Wisdom of the East Legends of Indian Buddhism

by Eugène Burnouf, Winifred Stephens Whale, T.S. Wentworth (Foreword)

The most influential work on Buddhism to be published in the nineteenth century, Introduction à l’histoire du Buddhisme indian, by the great French scholar of Sanskrit Eugène Burnouf, set the course for the academic study of Buddhism, and Indian Buddhism in particular, for the next hundred years. First published in 1844, the masterwork was read by some of the most important thinkers of the time, including Schopenhauer and Nietzsche in Germany and Emerson and Thoreau in America. But a century and a half on, Burnouf’s text has largely been forgotten.

All that changes with Katia Buffetrille and Donald S. Lopez Jr.’s English translation of this foundational text. Reemerging here as a vibrant artifact of intellectual history and as a progenitor of the often colorful genealogy of Buddhist studies, Introduction to the History of Indian Buddhism provides a clear view of how the religion was understood in the early decades of the nineteenth century. Burnouf was an impeccable scholar, and his vision, especially of the Buddha, continues to profoundly shape our modern understanding of Buddhism. Indeed, the work offers a wellspring of still-valuable information and insight into the theory and practice of Buddhism. In reintroducing Burnouf to a new generation of Buddhologists, Buffetrille and Lopez have revived a seminal text in the history of Orientalism.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Religion, History

152 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2011

About the author

Eugène Burnouf, né à Paris le 8 avril 1801 et mort à Paris le 28 mai 1852, est un linguiste et indologue français, fondateur de la Société asiatique en 1822.
Fils de Jean-Louis Burnouf et cousin d'Émile-Louis Burnouf.

Reviews

[Jessica Zu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give it a 10 if I can. grateful to translators … Burnouf’s French is really not … modern French … so happy that I don’t have to slog through the old french …
burnouf is a genius, wonderful scholar …

[Shaku Shingan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expertly translated. Burnouf's hypotheses and expectations based on a first reading of the Sanskrit literature made available to him are amazing. Many of his suppositions turned out to be true. That he developed this understanding just seven or eight years after receiving Sanskrit manuscripts from Brian Hodgson is remarkable.

Now, is this an actual introduction? Not in the sense of contemporary "introductions" to certain topics. This is an introduction for the Western world. A set of first-blush hypotheses. Many of Burnouf's theories turned out to be incorrect, despite his erudite suggestions. He intended to follow this up with a history based on materials from Ceylon and the Pali texts, but he did not live long enough to see that to completion. Thus, a reader should know that this is a historical document, and a very heavy one at that—it is certainly not a light read by any definition.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written for Christian and western audience. Intro mentions Hodgson and Burnouf, western scholars. Discusses the story of King Asoka, his son Kunala, and his brother Vitasoka.

[Mazen Alloujami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une grande étude d'un grand esprit scientifique du 19ème siècle. N'empêche que c'est une étude philologique plus qu'historique.