Tagged: Epigraphy
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Karpik - Light on Epigraphic Pali - More on the Buddha Teaching in Pali (2023)
1Stefan Karpik argues that the 20th-century scholarly consensus that the Buddha spoke Māgadhī, as reflected in Eastern Aśokan inscriptions, is a myth. He contends, based on computer searches and a re-examination of Pali commentaries, that the term 'Māgadhī' was deliberately avoided and that the Buddha, a Kosalan, most likely spoke Pali. Karpik introduces the concept of 'Epigraphic Pali' to reclassify what others have called 'central-western epigraphic Prakrit', demonstrating through analysis of nine inscriptions from various contexts that this widespread inscriptional language is a later, naturally evolved form of canonical Pali. This evidence suggests Pali was not an artificial, ecclesiastical language but a standard, non-sectarian vernacular used across India for centuries. Consequently, he proposes that all early Buddhist canons were originally composed in Pali, the language of the Buddha, before being transmitted and adapted into other dialects and languages, a hypothesis that resolves questions of linguistic authenticity without privileging any single canon.
Salomon - What Happened To Buddhism In India? (2018)
2Richard Salomon's essay explores the complex and controversial question of why Buddhism disappeared from India around the 13th century after thriving for over a millennium. Critiquing the common practice of listing multiple, disconnected causes—such as loss of patronage, persecution, internal decay, and Muslim invasions—Salomon argues that asking "why" is less fruitful than asking "how" the decline occurred. He contrasts the two dominant scholarly narratives - the "friendly embrace" theory, which posits that Hinduism peacefully assimilated a weakened Buddhism (Monier-Williams, R.C. Mitra), and the opposing view of relentless hostility and persecution (Giovanni Verardi). Through an analysis of several inscriptions, Salomon demonstrates a long and complex process of syncretism and absorption, showing the Buddha's incorporation as an avatāra of Viṣṇu, the equation of Buddhist and Hindu deities, and the veneration of Hindu gods like Vāsudeva within Buddhist contexts from an early period. Ultimately, he concludes that the most compelling explanation for Buddhism's demise is its gradual assimilation into the broader Hindu religious milieu, which caused it to lose its distinct identity over time.
Skilling - The Advent of Theravāda Buddhism to Mainland South-east Asia (1997)
3Based on Pāli inscriptions from the 5th to 8th centuries CE found in the Pyu kingdom of Śrikṣetra (Burma) and the Mon kingdom of Dvāravatī (Siam), this paper argues for the predominance of Theravāda Buddhism in mainland Southeast Asia during the first millennium. The evidence lies in both the Pāli language of the epigraphs—a strong indicator of the Theravādin school—and their content, which includes specifically Theravādin recensions of canonical texts, Abhidhamma fragments, and non-canonical works like the Visuddhimagga. While establishing a Theravādin presence, the author finds it futile to trace its origins directly to either the Mahāvihāra or Abhayagiri schools of Ceylon due to a lack of conclusive evidence. Instead, the paper posits that this Buddhism evolved independently, influenced by various regions of India and developing a unique "local genius" seen in distinctive art and architecture. This flourishing Buddhist culture was not replicated in early Cambodia, where Brahmanism remained dominant and similar epigraphic and archaeological evidence is absent.
Wynne - Did the Buddha exist? (2019)
4In his article, Alexander Wynne argues against extreme skepticism regarding the Buddha's existence, presenting evidence that early Buddhist discourses are largely authentic historical records. He refutes claims that the Buddha is a myth by citing the high fidelity of the texts' oral transmission, archaeological and inscriptional evidence from the Aśokan era that corroborates details about the Buddha's clan and disciples, and the texts' consistent depiction of a pre-imperial India before the rise of large cities, coinage, and brick architecture. Wynne's central thesis is that the teachings reveal a singular and idiosyncratic personality—a quiet, pragmatic, and sometimes reticent teacher—whose unique and coherent philosophical system, characterized by concepts like 'not-self' and the dialectic of silence, is too distinctive and complex to have been invented by a committee, pointing instead to a single, historical founder.