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Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c8.s4.t2: Nighantu

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c8.s4.t2

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English

Nighantu

v1.c8.s4.t2.1

Nighantu (ni-jian-tu/尼犍茶) was an ancient work on Indian lexicology which is equal to modern synonym dictionary. Nighantu had multiple names such as Ni-jian-tu ('尼犍茶') and Ni-jian-tu ('尼建图') in Chinese translation with different characters for the last syllable 'tu'. This work of Nighantu had five chapters that generally include the list of synonyms, homonyms and names of gods and deities etc. It was one of the ancient linguistic works and was the fundamental reference book for Brahmins to learn Sanskrit. It has been recorded in the 54th volume of *A Treasury of Mahayana Sutras Selections* (translated by Xuanzang) that Brahmins were proficient in linguistics, literature and other classics such as *Nighantu*, *Ketubha Shastra*, *Shastra of Classification*, *Itihasa*, and the *Vyākarana of Five Attributes and Lokayata Shastra* etc. The fourth volume of the *Lalitavistara Sutra* translated by Divakara in the Tang Dynasty listed various kinds of miscellaneous techniques and talents that includes linguistic books such as *Nighantu*, *Nirukta* and *Siksa* etc.

v1.c8.s4.t2.2

According to the information available about these two items of *Nighantu* and *Ketubha Shastra* recorded in the 13th volume of the *Sound and Meaning of All Sutras*, both the above works (*Nighantu* and *Ketubha Shastra*) were regarded as “secular and wise books of heretical nature”.

v1.c8.s4.t2.3

The 15ᵗʰ volume of *Abhidharma-Jnanaprasthana-mahavibhasa-sastra* written by 500 Arhats and translated by Xuanzang mentioned that “one word had multiple meanings in Nighantu” written by ancient wise men. Further, the fifth volume of *Explanations on Mahayana-samuparigraha-sastra* written by Sunyata Bodhisattva and translated by Xuanzang mentioned that “one thing had multiple names in Nighantu”. All this show that *Nighantu* collected different names of synonyms. The explanation was consistent with actual conditions of which Nighantu was the earliest extant book in India.

v1.c8.s4.t2.4

(*Chen Ming*)

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