1633004Indological Studies (Special Lectures)
| Numbering Code | G-LET13 61633 LJ36 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ Intensive, First semester | |
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| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | special lecture | |
| Target Year | Target Student | |||
| Language | Japanese | Day/Period | Intensive | |
| Instructor name | TAKAHASHI KENJI (Part-time Lecturer) | |||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course |
Gleaning (uncha), which refers to living on fallen grains gathered from the field, is a traditional practice among the poor in South Asia. The Mahabharata, one of the two great epics of South Asia, has several intriguing stories about those who practice gleaning or simply gleaners. Alf Hiltebeitel, on the basis of his reading of these epics, argues that the Mahabharata was "written" by those Brahmans who had a deep appreciation of gleaner Brahmanas. Although it is not clear whether those who were responsible for the composition of the Mahabharata had anything to do with the practice of gleaning, gleaners indeed appear in the textual portions that seem to be inserted comparatively later in the compositional process as a bridge between their neighboring contexts. With a view to understanding how the practice of gleaning is represented in the Mahabharata and the kind of functions that the stories of gleaners serve in the context of the epic, in this lecture, we read the story of a gleaner, found in chapters 340-353 of the 12th book of the Mahabharata. The language of the Mahabharata is often called "Epic Sanskrit," distinguished from the Classical Sanskrit based on Paninian grammar: The Mahabharata extensively utilizes irregular word forms that are simplified from proper ones or that are altered to meet metrical constraints. Students will learn how to read Sanskrit epic literature with the help of linguistic studies from the viewpoint of metrics and diachronic and synchronic language changes. |
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| Course Goals |
- to acquire a basic knowledge of Sanskrit epics. - to explore the varied aspects of secluded life and asceticism in ancient South Asia utilizing primary as well as secondary sources. - to understand the features of Epic Sanskrit and to be able to read and analyze the Epic text with the help of linguistic studies. |
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| Schedule and Contents |
1. Lecture. Overview of the Mahabharata 2. Lecture. Previous studies on the 12th Book of the Mahabharata 3. Lecture. Overview of judicial literature and prescriptions concerning gleaning as found in judicial literature 4. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.340) 5. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.341) 6. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.342) 7. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.343) 8. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.344) 9. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.345) 10. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.346) 11. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.347) 12. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.348) 13. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.349) 14. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.350-351) 15. Reading. Mahabharata, Story of a Gleaner (12.352-353) |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy | Evaluation is based on regular attendance, preparation for readings, and active participation by asking questions and so on. | |||
| Course Requirements | Basic knowledge of Sanskrit. | |||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Preparation for the readings is required. | |||
| Textbooks | Textbooks/References | Not used | ||
| References, etc. | Introduced during class | |||
