The Literature of Pre-Islamic Iran: Companion Volume I: History of Persian Literature A, Vol XVII

Persian literature is the jewel in the crown of Persian culture. It has profoundly influenced the literatures of Ottoman Turkey, Muslim India and Turkic Central Asia. It has been a source of inspiration for Goethe, Emerson, Matthew Arnold and Jorge Luis Borges among others and praised by William Jones, Tagore, E. M. Forster and many more. Yet Persian literature has never received the attention it merits. Whereas Persian art and architecture, and more recently Iranian cinema, have been written about extensively and at different levels for a varied audience, Persian literature has largely remained the exclusive domain of specialists. And although in the past few years the poems of Rumi have attracted the kind of popular attention enjoyed by Omar Khayyam’s quatrains in the 19th century, Persian literature has never received the attention it truly deserves. A History of Persian Literature answers this need and offers a new, comprehensive and detailed history of its subject. This 18-volume, authoritative survey reflects the stature and significance of Persian literature as the single most important accomplishment of the Iranian nation. Prominent scholars in the field bring a fresh critical approach to bear on this important topic and each volume includes representative samples of this literature. This book answers this need and offers a new, comprehensive and detailed history of its subject. This volume is part of an 18-volume authoritative survey that reflects the stature and significance of Persian literature as the single most important accomplishment of the Iranian experience. The main object of this companion volume is to provide an overview of the most important extant literary sources in Old and Middle Iranian languages--the languages of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian periods culminating in the rich resource of Pahlavi Persian which fed so directly into the language of the later great Persian poets. It will be an indispensable source for the literary traditions of pre-Islamic Iran and an invaluable guide to the subject. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 9 Contents 11 Contributors 17 Foreword 21 Preface 27 Chapter 1: Avestan Literature (Ahintze) 31 Ritual Texts 33 Yasna 33 The Gathas, Sacred Prayers, and Yasna Hapta?haiti 34 Gathic Composition 35 Indo-European Poetic Language in the Gathas 43 Problems Related to Understanding the Gathas 47 Yasna Hapta?haiti 48 Authorship of the Gathas 50 Authorship of the Yasna Hapta?haiti 55 Date of Zarathustra 55 Homeland of Zarathustra 57 Younger Avesta 57 The Younger Avestan Yasna and Pseudo-Old Avestan 58 Composition of the Yasna 60 Visperad 66 Videvdad 68 Devotional Texts 76 Yašts 76 Structure of the Yašts 79 Metre 91 Khorde Avesta 92 Siroze 92 Niyayišn 93 Gah 94 Afringan 95 Mixed Avesta-Pahlavi Texts and Fragments 95 Herbedestan and Nerangestan 95 Pursišniha 97 Aog?madaeca 98 Hadoxt Nask 98 Frahang i oim 98 Vištasp Yašt 99 Afrin i Zardušt 99 Vae?a Nask 99 Nerang i Ataxš 101 Other Fragments 101 Chapter 2: Inscriptional Literature in Old and Middle Iranian Languages (Phhuyse) 102 Old Persian Inscriptions 103 Aramaeo-Iranian Inscriptions 114 Parthian Inscriptions 116 Middle Persian Inscriptions 120 Middle Persian Ostraca and Papyri 132 Bactrian Inscriptions and Other Documents 135 Inscriptions and Documents in Other Middle Iranian Languages 142 Chapter 3: Pahlavi Literature (MMacuch) 146 Sources on the Language: Word-Lists and Glossaries 151 Pahlavi Translations and Commentaries of the Avesta: Abestag ud Zand 154 Texts on Miscellaneous Religious Subjects: Synoptical Texts and the Rivayat Literature 160 Eschatological, Apocalyptic and Visionary Literature 182 Wisdom-Literature (andarz) and Other Short Didactic Texts 190 Epic History and Geographical Works 202 Political Treatises 211 Texts on Natural Science (Zoology, Botany) and Medicine 213 Works on Jurisprudence 215 Imaginative Literature and Poetry 220 Chapter 4: Manichaean Literature in Iranian Languages (WSundermann) 227 The Role of Manichaean Literature in the History of Iranian Literature 227 The Discovery of the Iranian Manichaean Texts 230 The Manuscripts and the Fragments 232 Literary Forms and Terms 237 Prose Works 237 Metrical Works 242 Literary Texts 245 Mani’s Works 245 Non-Canonical Prose Literature 253 Sermons, Kephalaia Texts 253 Hagiographic Sermons 257 Letters 263 Parables 263 Confessional Texts 266 Dialogues, Riddles 269 Poetical Texts 270 “Hymn Cycles” 270 Hymns 274 Documents 282 Letters and Economic Documents 283 Word-Lists 286 Medical, Magical and Omen Texts 287 Manichaean New Persian Texts 288 A Sketch of the History of Manichaean Literature in Iranian Languages 289 Further Tasks 293 Chapter 5: Christian Literature In Middle Iranian Languages (NSims-Williams) 296 Middle Persian 297 Sogdian 301 Chapter 6: Buddhist Literature in Sogdian (YYoshida) 318 Buddhism among the Sogdians 318 Texts Concerning Beneficent Buddhas and Bodhisattvas 322 Texts Concerning Ethics 327 Narratives 334 Chan Literature 343 Other Texts and Methods of Translation 347 Sogdian Monks 353 Epilogue: Sogdians and Uighurs 357 Chapter 7: Khotanese Literature (MMaggi) 360 Provenance, Date and Language of the Manuscripts 363 Script 364 Typology of the Manuscripts 365 Metrics 366 Origin of Khotanese Buddhist Literature 367 Introduction of Buddhism in Khotan 370 Translation Techniques 373 Classification of Khotanese Buddhist Texts 377 Original Doctrinal Compendia 378 The Book of Zambasta 378 Mañjusrinairatmyavatarasutra 387 The Book of Vimalakirti 389 Avadana Literature 391 Sudhanavadana 391 Asokavadana 392 Kaniskavadana 394 Nandavadana 395 The Love Story 395 Ramayana 397 Jatakastava 399 Mahayana Sutras 400 Vajracchedikasutra 401 Hrdayasutra and Mahaprajñaparamitasutra 402 Adhyardhasatikaprajñaparamitasutra and Sanskrit Kausikaprajñaparamitasutra 404 Saddharmapundarikasutra 405 Bhadracaryadesana and Other desana and Devotional Texts 405 Ratnakutasutra 410 Sukhavativyuhasutra and the Hymn to Amitayus 411 Sanghatasutra 412 Bhadrakalpikasutra and namo Texts 414 Bhaisajyaguruvaiduryaprabharajasutra 416 Vimalakirtinirdesasutra 417 Surangamasamadhisutra 417 Suvarnabhasottamasutra 419 Pradaksinasutra 422 Karmavibhanga 423 Dharmasarirasutra 424 Aparimitayuhsutra 426 Anantamukhanirharadharanisutra 427 Rasmivimalavisuddhaprabhanamadharani 428 Sumukhasutra 428 Jñanolkadharani 429 Mahasahasrapramardani 430 Avalokitesvaradharani and Amrtaprabhadharani 431 Sanskrit Dharanis in Khotanese Manuscripts 433 The Bodhisattva Compendium and Other Doctrinal and Fragmentary Texts 434 Esoteric Buddhism 435 Non-Doctrinal Texts 436 Lyric Poetry 436 Verse Letters 438 Burlesque Poetry 440 Panegyrics 441 Itinerary 442 Medical Texts 443 Bilingual Texts 446 Abbreviations 449 Bibliography 457 Index of Titles and Texts 539 "Persian literature is the jewel in the crown of Persian culture. It has profoundly influenced the literatures of Ottoman Turkey, Muslim India and Turkic Central Asia and been a source of inspiration for Goethe, Emerson, Matthew Arnold and Jorge Luis Borges among others. Yet Persian literature has never received the attention it truly deserves. A History of Persian Literature answers this need and offers a new, comprehensive and detailed history of its subject. This 18-volume, authoritative survey reflects the stature and significance of Persian literature as the single most important accomplishment of the Iranian experience. The main object of this companion volume is to provide an overview of the most important extant literary sources in Old and Middle Iranian languages - the languages of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian periods culminating in the rich resource of Pahlavi Persian which fed so directly into the language of the later great Persian poets. It will be an indispensable source for the literary traditions of pre-Islamic Iran and an invaluable guide to the subject."--Bloomsbury Publishing. The main object of this volume is to provide an overview of the most important extant literary sources in Old and Middle Iranian languages--the languages of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian periods culminating in the resource of Pahlavi Persian which fed so directly into the language of the later great Persian poets. --From publisher's description Edited By Ronald E. Emmerick & Maria Macuch ; General Editor, Ehsan Yarshater. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 427-508) And Indexes.