Dating the Late Oirat Texts Through Paleographic and Orthographic Descriptions (Evidence from Kalmykia's Archival Materials): the Problem Revisited
https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2017-11-132-144
Abstract
The article deals with the problem of dating some late Oirat texts (lists, copies) compiked by Kalmyk Buddhist clerics. In terms of dating, researchers first turn to the data contained in colophons (afterwords) of texts. In addition, one can resort to various indirect data relevant to the original text (field labels, notes on margins, indication of the time of recitation, lists of family members, etc.), as well as those related to the storage of copies in archival funds — the time of receipt, the name of the description compiler, inventory number, etc.
The time when Zaya Pandita and his closest disciples and followers created translations of well-known Buddhist works can be well determined to a certain extent, chronological frameworks can be identified. But when it comes to later texts — with the vague circumstances of their creation, conditions of their storage, absence of any related dates - those are very difficult to date. One more means to cope with the task can be analysis of their linguistic characteristics (lexical, graphic, orthographic ones, etc.).
About the Author
D. Muzraeva
Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS (Elista, Russian Federation)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ph. D. in Philology (Cand. of Philological Sc.), Leading Research Associate, Head of Department of Mongolian Philology
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Review
For citations:
Muzraeva D. Dating the Late Oirat Texts Through Paleographic and Orthographic Descriptions (Evidence from Kalmykia's Archival Materials): the Problem Revisited. Mongolian Studies. 2017;9(2):132-144. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2500-1523-2017-11-132-144
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