The Wheel of Time: An Inquiry into New Sources of Late Indian Buddhism (X-XIII cent.)

Abstract / Presentazione del progetto:

The Tantric cycle of the Kālacakra represents one of the most important Buddhist traditions, not only for its impact on the Indian subcontinent, but also for its spread in Central Asia and Southeast Asia. While engaging in a double competition, namely, the one with Śaivism and Vaiṣṇavism in the race for patronage, and the other with the increasingly predominant Islamic culture in defence of an Indic, orthodox identity, the early teachers of the Kālacakra made an original synthesis of various Buddhist and, to some extent, non-Buddhist traditions, developing a new worldview and a new system of soteriological practices (including yoga, initiations, etc.).

Obiettivi del progetto

The project develops into two lines of inquiry: 1) The first one, of a historical and hermeneutical nature, is an investigation into the dynamics of legitimation and the strategies adopted by the first proponents of the Kālacakra to impose their own system and influence on religion, politics and society. The results of this part of the work will be published in a collective essay on the first phase of the development of the Kālacakra (X–XIII c.). 2) The second line of inquiry is purely philological in nature and involves the publication of two critical editions: a) the complete text of Puṇḍarīka’s Paramārthasevā, of which the PI published various fragments in the past and of which he has recently found a complete manuscript in China; and b) the edition of long portions of Advayavajra’s Gūḍhapadā, which is still completely unpublished.

Durata prevista del progetto:

•  10/2023 - 10/2025

Settori ERC di riferimento:

• SH5_3 Philology; text and image studies;
• SH6_7 Medieval History

Responsabile / coordinatore scientifico:

• Francesco Sferra, PO, Università di Napoli L'Orientale, fsferra(AT)unior.it

Collaboratori / gruppo di ricerca:

• Aleksandra Wenta / PA / L-OR 18/0000-0001-8491-6865 / aleksandra.wenta(AT)unifi.it
• Lorena Longobardi / assegnista / L-OR 18