3 Review(s)

About The Book: This book, written in English, focuses on "A Grammar of the Tibetan Language." It emphasizes the growing interest of European scholars in the wide-reaching influence of Buddhism in eastern Asia. Notably, the religion's origins in Central or Gangetic India have sparked curiosity, prompting the need for a Tibetan language Grammar and Dictionary. Tibet, as the contemporary epicenter of Buddhism, is seen as a key to unlocking extensive volumes of faithful translations from Sanskrit texts. These texts offer insights into the history, customs, beliefs, knowledge, superstitions, and more, spanning Asia, particularly India, in previous eras. The text highlights efforts in the 8th and 9th centuries by leaders from various cultures to establish Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism's literature in Latin, Arabic, and Sanskrit. Christianity stands out for preserving and advancing its knowledge while learning declines among Muslims and Buddhists. The Grammar and Dictionary are aimed at providing essential knowledge of the Tibetan language, focusing on orthography, noun declensions, and verb conjugations. They are part of a broader movement to promote the study of Tibetan, an endeavor supported by the British Government of India and numerous individuals, contributing to the growth of Tibetan scholarship in Europe. About The Author: Alexander Csoma De Kőrös (1784 – 1842) was a Hungarian philologist and Orientalist, renowned for authoring the first Tibetan–English dictionary and grammar book. His birthplace is often debated, but he hailed from a humble Székely family in Transylvania. Eager to explore the origins of his people, Csoma embarked on a journey to Asia in 1820, dedicating his life to studying Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy. Csoma is regarded as the founder of Tibetology and was known for his linguistic skills. Sadly, he passed away in Darjeeling during an attempted trip to Lhasa in 1842. The Asiatic Society of Bengal erected a memorial in his honor.