The Sanskrit programme at Peking University has a long history, set up in the 1960s and subsequently expanded by renowned Indologist Ji Xianlin, who translated dozens of works
Almost two millennia after the language first came to China through Buddhist scriptures, renewed interest in Buddhist studies and recent discoveries of long-forgotten manuscripts in Tibet have sparked a revival of the study of the ancient language among Chinese scholars.
Beijing’s Peking University has now launched an ambitious programme to train more than 60 Chinese students in Sanskrit, with the hope of creating a team of researchers to help translate hundreds of manuscripts containing scriptures that have been found in Tibet and other centres of Buddhism, such as Hangzhou in China’s east.
“There is a rich manuscript collection in Tibet, particularly. Many of the originals have not been recovered, and are only available in Chinese and Tibetan, so it is important for us to find a way to render them back into Sanskrit,” said Satyavrat Shastri, a renowned New Delhi-based Sanskrit scholar and poet, who is in Beijing this week as a visiting lecturer to meet and advise students and teachers here.
“What they are trying to do here is invaluable, and they are making great progress,” Mr. Shastri said, adding that he was pleasantly surprised by the students’ technical level.
“I was struck by the interest, of both teachers and scholars, in little details, such as getting the pronunciation perfect. They recited the Bhagavad Gita with me, and it was a unique experience. The pronunciation, the metre [of reciting the verses], was remarkable.”
The Sanskrit programme at Peking University has a long history, set up in the 1960s and subsequently expanded by renowned Indologist Ji Xianlin, who translated dozens of works and is seen by many here as single-handedly introducing classical Indian culture to a whole generation of Chinese.
Today, the programme hopes to carry forward the legacy of Ji, who died in 2009.
The university’s efforts received a boost in 2005, when it was given support by the Ministry of Education to expand admissions, part of an effort to boost manuscript research.
Now, for the first time, the programme has a regular annual intake of students at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels, currently training between 50 and 60 students.
“We want to continue what Ji Xianlin started,” said Duan Qing, a professor in Sanskrit and Pali who once trained under Ji. “Our programme is quite mature now, and is the only complete Sanskrit programme in China.”
She attributed the recent boost in funding to increasing government support for the humanities, ignored during the People’s Republic’s first three decades when the country’s focus was on development alone.
“Sanskrit research is being viewed with importance now,” she said. “India and China were culturally connected. I don’t think there’s another country in the world where so many Sanskrit works were translated into another language, and this has been going on for more 1,000 years.”
Ms. Duan heads the Research Institute of Sanskrit Manuscripts and Buddhist Literature at Peking University, which is working with regional governments and hoping to create an archive for lost manuscripts and palm-leaves. Graduate students will work with the institute to help translate scriptures.
Yu Huaijin, a PhD student who is studying Kalidasa’s Kumarasambhava, said she joined the programme because she believed it was playing the role of “a bridge between two cultures.”
“India and China are neighbours, but they know little about each other, especially the younger generation. It is a big objective for me to introduce Indian culture and literature to a Chinese audience,” she said.
Few Chinese students are interested in Indian culture, with much greater interest in Western literature. Ms. Yu, too, was first a student of Western literature — until she happened to read a translation of the Mahabharata by Ji Xianlin. “It was a different world,” she said. “And one that few Chinese are aware of.”
Peking University has also begun working with Sanskrit programmes in universities in the West, particularly in Germany, to improve both teaching methods and archiving practices.
Indian universities, have however, appeared to show little interest in taking forward cooperation. Mr. Shastri, who is an honorary professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, admitted there was “precious little” cooperation between the two countries. There was room for much more, he said, encouraged by the positive response to his teaching methods this past week.
“We want to learn Sanskrit through traditional methods,” one teacher told him. “Not from the West.”
Keywords: Peking University, Buddhism
I am grateful for the article in The Hindu. I wish the Geerwaana Bhaashaa becomes the
national language of India I.e. Sindhu Desha. I firmly believe that the revival of Samskrit
SHALL unite India in attaining her past glory. Could all the SAMSKRIT MANUSCRIPTS
scattered all over the world be researched and preserved in India? I sincerely thanku you
again.
Really great article with very interesting information. You might want to follow up to this topic!?! 2011
Why is Bharath holding on to the fallacy that the Aryan culture and language(Sanskrit) came from a superior northern race? There is no archaelogical foundation to support this outmoded distortion of world history propogated by imperialism; in order to downplay the significance of IndiA'S GREAT CIVILIZATION. At the time that Sanskrit was purported to have been exported out of Europe, Europe at that time did not even have a recorded written script. TO DATE has an iota of Sanskrit evidence been discoverd in Europe? Constant Euro-Indian inter-migrations have created confusion over the origin of Sanskrit due to to cross lingual and colloquial influences. The role of DNA history will prove that migrations out of Bharath across the Eurals was the embryonic progenitor of the so called Indo-Germanic Linguistic realm. Now is the time to reaffirm what has been known all the while.If Bharathi's are in fact descended of the NOBLE ones, then they should excercise their birthright and explore Sanskrit in every sphere of Gyan to re- establish Truth. This information Age will surely lead to a rennaisance which will reaffirm the Sanathan Dharam if only we could ceize the opportunity, like China is doing.
Friends,there is no surprise in this. Sri Vishveshwar Bhat till recently the Editor of Vijaya Karnataka had written an article after his visit to China. He has given a graphic account of the enterprising character of Chinese. Chinese are now manufacturing on mass scale all pooja items required for temples including Haldi,Kumkum & even the idols for export market. We should not be surprised if they export in future even the Agama Pandits & pujaris to man our temples. Whatever the westerners are good at learning & doing like learning Sanskrit, Indology etc the Chinese will beat them. Our younger generation, political class & hifi society is busy in imitating the materialistic consumerism culture of the westerners which the west is trying to discard.
Even though China does not seem in favour of India as of now and it holds our territories, wants to claim more -if we Indians on a personal and on a official level try we can come together with them. There is no religious animosity between the two countries which is a great plus point. Together we can turn the history of the world towards cooperation and towards peace. This idea must be propagated by all of us! Now is the time to do so.
sanskrit is supposed to be the mother of all languages and definitely the mother of all regional languages of india. should we not make an attempt to understand our mother better? that too when others claim that they know our mother better than we ourselves do?
it was amazing that since 1960 china have entered sanskrit in their study.
we people are fool that till date neglecting sanskrit.
It is really heartening to know that Chinese are learning Sanskrit.But is it sufficient to be happy and contended to see them learning the language?What about us Indians? Are we going to get to know about all the hidden treasures in this language from the people of other countries? Why is it that we Indians are not taking any pride in learning the language? Why are we doubting the utility and the importance of the language? The government should not only provide financial support but also create more employment opportunities for Sanskrit students.Majority of the people are taking pride in learning a foreign language rather than learning our own language.People should realize that whatever is there in this world is in Sanskrit and whatever is not there in Sanskrit is not there in this world.This is not an exaggeration. Everything written in our scriptures and texts ages ago is being proven by Science now.Every Indian should know that Sanskrit is not a mere language but a fully developed science. Whatever be the choice of one's subject one has ample material in Sanskrit.Every Indian along with any subject should choose the relevant branch of knowledge in Sanskrit and pursue his studies to be a better person in the chosen area of interest.Having learnt Sanskrit mastering any language on this earth is an easy job. The greatest problem with us Indians is that we do not attach any importance to anything unless it is authenticated by the western people.Let us not feel contended reading the translations. Let us delve into the original text and enjoy the unending pleasure that we derive from that.Therefore Oh!Indian government! and my dear brothers and sisters please don"t ask the question as to how useful or relevant is Sanskrit in the modern times? But ask how will I choose the area of my interest and acquire knowledge in it? In the said article people want to study Buddhist manuscripts but people should know that there are lakhs of manuscripts related to different subjects are lying idle which have to be read and the secrets unraveled. This can be done only when each one of us give great importance to study the language.SANSKRIT can never get old or die.It is young and eternal.Let each of us make a serious and sincere beginning right now!!!
To Kumar: 18 May 2011 at 07:25 IST
Thanks for sharing.
Darkness of the skin is beautiful, darkness of the mind is not.
Learning Samskrtam opens a door for the mind. To those who want it, it is there. It has little to do with the use of the language in rituals and religious practices.
The Hindu, for a change, has proved that it is still Indian by heart!
When the Powers-that-be at the helm of Indian affairs who ought to have been the foremost in protecting this ocean of literary knowledge, and yet are the most immediate challengers to the survival of this DevaBhasha, it is heart warming to read this kind of moral support from unexpected quarters, whatever be their proclaimed and hidden agenda be!
It appears that even when the whole world stands behind this Devabhasha the Indian authorities are arraigned against this language of National pride ! Salutations to you Bharata Mata, when will you open the eyes of these monsters who are pretending to be asleep!
Some commentators have rightly pointed out the lack of interest in Sanskrit among Indians but its ridiculous to point out that it is some state/secular propaganda to undermine the language. I think the large issue is relative lack of academic interest among students to do graduate work in Sanskrit. Many universities offer courses in Indology but find difficult to receive financial support and quality students/researchers. Similarly, the filed of anthropology remains in disdain at Indian universities. This article has shown an academic interest from a Chinese university which should be actively promoted by Indian universities.
Also, it is unfortunate to associate languages with religion (and same goes for Farsi/Arabic) and in fact has to be dissociated with the religious bias. A reading of Gita should be only as a piece of ancient literature. A simple internet search will show that most of the information related to Sanskrit is hosted by religious groups who are more concerned with their jingoism rather than promoting the language. Is it not unfortunate that the best Sanskrit on-line dictionary is hoisted by a German university?
I commend The Hindu for publishing this article with a nice photograph. We hope to see more and more such news from India and abroad in the coming decade.
Govt of India in general and of Andhra Pradesh in particular should feel ashamed of how a MP allegedly caused to shutter down the famous Sanskrit Institution,Gowtamy Vidya Peetham, imparting Sanskrit from primary to PG level in Rajahmundry helping the 3rd generation correspondant of it for making fast buck at the Real Estate market.The Chinese initiative to rediscover Sanskrit should be an eye opener to revive the GVP at the earliest.GVP was developed with the MPLADS also.An independant enquiry into the illegal closure of GVP will make many startling things come to light.
Its heartening and applaudable to see the interest of chinese students in learning the divines language-Sanskrit.I hope the indian universities extend their cooperation by signing MOU and exchange programmes with peking university.
I am really delighted to know that Bejing's Peking University is giving and encouraging Sanskrit language in their university and the school in Scotland teaches sanskrit . There is a village in Karnataka here people talk in Sanskrit in their daily walks of life. But much more has to be done by the shool board , universities, govt and the people of India to come forward in learning the beautiful language
It's really great to learn that Chinese are promoting Sanskrit studies, while our own govt have miserably failed to revive the glory of ancient language Sanskrit after so many years of independence. Inspite of having difference with China, i admire their effort. no words are enough to praise their role in promoting ancient asian glory.
A stage may come when we will be learning Sanskrit from Chinese people.
Sanskrit needs to be revived in India and work has begun. I am learning spoken sanskrit thru SAMSKRITA Bharathi and I am already able to speak it comfortably.I think it is there in our system. Pl contact www.samskrita Bharathi.org to organise classes at your areas.
Elated reading this news article. Hope more is done in India with regards to Sanskrit as a language and also as something that has a huge wealth that has to be tapped. Indian govt should take up the cause and put in more money in this respect.
Ethnically i am tamil (though history books say that we are migratory sanskrit speaking people). But when i was interested in sanksrit and started studying through an NGO in chennai, there was a disturbing pattern emerged. There are few non-brahmins in that class including me. And when time went by, there was sense of alineation and, to some extent, there was a sense of discrimination. Most of the non-brahmins students dropped the course. Ironically though, majority of the so called brahmins in that class looked much darker than me. To this day, i kept wondering that these people are not realy getting as to who they are. Growth of Sanskrit in India is much difficult. Especially studying among those people who show very low life character without even knowing that the race they say is all but collosal mix of humanity, especially in India.
Learning Sanskrit in China and studying Chinese in India are important practices in understanding two rich and old cultures. It is through mutual respect and exchange of ideas between China and India that these two Asian neighbors, home of nearly one third of the population of the planet, work together in harmony for the upliftment of the people. As far as studying Chinese in India goes, we are aware of the CHINA BHAVAN in Tagore's Santiniketan and there may be other universities in India as well. In addition, the BELUR MATH, the international headquarter of the Ramakrishna Mission and Math, has their website: BELURMATH.ORG in Chinese script in addition to English and Russian. So the seed has already been sown in India, it is only for us to help nurture the sapling with utmost care and sincerity. The Hindu newspaper deserves special credit for making all round effort in dissemination of news items enabling readers to share a common platform for a healthy cause.
The Govt of India should jump and send many scholars to propagate Sanskrit, the great, ancient language. It is amzing that Chinese show interest like Germans. It is unfortunate that in India and that too states like Tamilnadu treat it with the stepmotherly attitude. Languages are means of communication and there is no big, small in its classification. It is again funny to note that this language is depicted as language of Aryans!
It was immense pleasure to know that Chinese are also learning Sanskrit with interest and they understand the importance of this language although we are on the verge of forgetting our culture and language. we feel proud speaking English and not giving importance of any thing which we have... we are in rush to adopt western culture as fast as we can.i appreciate 'The Hindu' who covered such news which other media never give importance and totally biased, Thanks The Hindu.
The term `Russia' is derived from the Sanskrit word `Rishi Varsha' -- the place of conglomeration/conference of Rishis. Sanskrit's reach might have spread far and wide. Hope at least now, our governments both at the Centre and State, give importance to Sanskrit ignoring any malacious propoganda citing religious colour. Take it. No other religion other than Hinduism is so tolerant and no other language other than the Sanskrit is examplarily secular.
Indeed great news. The fastest growing economy is taking a right step to celebrate some aspects of its ancient culture as well as preserve it for generations. Actually we (Hari Ravikumar) were inspired by English translation of ancient Chinese work and used that style to translate Bhagavad-Gita: You can read the book for free on our website: http://newbhagavadgita.in/2009/01/contents.html
I am pretty confident that most of the original Buddhist works should have been in Sanskrit or Prakrit or on one of the classical Indian Languages. The discovery of a lot of manuscripts in Tibet stand as a testimony to it. Hence I feel the efforts made by the Peking University to rediscover all of this is definitely something that we should all be proud of.I wish that more and more students get involved in this research and spread the message of Culture Unity that existed between these two nations centuries ago.
A really interesting article. I only know of Indians in China trying to learn their language. Would they learn sanskrit in India or China?
It is so refreshing to read that Sanskrit the ancient language of Bharath has received so much respect and interest in a distant land. It is unfortunate that our Govt under the garb of secularism has almost killed the language. Down south Sanskrit is looked down upon and has been labeled as a dead language. It is hoped taking a cue from the interest shown by the Chinese scholars and students, the Union Govt must come forward consolidate the joint effort in promoting this divine language.
It is really heartening to read the article.The Media usually highlights the differences and conflicts between the two countries!! It is very rare to learn that there are people who are trying to bridge the gap and move forward to bring the two cultures closer...Thanks to Hindu.
Before jumping in delight, discern the real intention of Chinese. Having failed to curb the quest for freedom among Tibetans, they are trying to undermine th scriptural strength of Buddhism .They are learning Sanskrit so that they can vehemently do so.
It is heartening to read this article. I feel sanskrit should be made a compulsory as part of the school curriculum so that the younger generation doesn't forget the rich language and literature.
But I beg to differ . could any one of you please tell me what is the use of sanskrit in 20th century ? For your information, i want to state that I am a Sanskrit graduate also. May be chinese are studying because they want to tap ancient India's treasures... may be......
Really appreciate Hindu for bringing out such news. Wish more of us would learn Sanskrit and give the importance it is due. This would also help us understand the loftiness of our ancient culture, and history, and hopefully set us back to the richness of our past.
Completely agree with Vivek and Venky. This gives us immense pleasure to know that our language of culture and heritage is getting patronage in China with which we share a great deal of common history, heritage and culture. Hope more and more such good news comes up in the future which will be helpful in a friendly environment in South Asia and surroundings. Many thanks to the Hindu,
Thanks for this article. I'm an overseas Chinese reader who grew up in Beijing. i had great respect of the indian people, cultures, languages and history. i hope like-minded indian and chinese intellectuals could join hands in fighting the narrow-minded, short-sighted jingoism in both of our two countries. our future do not lie on fighting each other (which the old racist colonial powers might want to see), but on exploring the outer-space together, and exploring our mind together - that is, to learn each other's languages.
We Indians are ignorant of the richness and worth of our culture and scriptures. Our educational system is in the hands of people who have little or no interest in the actual education of the mass. The middle class and majority are under the impression that equipping to financial or economic growth is real education. The curriculum and methodology does not make it interesting to the child to learn nor does it give the child or the teacher the freedom to explore. When will all these change for the better?
When the BJP government planned to setup a Sanskrit university in Karnataka, the Congress had termed it as a communal move. Its ironic that Sanskrit is being neglected in the country of its origin. Whenever the issue of cultural heritage and Sanskrit is brought up, opponents always term the move to introduce in school or public life as a communal move.
The decline in Samskrtam among the various river basins and plains of non-peninsular India is one of the great tragedies of the last several centuries. At least there is a greater awareness now to revive this classical language. It, along with our other classical language Tamizh, has, as mothers of two distinct families of languages in the philology tree, given rise to all great languages of Bharatam over several millennia. Culture, and therefore civilizations within them, can be defined in many ways; one strong contributor is language, a uniquely human invention. Happy to see even other cultures outside the country show scholarly interest. Hope more such efforts get funded not just within the Indo-European family of languages but also with other families. Classical literature along with the shastras and puranas are badly in need of this revival.
I am very delighted to read this article about the importance given to Sanskrit in China. There is a school in Scotland which teaches Sanskrit as one of the subjects to students. I feel much more needs to done to promote study of Sanskrit Language & Literature in India than being done at present.
This shows why China is ahead of us. We are trying to learn foreign languages ignoring our own Sanskrit. But they try to learn Sanskrit even though their language,Chinese, is as old as Sanskrit. In India we give religious colour if somebody start talking about teaching Sanskrit. See the last two para in the article.We are ignoring Sanskrit without knowing the importance of the language.But Chinese and Germans know better than us about the importance of Sanskrit Language.
I am pleased to know about such programs for teaching Sanskrit language in China which is a neighbouring country for India. This is the best way of coming nearer in understanding both cultures and traditions of both countries. Even visiting of Buddhist temples by Chinese has become very common. This is an encouraging steps for both countries.
It is indeed great to see to great cultures coming close through this ancient language. Hope India reciprocates and tries to learn what Chinese can teach us about their ancient and magnificient history. Hope this opening up brings two most populous countries together, rather than the daily bickering we hear in the news.
What a wonderful article!!!! I am glad 'The Hindu' is balanced to show all news!!! I have not seen this in any other mainstream Indian Media.
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