Johannes Jährig (1747-1795): Cooperation with the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the European Scientific Community

Abstract

The article considers the scientific work of the XVIII century Orientalist - Johannes Jährig. Taking into account the fact that there were no fundamental studies regarding this topic, long time was considered that Jährig was a scientist of the Russian origin. However, on the basis of German historical sources, it became possible to know that he was born in the family of Moravians or Herrnhut Church on 17th March 1747 in Herngaag, Germany. In 1769 he moved to Herrnhut’s settlement in Sarepta, Russia. Analyses of historical sources and periodicals of the Russian Academy of Sciences helped to specify the line of his research. In 1773 Jährig left the settlement and take service at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences due to the assistance of Peter Simon Pallas. Academy charged him to study Kalmyk’s language, culture and religion. As a result he sent to Academy numerous reports, translations, manuscripts, natural samples and many other materials from Kalmykia. In 1780 on behalf of the Academy of Science Jährig moved to the modern Buryatia district in order to study Mongolians of Russia and increase knowledge about this region. At the same time Jährig systematized received knowledge, which formed the basis for Mongolian and Tibet studies of Russia. He developed one of the first Mongolian dictionaries, Mongolian and Tibetan language grammars as well as other numerous essential materials. The article also considers the directions of his cooperation with the European scientific community. This field is completely unstudied by Russian historical science. The study found that despite the localized nature of Jährig’s work within the Russian Empire, his works were published in a number of German and English scientific publications. Most likely his close contacts with such European scientists as P. S. Pallas and G.Th. von Ash helped him. Moreover, thanks to Jährig the first samples of Mongolian manuscripts appeared in Germany. In conclusion it is necessary to note that Jährig’s almost unstudied scientific work had impact on many areas of Russian and German Oriental Studies. His works in linguistics made an inappreciable contribution to science development. As a result their currency continues to increase due to the growing demand of the recovery of almost lost Mongolian native languages of Russia.