Sanskrit-Chinese lexicon: being Fan Fan Yu, the first known lexicon of its kind dated to AD 517, transcribed, reconstructed and tr. by Raghuvira and his disciple Yamamoto Chikyo,..

ISBN: 9788177420746
Edition: New Delhi, 2007
Language: Sanskrit, Chinese
Subject: Buddhism
Publisher: ADITYA PRAKASHAN Indological Publishers & Booksellers

About the Book:

The Sanskrit-Chinese Lexicon, edited by Lokesh Chandra, is a significant transcription, reconstruction, and translation of the early Chinese work Fan Fan YY, compiled in AD 517 by the eminent Chinese monk Pao-chang. This lexicon, the earliest known thematic compilation of Sanskrit terms, includes words from the Chinese translations of Buddhist sutras, as well as records from lost travel accounts. It provides valuable historical insights through the names of Central Asian and Indian cities, monasteries, and caityas, quoted from the travel records of Chih-mong and Tang-wu-chieh. These monks, who preceded the famous HsYan-tsang, traveled extensively through India, Sri Lanka, and Central Asia, naming their teachers and documenting their journeys. This lexicon is a critical resource for the study of ancient Indian history, the evolution of Buddhism, and the spread of Buddhist teachings across Asia. The present translation, edited from three drafts by Prof. Raghuvira and Prof. Yamamoto Chikyo, offers scholars an invaluable tool for studying Buddhism’s historical and geographical impact on India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Central Asia, and China.