South Asian Buddhist philosophy. However, until recently our knowledge about Jitāri has been very limited. A preliminary partial reading has confirmed that at least eleven works are contained in this manuscript: 1. Jātinirākṛti 2. Sāmānyanirārkṛti 3. Īśvaravādimataparīkṣā 4. Avayavinirākaraṇa 5. Vedaprāmāṇyanirākṛti 6. Vijñaptimātratāsasiddhi 7. Apohasiddhi 8. Kṣaṇabhaṅgasiddhi 9. Dvijātidūṣaṇa 10. Bhāvikāraṇavāda 11. Śrutikartṛsiddhi The value of these newly available materials cannot be overstated; they will substantially enrich our knowledge not only of Jitāri's thought, but also of his historical and philosophical relationship to other authors. It will thus allow for a better understanding of the later period of Buddhist philosophy in South Asia. The goal of the proposed project is to prepare an overall survey of the entire manuscript, prepare critical editions and translations of some of treatises listed above together with a historical-philosophical study.