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Daniel Berounský - Tibor Porció; "Religion and Politics among Uygurs and Tibetans During the Yuan Period"

VO, 2 SSt., 5 ECTS.

Studienplancodes: BA13, EC1-2

Termin: Lehrveranstaltung in 2 Blöcken:

Block 1:

23.4.: 9:00-11:30, SR 3 SAK
24.4.: 11.45-14:15, SR 1 TB
25.4.: 9:00-11:30, SR 3 SAK
26.4.: 9:00-10:00, SR 2 TB
27.4.: 12:30-15:00, SR 1 TB

Block 2:

14.5.: 17:00-20:00, SR 2 TB
15.5.: 11:45-14:30, SR 1 TB
16.5.: 17:00-20:00, SR 1 TB
18.5.: 12:30-15:00, SR 1 TB.

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Part I: Tibetans (Daniel Berounský)

During the period of short Yuan dynasty in China (1271 - 1368) Tibetans appeared in a rather chaotic situation in which internal unrests were even worsened by incursions of Mongols into Tibet. But such time of the political turmoil also contributed to the establishment of the specifically Tibetan notions of rulership, and also other specific Tibetan traditions in which the political concerns blended with the religious ones.

During the lectures the complicated and dramatic events in Tibet will be outlined first and discussed against the broader background of the Tibetan history. Several leading Tibetan figures of the given time, mostly those from Sa skya and Bka’ rgyud traditions will be introduced. The last part will focus on the emergence of the first lineages of recognized "reincarnations" (yang srid, sprul sku), the nature of the tantric teachings of that time and the eschatological tradition connected with the so called "hidden lands" (sbas yul).

Literature:

• Berounský, D., 2010, Entering dead bodies and the miraculous power of the Kings: The landmark of Karma Pakshi’s reincarnation in Tibet, Part I. MONGOLO-TIBETICA PRAGENSIA ’10, Linguistics, Ethnolinguistics, Religion and Culture. Vol. 3/2. Edited by J. Vacek and A. Oberfalzerová. Praha: Charles University and Triton, 2010, pp. 7–33. ISSN 1803-5647
• Berounský, Daniel, 2011, Entering dead bodies and the miraculous power of the Kings: The landmark of Karma Pakshi's reincarnation in Tibet. Part II. MONGOLO-TIBETICA PRAGENSIA '11, Ethnolinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Religion and Culture. Vol. 4/2. Edited by Jaroslav Vacek and Alena Oberfalzerová. Praha: Charles University and Triton, 2011, pp. 7–29. ISSN 1803-5647 • Ehrhard, Franz-Karl. 1999. Political and Ritual Aspects of the Search for Himalayan Sacred Lands. In Sacred Spaces and Powerful Places in Tibetan Culture, ed. T. Huber, pp. 240-257. Dharamsala: LTWA.
• Petech, Luciano, 1990, Central Tibet and Mongols. The Yüan – Sa skya Period of Tibetan History Roma: Instituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente.
• Petech, Luciano, 2003, The Establishment of the Yüan – Sa-skya Partnership. In: McKay, Alex, ed., The History of Tibet, Vol. II, London – New York: RoutledgeCurzon, pp. 338-361.
• Richardson, H.E., 1958, The Karma-pa Sect: A Historical Note. Part I. In: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Nos. 3–4, pp. 139–164.
• Richardson, H.E., 1959, The Karma-pa Sect: A Historical Note. Part II. In: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Nos. 1–2, pp. 1–18.
• Roerih, G., 1996, The Blue Annals. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi (reprint from Calcutta 1949 edition, translation of Deb ther sngon po with Gendun Choemphel)

Part 2: Uygurs (Tibor Porció)

From the 13th century onwards the political, social and cultural development in Central Asia was to an increasing degree influenced by contacts between Tibetans, Mongols, Uygurs and Chinese. The Qocho Uygurs were the first Central Asian kingdom to submit voluntarily to Chinggis Khan (in 1209) and their submission provided Chinggis Khan with important military and psychological capital in his quest to dominate wider areas of Central and East Asia. The Uygurs possessed the very administrative and cultural skills and knowledge that the Mongols themselves lacked. In the Yuan Empire, while the activity of Tibetans is confined to Buddhism alone, Uygur influences are apparent in many fields; in military and civilian offices, in the arts and letters, and also in the religious life and institutions.

During the lectures these influences will be discussed and analyzed in details, with a special focus on the last one.

Literature:

• Beckwith, Christopher 1993. The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia: a history of the struggle for great power among Tibetans, Turks, Arabs, and Chinese during the early Middle Ages (Princeton N.J.: Princeton University Press,) • Brose, Michael C. 2008. Subjects and Masters: Uyghurs in the Mongol Empire. Western Washington Univ Center.
• Elverskog, J. 1997. Uygur Buddhist Literature. Silk Road Studies I. Turnhout.
• Gabain, A. v. 1961; Der Buddhismus in Zentralasien; Handbuch der Orientalistik; Leiden, Köln
• Zieme, P. 1992. Religion und Gesellschaft im uigurischen Königreich von Qočo. Abhandlungen der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Akademie der Wissenschaften 88. Opladen