The Ten Great Birth Stories of the Buddha: The Mahanipata of the Jātakatthavaṇṇanā, Volume One

by Naomi Appleton (Translator), Sarah Shaw (Translator)

This is the first complete English translation in over a century of the ten great jataka tales covering the Bodhisatta's final adventures in the human realm before his ultimate life and enlightenment as the Buddha. Introductory comments to each story provide background and analysis. A general introduction explores themes and the stories' role in Buddhist art and practice. Color images show the stories' centrality in the Buddhist visual landscape of Southeast Asia.These definitive new translations reestablish the stories as ancient literary treasures of South Asia. Readers will be delighted by their magic and intrigue, philosophical insight, and deep roots in the religious and cultural world of the Buddha.

698 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Edwin Pietersma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a work and what a depth! Anyone who ever lived in Southeast Asia knows the importance of these stories, and to have them translated this beautiful and this rich is a blessing. It is quite the academic translation, so it is not an easy read and most suitable for people who have a background in Buddhism, Hinduism, and history, but definitely a story that one can treasure in your heart.