資料紹介
IIAS Newsletter | #34 | July 2004 30
> Publications
The History of Tibet
This three-volume publication compiles articles on the political,
religious, social and cultural history of Tibet. Review >
Tibet
By Vladimir Uspensky
T
ibetan studies form an amalgam
Buddhist perspective on Tibetan histo-
ry, originating from Tibetan written
sources, is deep-seated in modern
scholarship. As McKay writes, ‘the
dominance of Religious Studies/Bud-
dhology’ results in a ‘serious historical
imbalance’ (Vol. 1,
資料の原本内容
> Publications
The History of Tibet
Tibet
This three-volume publication compiles articles on the political,
religious, social and cultural history of Tibet.
ited sources, it is surprising that this
obscure field within Tibetan studies is
presented in such detail. The main subjects of this volume are early Tibetan
statehood, the emergence of the
Tibetan empire and its expansion,
ancient beliefs and sacred landscapes.
The early period of the dissemination
of Buddhism and its social and political implications are treated in detail;
By Vladimir Uspensky
T
ibetan studies form an amalgam
with Buddhist studies, and the
Buddhist perspective on Tibetan history, originating from Tibetan written
sources, is deep-seated in modern
scholarship. As McKay writes, ‘the
dominance of Religious Studies/Buddhology’ results in a ‘serious historical
poration of Tibet into the Mongol Yuan
Empire, contacts between Tibetan high
lamas and the emperors of Ming China,
and the rise to power of the Gelugpa
School are well covered. The two local
Chinchuan wars (1747-49 and 1771-76)
receive an entry each. Other important
events receive insufficient attention,
including the Manchu Qing Empire’s
administration of Tibet. The 1750 Lhasa
Revolt and Gurkha War (1788-1792) are
scattered over several entries.
300 Buddhist Deities, Institute of Oriental Studies, St. Petersburg
Review >
Modern dilemmas
‘Tibet was an island of stability in revolutionand war-torn East and Central Asia’
several entries are dedicated to the Bon
religion, its origins and early history.
Tibet as a Buddhist country, the mainstream concern of Tibetan studies, is the
focus of the second volume: the beginning of the ‘Second Propagation’ of Buddhism, the establishment of monasticism, and the origins of the ‘rule by
incarnation’ culminating in the
supremacy of the Dalai Lama. The incor-
imbalance’ (Vol. 1, p. 24). The Western
image of Tibet as a mythical country
outside time and space – the ‘ShangriLa image’ – has penetrated not only
popular culture but also scholarly
research.
Ancient Tibet
The first volume is dedicated to the
ancient history of Tibet. Given the lim[
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The focus of the third volume is
twentieth-century Tibet prior to the
flight of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to
India in 1959. This volume is largely
concerned with the policies of foreign
powers towards Tibet and the Tibetan
government’s attempts to establish contacts with the outside world. The Simla
Convention, Indo-Tibetan border issues
and British contacts with Tibet in the
1920s are treated in detail, though the
1904 Younghusband Mission does not
receive a separate entry. Many newly
discovered facts concerning the Tibetan
policy of tsarist and communist Russia
are also discussed. As McKay justly
remarks, the de-facto independent state
of Tibet was ‘an island of stability’ (Vol.
3, p. 2) in revolution- and war-torn East
and Central Asia. There was, however,
little unity within the ruling elite; their
Senior scholars in the humanities and social sciences are invited to apply for a fellowship at the
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS) in Wassenaar, located between the old university
town of Leiden and The Hague.
NIAS policy emphasizes the symbiosis among various disciplines within the humanities and social
sciences, and between diverse scientific methods. The Institute has taken on an expanded role in the
internationalisation of scholarly endeavours and in addressing major issues of scientific and societal
concern. This objective is reflected in the structure of the Institute. In part, work is organised in
multidisciplinary research theme groups that have a distinctly international character. Much scholarly
endeavour, however, is best carried out by individual researchers. Around half of the Fellows pursue
their own individual research projects.
Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to devote themselves exclusively to their own
academic projects, individ...
