Oriental Studies (Dec 2020)
Two ‘Dharma Kings’ of One Didactic Text
Abstract
Introduction. The Story of Usun Debeskertu Khan is a notable monument of old Oirat literature. Its popularity and wide distribution are evidenced by numerous manuscript copies stored by scientific institutions of Russia, Mongolia and China. It consists of instructions attributed to the Tibetan King Tri Ralpacan referred to as the last ‘Dharma King’ of the ancient royal dynasty of Tibet. During his reign, he was able to strengthen the country’s nationhood, dismiss China’s protectorate, and get Buddhism established as the state religion. Indirectly, these events are reflected in the text of his homilies. However, this work was created not during his lifetime but much later — in the 15th century. Ralpacan’s death marked the end of the era of ‘religious kings’, and the country started disintegrating into a vast number of small principalities. The process of active revival and reformation of Buddhism would begin only in the 15th century directed by Je Tsongkhapa and further sustained by the emerged institution of the Dalai Lamas. And it is during this period that the book of Ralpacan’s homilies was compiled. In the mid-17th century, those were translated into Oirat by the famous Khoshut ruler Güshi Nomin Khan recognized in Tibet as a ‘Dharma King’. This circumstance makes it possible to consider the creation of the Oirat translation from the viewpoint of historical events that were taking place in the mid-17th century in Tibet and Dzungaria, as well as to reveal its actual contents. So, a textual space of one didactic text known in Mongolic literatures as The Story of Usun Debeskertu Khan connects names of two great ‘Dharma Kings’ — and two epochs of ‘religious kings’ of Tibetan Buddhism. Goals. The article seeks to introduce the Oirat text of The Story into scientific circulation, and analyzes its historical contents identifying the historical component of the work. Methods. Comparative historical analysis proves a key research method. Despite repeated publications of the text, the latter was never essentially analyzed for historical aspects. Results. And the analysis conducted shows that 1) Tibetan King Ralpacan’s homilies are based on the ‘two principles (guidelines)’ finally adopted in his era, 2) religious and secular norms proclaimed by the text attest to that Buddhism had been thus established as the state religion of Tibet, 3) the fact the text of Tibetan King Ralpacan’s homilies was translated into Oirat by Güshi Nomin Khan implies the latter should be equally revered as a ‘Dharma King’.
Keywords
