Martin Delhey | Shandong University (original) (raw)
Books by Martin Delhey
This book is devoted to a comparative study of the grammatical and stylistic devices that Xuanza... more This book is devoted to a comparative study of the grammatical and stylistic devices that
Xuanzang used in translating original Sanskrits texts, in particular, certain chapters of the Yogācārabhūmi, into Chinese.
The Yogācārabhūmi (YBh), an anonymous compilation belonging perhaps to the 4th century CE, is an ... more The Yogācārabhūmi (YBh), an anonymous compilation belonging perhaps to the 4th century CE, is an invaluable source of information on Indian Buddhist scholasticism (abhidharma). At the same time, it also marks the beginning of the Yogācāra school, one of the two main schools of Indian Mahāyāna thought. Approximately one half of this extremely extensive work is preserved in Sanskrit original. These materials are indispensible for gaining a better understanding of the YBh in its original literary, dogmatic and historical context. Still, large parts of them are completely inaccessible to the public, or available only in unsatisfactory editions.
This two-volume publication contributes towards filling this gap with an editio princeps of the Samāhitā Bhūmiḥ, one of the chapters of the so-called Basic Section of the YBh. As its title indicates, this chapter deals with deep meditative concentration in which one temporarily transcends the sphere of everyday consciousness, that is, the sphere of sensual desire (kāmadhātu). Rather than presenting a manual for meditative practice, the anonymous authors are predominantly concerned with an exegetical and doctrinal, yet highly creative treatment of their subject-matter.
For this chapter of the YBh, only one Sanskrit manuscript is known, available only in low-quality photographs. In view of this rather difficult situation, the present work focuses on editorial aspects and presents both a diplomatic and a critical edition of the Sanskrit text, the latter making full use of the Tibetan and Chinese translations and of other secondary materials including canonical sources that the authors frequently cite. An edition of the especially important Tibetan translation is also provided. In addition, the study contains an annotated partial German translation and a complete structural analysis of the chapter. The introductory chapters deal, among others, with previous research, features of the manuscript, the language of the text and methodological problems, and discuss selected aspects of the contents of the Samāhitā Bhūmiḥ. Indices of selected names, words and technical terms and of selected primary text passages are included.
Accepted for publication by Martin Delhey
Published Papers by Martin Delhey
论文集: 东方唯识学研究专题 (Proceedings of the conference 第六届东方唯识学专业委员会年会), Hangzhou, 2022
The paper contains a brief discussion of the gotra theory as presented in orthodox Indian Yogaaca... more The paper contains a brief discussion of the gotra theory as presented in orthodox Indian Yogaacaara texts. It refers relatively often to my paper published earlier that year in the Journal of Indian Philosophy, but contains new features and thoughts as well.
![Research paper thumbnail of “Was man sieht und was da ist: Zur Unsichtbarkeit und Nichtzweiheit im klassischen indischen Yogācāra-Buddhismus.” In: Hôrin : Vergleichende Studien zur japanischen Kultur, 22 (2022 [appeared 2023]).68–81.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/105769565/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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Orna Almogi (ed.), Evolution of Scriptures, Formation of Canons: The Buddhist Case. Indian and Tibetan Studies Series 13. Hamburg: Department of Indian and Tibetan Studies, Universität Hamburg, 2022, 43–62
Arguably, in the Buddhist context, a "scripture" roughly means a text that claims to be the Word ... more Arguably, in the Buddhist context, a "scripture" roughly means a text that claims to be the Word of the historical, or any other, buddha, or the Word of a person who is authorized by a buddha to preach to sentient beings on his behalf, for instance, one of his disciples like Śāriputra or a high-ranking bodhisattva like Mañjuśrī. 1 The most typical scriptures are the "discourses" or "sermons" (sūtra). "Canon" is a more comprehensive term; it could also encompass the basket of abhidharma (abhidharmapiṭaka)-such as the two different sets of seven texts of the Theravādins and the Sarvāstivādins-or various treatises and commentaries regarded as authoritative, as it is the case in the Tibetan bsTan 'gyur and in various editions of the Chinese Buddhist Canon. However, as is well known, in Indian Mahāyāna Buddhism we have, as a rule, neither a fixed set of recognized scriptures nor a well-defined canon. Moreover-and this is especially important-sometimes the distinctions between scriptures and other canonical works become vague, for instance, when the abhidharmapiṭaka is declared to have been proclaimed by the Buddha himself-the most extreme case is probably the abhidhammapiṭaka of the Theravādins 2-or when it is said by schools like that of the Sautrāntikas that certain canonical * The present paper was first given during the conference on which the present volume is based. Another-yet very similar-version of the paper was presented during the "Tsinghua Forum of History and Philology (I): Methodology and Practice of Buddhist Philology," Feng Qiyong Academic Hall, Wuxi, December 20-23, 2019. I am indebted to the participants in both events for their questions and comments.
Journal of Indian Philosophy, 2022
The Yogācāra school of Buddhism is well known for maintaining that the sentient beings are divide... more The Yogācāra school of Buddhism is well known for maintaining that the sentient beings are divided by nature according to five different spiritual dispositions (gotra). These five spiritual dispositions are established as a pentad and explained in one of Xuanzang's Chinese translations, but the Indian origin of the pertinent textual passage is debated. In the introductory part of this paper, it is argued that Xuanzang's explanations of the five spiritual dispositions in themselves are, to a great extent, in line with the orthodox Indian Yogācāra doctrine, although such pentad is hardly mentioned. The second and main part of this paper discusses a textual passage of Sthiramati's Madhyāntavibhāgaṭīkā in which he juxtaposeswithout bias-the orthodox position and the diametrically opposed idea of the potential of all sentient beings to attain the state of a buddha. By examining other parts of his work, it is shown that the author clearly favors and approves of the orthodox position.
Education Materialised, edited by Stefanie Brinkmann, Giovanni Ciotti, Stefano Valente and Eva Maria Wilden, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2021
The present article deals with a palm-leaf manuscript that contains multiple texts in Sanskrit la... more The present article deals with a palm-leaf manuscript that contains multiple texts in Sanskrit language (and one text in Apabhraṃśa) and is written in Old Bengali script. It is an autograph of - or at least closely associated with - the Indian Buddhist Tantric master Vanaratna (1384-1468 CE). The manuscript contains not only texts copied from other manuscripts but also Vanaratna's Sanskrit translations of seemingly orally transmitted texts in Tibetan language, which the Indian master must have received during one of his travels to Tibet. Because hardly any cases are known of translation of Tibetan texts into Sanskrit, the present manuscript is a document of unique historical value. The article gives an overview of the contents of the manuscript, tries to identify the Tibetan master of Vanaratna and provides an introductory discussion of the processes and purposes of adaptation at work here.
Brill’s Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Vol. II: Lives. Editor-in-chief: Jonathan A. Silk. Editors: Richard Bowring, Vincent Eltschinger, Michael Radich. Brill: Leiden, Boston ., 2019
![Research paper thumbnail of Delhey, Martin. “Yogācārabhūmi.” Oxford Bibliographies in Buddhism. Ed. Richard Payne. New York: Oxford University Press. 2017. URL: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com. [Invitation-only and peer reviewed publication.]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/91114484/thumbnails/1.jpg)
]([Introduction:] "The Yogācārabhūmi or Yogācārabhūmiśāstra is an extraordinarily large encyclopedi... more [Introduction:] "The Yogācārabhūmi or Yogācārabhūmiśāstra is an extraordinarily large encyclopedia or summa of ancient Indian Buddhist scholasticism. The Sanskrit title can best be interpreted as meaning either “Treatise on the Levels of Spiritual Practice” or “Treatise on the Levels of Those Who Engage in Spiritual Practice.” The text owes its great historical importance to the fact that it is the basic work of the Yogācāra (or Yogācāra-Vijñānavāda) school of Mahayana philosophy. Central doctrines of this school seemingly make their first appearance here; others are only foreshadowed or entirely missing. This suggests that parts of this treatise even predate the Saṃdhinirmocanasūtra, a text that lends scriptural authority to some of the new teachings. Based on an old legend of its origin, the authorship of the Yogācārabhūmi is either ascribed to Asaṅga (in the later Indian and Tibetan tradition) or to the celestial bodhisattva and Buddha-to-be Maitreya (in the East Asian tradition). However, nowadays most, though not all, scholars of Yogācāra Buddhism tend to the assumption that the Yogācārabhūmi is a heterogeneous compilation rather than the work of one or two authors. The terminus ad quem for the last major redaction is c. 400 CE. In terms of contents, the work seems not to be free from contradictions. Moreover, one can uncover the historical development of certain doctrines within the different strata of the work, though with varying degrees of certainty or probability. It is also notable that the Yogācārabhūmi contains text passages or whole chapters that are written from the viewpoint of conservative Buddhism as well as Mahayana parts. Sometimes, a “peaceful coexistence” between the two forms of Buddhism can be supposed; in some places there seems to exist a certain tension between them. Yet another contrast can be established between some parts that mainly deal with spiritual practice—a character well in line with the very title of the work—and many other parts that are entirely devoted to exegetical problems or dogmatic theory and systemization. The preceding lines already show that there is no lack of scholarship on the textual history, contents and thought of the Yogācārabhūmi. However, one must be aware that a large amount of much more basic research work—for instance, the production of reliable critical editions and annotated modern translations—is needed to provide further studies and interpretations of this intricate work with a more solid philological basis.
Issues surrounding the theories and practices of translation of Buddhist texts have been an inter... more Issues surrounding the theories and practices of translation of Buddhist texts have been an interest for modern scholars from early on, and accordingly have been the main topic of sundry academic gatherings. In February 1990, Tibet House, based in New Delhi, organized an international seminar with the title "Buddhist Translations: Problems and Perspectives," the proceedings of which were edited and published under the same title. * After a somewhat lengthy interval, in July 2012, the Khyentse Center for Tibetan Buddhist Textual Scholarship (KC-TBTS), Universität Hamburg, organized a three-day international symposium on "Cross-Cultural Transmission of Buddhist Texts: Theories and Practices of Translation" (July 23-25, 2012, Hamburg). This symposium has been followed by a series of international events focusing on various aspects of translation of Buddhist texts: Shortly after the Hamburg symposium, in December 2012, the K. J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies in Mumbai organized an international conference on "Cross-Cultural
for a more detailed localisation. 9 Unlike today, the term 'Nepal' (or rather the Sanskrit word n... more for a more detailed localisation. 9 Unlike today, the term 'Nepal' (or rather the Sanskrit word nepāla from which the English name is ultimately derived) previously referred almost exclusively to the Kathmandu Valley and its immediate surroundings 3 mc n o 8 manuscript cultures Delhey | the librAry At ViKrAMAŚĪlA … they reached the gateway of the fortress and began the attack … and they captured the fortress, and acquired great booty. The greater number of the inhabitants of that place were Brahmans, and the whole of those Brahmans had their heads shaven; and they were all slain. There were a great number of books there; and, when all these books came under the observation of the Musalmāns, they summoned a number
Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 36/37, 2013/2014 [2015], pp. 119–152.
Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 36/37 2013/2014 (2015), pp. 153–192.
Journal of the International College for …, Jan 1, 2009
This book is devoted to a comparative study of the grammatical and stylistic devices that Xuanza... more This book is devoted to a comparative study of the grammatical and stylistic devices that
Xuanzang used in translating original Sanskrits texts, in particular, certain chapters of the Yogācārabhūmi, into Chinese.
The Yogācārabhūmi (YBh), an anonymous compilation belonging perhaps to the 4th century CE, is an ... more The Yogācārabhūmi (YBh), an anonymous compilation belonging perhaps to the 4th century CE, is an invaluable source of information on Indian Buddhist scholasticism (abhidharma). At the same time, it also marks the beginning of the Yogācāra school, one of the two main schools of Indian Mahāyāna thought. Approximately one half of this extremely extensive work is preserved in Sanskrit original. These materials are indispensible for gaining a better understanding of the YBh in its original literary, dogmatic and historical context. Still, large parts of them are completely inaccessible to the public, or available only in unsatisfactory editions.
This two-volume publication contributes towards filling this gap with an editio princeps of the Samāhitā Bhūmiḥ, one of the chapters of the so-called Basic Section of the YBh. As its title indicates, this chapter deals with deep meditative concentration in which one temporarily transcends the sphere of everyday consciousness, that is, the sphere of sensual desire (kāmadhātu). Rather than presenting a manual for meditative practice, the anonymous authors are predominantly concerned with an exegetical and doctrinal, yet highly creative treatment of their subject-matter.
For this chapter of the YBh, only one Sanskrit manuscript is known, available only in low-quality photographs. In view of this rather difficult situation, the present work focuses on editorial aspects and presents both a diplomatic and a critical edition of the Sanskrit text, the latter making full use of the Tibetan and Chinese translations and of other secondary materials including canonical sources that the authors frequently cite. An edition of the especially important Tibetan translation is also provided. In addition, the study contains an annotated partial German translation and a complete structural analysis of the chapter. The introductory chapters deal, among others, with previous research, features of the manuscript, the language of the text and methodological problems, and discuss selected aspects of the contents of the Samāhitā Bhūmiḥ. Indices of selected names, words and technical terms and of selected primary text passages are included.
论文集: 东方唯识学研究专题 (Proceedings of the conference 第六届东方唯识学专业委员会年会), Hangzhou, 2022
The paper contains a brief discussion of the gotra theory as presented in orthodox Indian Yogaaca... more The paper contains a brief discussion of the gotra theory as presented in orthodox Indian Yogaacaara texts. It refers relatively often to my paper published earlier that year in the Journal of Indian Philosophy, but contains new features and thoughts as well.
Orna Almogi (ed.), Evolution of Scriptures, Formation of Canons: The Buddhist Case. Indian and Tibetan Studies Series 13. Hamburg: Department of Indian and Tibetan Studies, Universität Hamburg, 2022, 43–62
Arguably, in the Buddhist context, a "scripture" roughly means a text that claims to be the Word ... more Arguably, in the Buddhist context, a "scripture" roughly means a text that claims to be the Word of the historical, or any other, buddha, or the Word of a person who is authorized by a buddha to preach to sentient beings on his behalf, for instance, one of his disciples like Śāriputra or a high-ranking bodhisattva like Mañjuśrī. 1 The most typical scriptures are the "discourses" or "sermons" (sūtra). "Canon" is a more comprehensive term; it could also encompass the basket of abhidharma (abhidharmapiṭaka)-such as the two different sets of seven texts of the Theravādins and the Sarvāstivādins-or various treatises and commentaries regarded as authoritative, as it is the case in the Tibetan bsTan 'gyur and in various editions of the Chinese Buddhist Canon. However, as is well known, in Indian Mahāyāna Buddhism we have, as a rule, neither a fixed set of recognized scriptures nor a well-defined canon. Moreover-and this is especially important-sometimes the distinctions between scriptures and other canonical works become vague, for instance, when the abhidharmapiṭaka is declared to have been proclaimed by the Buddha himself-the most extreme case is probably the abhidhammapiṭaka of the Theravādins 2-or when it is said by schools like that of the Sautrāntikas that certain canonical * The present paper was first given during the conference on which the present volume is based. Another-yet very similar-version of the paper was presented during the "Tsinghua Forum of History and Philology (I): Methodology and Practice of Buddhist Philology," Feng Qiyong Academic Hall, Wuxi, December 20-23, 2019. I am indebted to the participants in both events for their questions and comments.
Journal of Indian Philosophy, 2022
The Yogācāra school of Buddhism is well known for maintaining that the sentient beings are divide... more The Yogācāra school of Buddhism is well known for maintaining that the sentient beings are divided by nature according to five different spiritual dispositions (gotra). These five spiritual dispositions are established as a pentad and explained in one of Xuanzang's Chinese translations, but the Indian origin of the pertinent textual passage is debated. In the introductory part of this paper, it is argued that Xuanzang's explanations of the five spiritual dispositions in themselves are, to a great extent, in line with the orthodox Indian Yogācāra doctrine, although such pentad is hardly mentioned. The second and main part of this paper discusses a textual passage of Sthiramati's Madhyāntavibhāgaṭīkā in which he juxtaposeswithout bias-the orthodox position and the diametrically opposed idea of the potential of all sentient beings to attain the state of a buddha. By examining other parts of his work, it is shown that the author clearly favors and approves of the orthodox position.
Education Materialised, edited by Stefanie Brinkmann, Giovanni Ciotti, Stefano Valente and Eva Maria Wilden, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2021
The present article deals with a palm-leaf manuscript that contains multiple texts in Sanskrit la... more The present article deals with a palm-leaf manuscript that contains multiple texts in Sanskrit language (and one text in Apabhraṃśa) and is written in Old Bengali script. It is an autograph of - or at least closely associated with - the Indian Buddhist Tantric master Vanaratna (1384-1468 CE). The manuscript contains not only texts copied from other manuscripts but also Vanaratna's Sanskrit translations of seemingly orally transmitted texts in Tibetan language, which the Indian master must have received during one of his travels to Tibet. Because hardly any cases are known of translation of Tibetan texts into Sanskrit, the present manuscript is a document of unique historical value. The article gives an overview of the contents of the manuscript, tries to identify the Tibetan master of Vanaratna and provides an introductory discussion of the processes and purposes of adaptation at work here.
Brill’s Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Vol. II: Lives. Editor-in-chief: Jonathan A. Silk. Editors: Richard Bowring, Vincent Eltschinger, Michael Radich. Brill: Leiden, Boston ., 2019
[Introduction:] "The Yogācārabhūmi or Yogācārabhūmiśāstra is an extraordinarily large encyclopedi... more [Introduction:] "The Yogācārabhūmi or Yogācārabhūmiśāstra is an extraordinarily large encyclopedia or summa of ancient Indian Buddhist scholasticism. The Sanskrit title can best be interpreted as meaning either “Treatise on the Levels of Spiritual Practice” or “Treatise on the Levels of Those Who Engage in Spiritual Practice.” The text owes its great historical importance to the fact that it is the basic work of the Yogācāra (or Yogācāra-Vijñānavāda) school of Mahayana philosophy. Central doctrines of this school seemingly make their first appearance here; others are only foreshadowed or entirely missing. This suggests that parts of this treatise even predate the Saṃdhinirmocanasūtra, a text that lends scriptural authority to some of the new teachings. Based on an old legend of its origin, the authorship of the Yogācārabhūmi is either ascribed to Asaṅga (in the later Indian and Tibetan tradition) or to the celestial bodhisattva and Buddha-to-be Maitreya (in the East Asian tradition). However, nowadays most, though not all, scholars of Yogācāra Buddhism tend to the assumption that the Yogācārabhūmi is a heterogeneous compilation rather than the work of one or two authors. The terminus ad quem for the last major redaction is c. 400 CE. In terms of contents, the work seems not to be free from contradictions. Moreover, one can uncover the historical development of certain doctrines within the different strata of the work, though with varying degrees of certainty or probability. It is also notable that the Yogācārabhūmi contains text passages or whole chapters that are written from the viewpoint of conservative Buddhism as well as Mahayana parts. Sometimes, a “peaceful coexistence” between the two forms of Buddhism can be supposed; in some places there seems to exist a certain tension between them. Yet another contrast can be established between some parts that mainly deal with spiritual practice—a character well in line with the very title of the work—and many other parts that are entirely devoted to exegetical problems or dogmatic theory and systemization. The preceding lines already show that there is no lack of scholarship on the textual history, contents and thought of the Yogācārabhūmi. However, one must be aware that a large amount of much more basic research work—for instance, the production of reliable critical editions and annotated modern translations—is needed to provide further studies and interpretations of this intricate work with a more solid philological basis.
Issues surrounding the theories and practices of translation of Buddhist texts have been an inter... more Issues surrounding the theories and practices of translation of Buddhist texts have been an interest for modern scholars from early on, and accordingly have been the main topic of sundry academic gatherings. In February 1990, Tibet House, based in New Delhi, organized an international seminar with the title "Buddhist Translations: Problems and Perspectives," the proceedings of which were edited and published under the same title. * After a somewhat lengthy interval, in July 2012, the Khyentse Center for Tibetan Buddhist Textual Scholarship (KC-TBTS), Universität Hamburg, organized a three-day international symposium on "Cross-Cultural Transmission of Buddhist Texts: Theories and Practices of Translation" (July 23-25, 2012, Hamburg). This symposium has been followed by a series of international events focusing on various aspects of translation of Buddhist texts: Shortly after the Hamburg symposium, in December 2012, the K. J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies in Mumbai organized an international conference on "Cross-Cultural
for a more detailed localisation. 9 Unlike today, the term 'Nepal' (or rather the Sanskrit word n... more for a more detailed localisation. 9 Unlike today, the term 'Nepal' (or rather the Sanskrit word nepāla from which the English name is ultimately derived) previously referred almost exclusively to the Kathmandu Valley and its immediate surroundings 3 mc n o 8 manuscript cultures Delhey | the librAry At ViKrAMAŚĪlA … they reached the gateway of the fortress and began the attack … and they captured the fortress, and acquired great booty. The greater number of the inhabitants of that place were Brahmans, and the whole of those Brahmans had their heads shaven; and they were all slain. There were a great number of books there; and, when all these books came under the observation of the Musalmāns, they summoned a number
Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 36/37, 2013/2014 [2015], pp. 119–152.
Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 36/37 2013/2014 (2015), pp. 153–192.
Journal of the International College for …, Jan 1, 2009
『論叢アジアの文化と思想』 -Asian Culture and Thought-, 2021
Japanese Translation of my review originally published in 1999 in German language (Translator: 藤本... more Japanese Translation of my review originally published in 1999 in German language (Translator: 藤本庸裕 Fujimoto Yosuke)
Hahn, Michael / Dietz, Siglinde: Wege zur rechten Erkenntnis -Buddhistische Lehrbriefe. Frankfurt... more Hahn, Michael / Dietz, Siglinde: Wege zur rechten Erkenntnis -Buddhistische Lehrbriefe. Frankfurt/M: Insel Verlag (Verlag der Weltreligionen) 2008. 486 S. 8°. Lw. € 32,00. ISBN 978-3-458-70013-5.
Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC), manuscript of the month 06/2013. URL: http://www.manuscript-cultures.uni-hamburg.de/mom/2013\_06\_mom\_e.html (retrieved January 13, 2014)., Aug 2013
Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC), manuskript des monats 06/2013. URL: http://www.manuscript-cultures.uni-hamburg.de/mom/2013\_06\_mom.html (retrieved January 21, 2014)., Aug 2013
Manch einem mag das Wort "Selbsttötung" im Titel des vorliegenden Beitrags ein wenig ungewöhnlich... more Manch einem mag das Wort "Selbsttötung" im Titel des vorliegenden Beitrags ein wenig ungewöhnlich anmuten. Denn das in der deutschen Umgangssprache mit Abstand gängigste Wort zur Bezeichnung des Phänomens, um das es im Folgenden geht, ist ja "Selbstmord".