The Twelfth International Symposium of Inter-Asia Research Networks Commemorating the Digitization Project of the Tibetan Manuscript Kanjur
“Rediscovering the Buddhist Canon from Multiple Perspectives”

Overview

The Buddhist canon is undoubtedly our primary source of knowledge about Buddhist teachings. Digitizing it greatly brings benefits to our studies: We can easily access and compare different language versions such as Pāli, Chinese, and Tibetan. We are now entering a new phase in the use and study of these valuable Buddhist texts, which are not only a medium for transmitting teachings, but also are human creations of artistic quality. This symposium commemorates the digitization project of the Tibetan Buddhist scriptures manuscript that Kawaguchi Ekai brought from Tibet to Toyo Bunko, which we publish under the name “Toyo Bunko Manuscript Kanjur.” It aims to rediscover the significance of the Buddhist canon in the Asian cultural tradition by shedding light on new projects, current studies, and perspectives for future studies.

YOSHIMIZU Chizuko, MIYAZAKI Tenshō
Symposium Coordinators
Tibetan Studies Group, Toyo Bunko

Program

Saturday, November 29

13:10–20 Welcome Address
HAMASHITA Takeshi (Research Department Head, Toyo Bunko)
13:20–30 Opening Remarks
YOSHIMIZU Chizuko (Tibetan Studies Group, Toyo Bunko)

13:30–14:45 Keynote Speech: Jonathan SILK (Leiden University)
The Development of Kanjur Studies “East” and “West”
14:45–15:45 TAKATA Tokio (Library Department Head, Toyo Bunko)
Dunhuang Chinese Residents and the Copying of Sūtras during the Tibetan Occupation

16:05–45 AITANI Yoshimitsu (Toyo Bunko)
Integration of Bibliographical Studies and Digital Archives: Towards Establishing a Hub for Buddhist Digital Libraries
16:45–17:25 NAKAMURA Satoru (University of Tokyo)
Technical Implementation of Digital Systems for Historical Materials: Experiences from Toyo Bunko’s Database Projects

Sunday, November 30

10:00–11:00 Markus VIEHBECK (University of Vienna)
Sūtra Collections in the Himalayan Borderlands: Local Manuscripts of an Early Tibetan Canonical Model
11:00–12:00 Christian LUCZANITS (SOAS, University of London)
Illuminated Tokzung Manuscripts from Mustang

13:30–14:10 YAO Fumi (University of Tokyo)
The Vinayapiṭaka of the Mūlasarvāstivādins, Its Embedded Sūtras, and the Lost Sūtrapiṭaka
14:10–50 SHŌJI Fumio (Risshō University)
The Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras in the Toyo Bunko Manuscript Kanjur: Distinctive Features and Their Significance in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā
14:50–15:30 MIYAZAKI Tenshō (Tsurumi University, Toyo Bunko)
Evidence in the Margins: How Kawaguchi Ekai Used the Tibetan Kangyurs for His Japanese Translations

15:50–16:30 Discussion
Commentator: SAITO Akira (International College of Postgraduate Buddhist Studies)
16:30 Closing Remarks