Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s5.t15: rGya gar Chos vbyung
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s5.t15
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rGya gar Chos vbyung
v1.c7.s5.t15.1
History of Indian Buddhism (Rgya gar chos vbyung): It is a historical work of Buddhism history written by Taranatha who was the eminent monk of the Jonang sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a Tibetan literature and history book which uses Indian kings in successive dynasties as the preface, focusses on kings protecting Buddhism and activities of Buddhist masters propagating Buddhism, introduces transmission, inheritance, dissemination, change, prosperity and decline of Indian Buddhism after the nirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni.
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The entire book is composed of preface, body and postscript, has 44 chapters and can be divided into four parts roughly. Part one includes chapters 1 and 12, narrates transmission, inheritance, dissemination and sects in the period from King Ajatasattu to King Kaniska (third generation king in the Darouzhi Kushan dynasty reigned in the 2^nd century CE). Part two includes chapters 13 and 27, and narrates dissemination conditions of Mahayana Buddhism represented by Madhyarnaka and Yogachara as well as Hinayana Buddhism remaining in the period from the death of King Kaniska to King Govicandra (the king reigned around the 7^th century CE in a Kingdom of India). Part three includes chapters 28 to 37, and narrates dissemination of Mahayana Buddhism presented by Tantrism at later stage and conditions of the elimination of Indian Buddhism from King Gopala (first generation king of Pala Dynasty reigned in the early 8^th century CE) to King Lakshmanasena (last king of Sena Dynasty reigned in late 12^th century CE). Part four includes chapters 38 to 44, and records other historical facts of Buddhism. Character information related to Mahayana (represented by Tantrism) can fill the blank of historical literature of Buddhism.
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In view of time, *History of Indian Buddhism* was from the early 5^th century BCE to 12^th century CE. It has provided much rare and precious information related to history of Indian Buddhism to common people while other information is short of conditions of characters, doctrines, groups, temples, almsgivers and especially enemies in the later period of Indian Buddhism. Therefore, Tibetan History of Indian Buddhism was translated into several foreign languages in 19^th century CE popularly and there have been Russian, German, Japanese and English versions successively.
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(*Kalsang gyal*)