A Comparative Analysis of Literal and Semantic Mongolian Translations (evidence from translations of “The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool” performed by Širegetü-guši-čorǰi and Toyin-guši)
https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2016-25-3-188-200
Abstract
The article discusses the issues relating to the history of medieval Mongolian literature the basis of which was laid in translated written texts. The author performs a textual analysis of two Mongolian translations of the well-known Buddhist literary monument - “The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool” (Tib. ‘dzangs blun zhes-bya-ba theg-pa chen-po’i mdo). The translators of these texts are the famous Mongolian writers of the 17th-18th centuries - Širegetü-guši-čorǰi (the late 16th-early 17th cc.) and Toyin-guši (the early 17th c.). The translation of the sutra made by Širegetü-guši-čorǰi and known under the name “Silaγun onoltu” (“[The Sutra bestowing] the fastest acquisition of knowledge”) is most often mentioned in literature. The second translation - the one performed by Toyin-guši - is almost unknown to the general scholarly public. Its transliterated text was published by Ts. Šagdarsüren in 1989 in Budapest. In the preface, the Mongolian scholar expresses V. Heissig’s hypothesis according to which both the translations could have been made by the same translator. However, Šagdarsüren considers that the similarities could be caused by the rules of alliteration and the principles of Dandin’s composition on poetic theory - Kāvyādarša or “Mirror of poetry” (Mong. ǰokistu ayalγun-u toli) - medieval writers adhered to. The author of the article shares the opinion established in the Mongolian studies community according to which Širegetü-guši-čorǰi followed the principles of semantic translation (from Tibetan into Mongolian) and Toyin-guši adhered to the principles of literal translation. It is concluded that both the translators are distinguished erudites with perfect expertise in Buddhist dogmatic literature and Tibetan. The last mentioned was important for understanding of the Tibetan original text and its adequate translation into the native language. The language expertise of both the translators is approximately identical since they lived and worked at approximately the same period. The results of the analysis reveal prospects for further typological research of the history of origins and development of Buddhist literature among Mongolian peoples.
References
1. Bolsohoeva N. D., Vanchikova C. P., Dashiev D. B. et al Vvedenie v izuchenie Ganchzhura i Danchzhura: Istoriko-bibliografi cheskij ocherk [Introduction to Kangyur and Tengyur studies: a historical and bibliographical sketch. Publishing editor R. E. Pubaev] / Executive editor R. E. Pubaev. Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., Sib. branch, 1989, 199 p. (In Russ.).
2. Bira Sh. «Kav’jadarsha» Dandina v Mongolii [Dandin’s “Kavyadarsha” in Mongolia]. Literaturnye svjazi Mongolii [Literary relations of Mongolia]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., Chief Editorial Board for Oriental Literature, 1981, pp. 181–197 (In Russ.).
3. Vladimircov B. Ja. Nadpisi na skalah halhaskogo Coktu-tajdzhi [The inscriptions on the rocks of Khalkha’s Tsoghtu Tayiji] // Izvestija AN SSSR. Serija VI [Izvestiya / Proceedings of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Series VI], 1927, vol. 21, § 3–4. Cit. ex: Vladimircov B. Ja. Raboty po istorii i etnografi i mongol'skih narodov [Works on the history and ethnography of the Mongolian peoples]. Moscow, Vost. Lit. Publ., 2002, pp. 221–271 (In Russ.).
4. Gerasimovich L. K. Mongol’skaja literatura XIII – nachala XX v. (materialy k lekcijam) [Mongolian literature of the 13th – early 20th century (Materials for the lectures)]. Elista, Dzhangar Publ., 2006, 362 p. (In Russ.).
5. Katalog peterburgskogo rukopisnogo «Gandzhura». Sost., vved., transliteracija i ukazateli Z. K. Kas'janenko [A catalogue of the St. Petersburg handwritten Kangyur. Comp., introd., translit., index by Z. K. Kasyanenko]. Moscow, Nauka – Vost. Lit. Publ., 1993, 380 p. (In Russ.).
6. Kovalevskij O. M. Mogol’sko-russko-francuzskij slovar’ [A Mongolian-Russian-French dictionary]. Kazan’, University Printing House, 1844–1849, vol. 1–3. 2690 p. (In Russ., French and Mong.).
7. Kochergina V. A. Sanskritsko-russkij slovar': Okolo 30 000 slov. Pod. red. V. I. Kal'janova. S prilozheniem “Grammaticheskogo ocherka sanskrita” A. A. Zaliznjaka. 2- e izd., ispr. i dop [A Sanskrit-Russian Dictionary: approx. 30 000 words. Edit. by V. I. Kalyanov. Accompanied by “A grammatical sketch of Sanskrit” by A. A. Zaliznyak. 2nd ed., revised and completed]. Moscow, Russ. Language Publ., 1987, 944 p. (In Russ. and Sanskrit).
8. Kuznecov B. I. Rannij buddizm i fi losofi ja induizma po tibetskim istochnikam [The Early Buddhism and philosophy of Hinduism by Tibetan sources]. St. Petersburg, Eurasia Publ., 2002, 224 p. (In Russ.).
9. Laufer B. Ocherk mongol’skoj literatury Per. V. A. Kazakevicha, pod red. i s predisl. B. Ja. Vladimircova [A sketch of Mongolian literature. Transl. by V. A. Kazakevich. Edit. and introd. by B. Ya. Vladimirtsov]. Leningrad, Publ. House of the Leningrad Institute of Oriental Studies, 1927, 95 p. (In Russ.).
10. Luvsanbaldan H. Tod үsjeg, tүүnij dursgaluud [A Clear Script and its monuments. Ed. by Ts. Damdinsuren]. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolian Academy of Sciences Publ., 1975, 356 p. (In Mong.).
11. Mongolyn uran zohiolyn tojm. II djevtjer (XVII–XVIII zuuny үe) [A Review of Mongolian literature. Vol. 2 (17th – 18th cent.)]. Ed. by Ts. Damdinsүrjen, D. Tsend. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolian Academy of Sciences Publ., 1976, 672 p. (In Mong.).
12. Muzraeva D. N. Opyt arheografi cheskogo opisanija i tekstologicheskogo analiza rukopisnogo perevoda Tugmjud-gavdzhi (na materiale VI glavy Oülgurun dalai «Morja pritch») [An effort of archaeographic description and textual analysis of a hand- written translation by Tügmüd-gavji (evidence from chapter 6 of “The Ocean of Parables” (Oülgurun dalai)].
13. Vestnik Kalmyckogo instituta gumanitarnyh issledovanij RAN [Bulletin of the Kalmyk Institute for Humanities of the RAS]. 2012, no. 3, pp. 167–185 (In Russ.).
14. Muzraeva D. N. Tibeto-mongol’skaja povestvovatel’naja literatura XVII–XVIII vv. (Perevodnye pis’mennye pamjatniki na mongol’skom i ojratskom jazykah) [Tibetan- Mongolian narrative literature of the 17th–18th centuries (Translated written monuments in Mongolian and Oirat)]. Elista, Dzhangar Publ., 2013, 150 p. (In Russ.).
15. Roerich Yu. N. Tibetsko-russko-anglijskij slovar' s sanskritskimi paralleljami [A Tibetan-Russian- English Dictionary with Sanskrit parallels. Vol. I–XI]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., Chief Editorial Board for Oriental Literature, 1983– 1993 (In Russ. and Tibetan).
16. Sazykin A. G. Katalog mongol’skih rukopisej i ksilografov Instituta vostokovedenija AN SSSR [The Catalogue of Mongolian manuscripts and woodblock prints of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Vol. 1]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., Chief Editorial Board for Oriental Literature, 1988, 508 p. (In Russ.).
17. Sazykin A. G. Katalog mongol’skih rukopisej i ksilografov Instituta vostokovedenija RAN [The catalogue of Mongolian manuscripts and woodblock prints of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the RAS. Vol. 2]. Moscow, Vost. Lit. Publ., 2001, 415 p. (In Russ.).
18. Sutra o mudrosti i gluposti (Dzanlundo). Perev. s tib., vved. i komm. Ju. M. Parfi onovicha. Izd. 2-e [The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool (Dzangs blun mdo). Transl. from Tibetan, introd. and comments by Yu. M. Parfi onovich. 2nd ed.]. Moscow, Vost. Lit. Publ., 2002, 320 p. (In Russ.).
19. Үlgjerijn Dalaj (Shuluun unalt hjemjejeh sudar). Shirjejet gүүsh corzhijn orchuulga. Mongol bichgjejes krill bichigt hөrvүүljen tajlbar hijsjen D. Bүrnjeje, D. Enhtөr [The Ocean of Parables (The sutra called “Shuluun unalt”).
20. Translation of Širegetü güüsi čorǰi. Compilation onto the Mongolian Cyrillic and comments by D. Burnee, D. Enhtur]. Ulaanbaatar, 1996, 220 p. (In Mong.).
21. Hүrjelbaatar L. Mongol orchuulgyn tovchoon (Songodog orchuulgyn zarchim, uran chadvaryn asuudald) [A Brief History of Mongolian translation (On the issue of the principles and stylistic peculiarities)]. Ulaanbaatar, State Publishing House, 1995, 159 p. (In Mong.).
22. Tsendina A. D. Dva mongol’skih perevoda tibetskogo sochinenija «Kniga syna» [Two Mongolian translations of the Tibetan “Book of the Son”]. Mongolica–V: Sb. st. [Mongolica–V: Coll. of articles]. Saint Petersburg, Peterburgskoe Vostokovedenie Publ., 2001, pp. 54–74 (In Russ.).
23. Tsybikov G. Ts. O mongol’skom perevode «Lamrim chjen-po» [About the Mongolian translation of “Lam-rim chen-po”]. Izbrannye trudy v dvuh tomah. 2-e izd., pererab. T. 2 [Selected works in two volumes. 2nd ed., rev. Vol. 2]. Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., Siberian branch, 1991, 232 p. (In Russ.).
24. Tserensodnom D. Mongol uran zohiol (XIII–XX zuuny ehen) [Mongolian literature (13th – 20th cc.)]. Ulaanbaatar, Joint Publ. house of the Ministry of Education of MPR, 1987, 439 p. (In Mong.).
25. Tserensodnom D. Mongolyn burhany shashny uran zohiol (Tergүүn djevtjer) [Mongolian Buddhist literature. Vol. 1]. Ulaanbaatar, Institute of Language and Literature of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences Publ., 1997, 403 p. (In Mong.).
26. Damdinsürüng Če. Mongγol uran ǰokiyal-un degeǰi ǰaγun bilig orušibai [One hundred samples of Mongolian literature]. Corpus Scriptorium Mongolorum, t. XIV, Ulaγanbaγatur, Publ. House of the Academy of Sciences of MPR and the Institute of Higher Education, 1959, 599 p. (In Mong.).
27. Heissig W. Die Pekinger lamaistischen Blockdrucke in mongolischer Sprache. Göttinger Asiatische Forschungen, bd. 2, Wiesbaden, Otto Harrassowitz Publ., 1954, 220 p. (In German).
28. Heissig W. Toyin guosi ~ guisi alias Čoγtu guisi: Versuch einer Identifi zierung. Zentralasiatische Studien, no. 9, 1975, pp. 361–446 (In German).
29. Šagdarsüren Ce. Le Damamūkonāmasūtra: Texte mongol du Toyin Guiši. Budapest: Akad. Kiado Publ., 1989, xviii, 469 p. (Monumenta linguae mongolicae collecta. X) (In French and Mong.)..
Review
For citations:
Muzraeva D.N. A Comparative Analysis of Literal and Semantic Mongolian Translations (evidence from translations of “The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool” performed by Širegetü-guši-čorǰi and Toyin-guši). Oriental Studies. 2016;9(3):188-200. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2016-25-3-188-200
Views:
216
Email this article 