Jadamba

Book Description

In the vast landscape of Buddhist wisdom literature, few texts have traveled as remarkable a journey as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. Natalia Yampolskaya's scholarly exploration reveals how this ancient Mahayana sutra, dating to the first century CE, found new life through the dedicated work of seventeenth-century Mongolian translators.

This comprehensive study examines eight distinct Mongolian translations of the sacred text, known locally as Jadamba, offering readers a unique window into how spiritual wisdom crosses cultural and linguistic boundaries. Yampolskaya demonstrates how each translator approached the challenge of rendering profound Buddhist concepts into Mongolian, revealing the careful balance between preserving sacred meaning and making ancient wisdom accessible to new audiences.

The book presents its findings through three interconnected approaches: detailed background information about each translation, comparative analysis of structure and vocabulary, and extensive textual materials that allow readers to witness the translation process firsthand. Through meticulous examination of methods and motivations, this work illuminates how sacred texts evolve while maintaining their essential spiritual power.

For those interested in Buddhist studies, translation theory, or the preservation of spiritual wisdom across cultures, this volume offers valuable insights into how ancient teachings continue to inspire and guide seekers across different traditions and historical periods.