Epigraphic Evidence in the Pre-Modern Buddhist World

This volume is the outcome of a conference that was hosted at the University of Vienna on October 14-15, 2011, by the project “Tibetan Inscriptions” (FWF: S9811-G21) within the framework of the National Research Network (NRN) “The Cultural History of the Western Himalaya”. In keeping with the broad interdisciplinary approach of the NRN, the epigraphy conference transcended the linguistic boundaries defining the research objects of the inscription project and provided a platform for scholars working on epigraphic sources not only in Tibet, but also on the Indian subcontinent, in China, and in Southeast Asia. Moreover, there were no limitations set regarding the material and the contents of the inscriptions that the participants could discuss, provided they were somehow related to Buddhism and dated back to pre-modern times, with “pre-modern” roughly equating to “19th century or earlier”. While some of the presenters had already agreed to publish their papers elsewhere, during the closing discussion several participants expressed strong interest in having proceedings published, which eventually resulted in the present volume.