Davids, T. W. Rhys:The Story of the Nations - Buddhist India
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Internationaler Buchtitel. In englischer Sprache. Verlag: DODO PR, 356 Seiten, L=216mm, B=140mm, H=20mm, Gew.=449gr, [GR: 25500 - TB/Geschichte], [SW: - History - General History], Karto… Más…
Internationaler Buchtitel. In englischer Sprache. Verlag: DODO PR, 356 Seiten, L=216mm, B=140mm, H=20mm, Gew.=449gr, [GR: 25500 - TB/Geschichte], [SW: - History - General History], Kartoniert/Broschiert, Klappentext: BUDDHIST INDIA - THS SFORV OJP THE-, T -- K i i n i-. r NATIONS BUDDHIST INDIA BY T. W RHYS DAVIDS, LL. D., PH. D. MSSOtt IAI I AND UUUDlIIsl MIKKAIUUK AT UNIVFKMIV CO LI ECS E LONDON AUIHOK f I u HUt DHISIVI IIS HISTORY AND LlTt-K rUKb, 11 fcTC. NEW YORK G. P. PUTNAMS SONS LONDON T. FISHER UNWIN PREFACE IN the following work a first attempt has been made to describe ancient India, during the pe riod of Buddhist ascendancy, from the point of view, not so much of the brahmin, as of the rajput. The two points of view naturally differ very much. Priest and noble in India have always worked very well together so long as the question at Issue did not touch their own rival claims as against one an other. When it did and it did so especially during the period referred to the harmony, as will be evi dent from the following pages, was not so great. Even to make this attempt at all may be regarded by some as a kind of Ihe majestt. The brahmin view, in possession of the field when Europeans entered India, has been regarded so long with rev erence among us that it seems almost an imperti nence now, to put forward the other. Why not leave well alone Why resuscitate from the well deserved oblivion in which, for so many centuries, they have happily lain, the pestilent views of these tiresome people The puzzles of Indian history have been solved by respectable men in Manu and the Great Bhdrata, which have the advantage of be IV PREFACE ing equally true for five centuries before Christ and five centuries after. Shade of Kumdrila what arc we coming to when the writings of these fellows renegade brahmins among them too are actually taken seriously, and mentioned without a sneer If by chance they sayanything well, that is only because it was better said, before they said it, by the orthodox brahmins, who form, and have always formed, the key-stone of the arch of social life in India. They are the only proper authorities. Why trouble about these miserable heretics Well, I would plead, in extenuation, that I am not the first guilty one. People who found coins and inscriptions have not been deterred from con sidering them seriously because they fitted very badly with the brahmin theories of caste and his tory. The matter has gone too far, those theories have been already too much shaken, for any one to hesitate before using every available evidence. The evidence here collected, a good deal of it for the first time, is necessarily imperfect but it seems of ten to be so suggestive, to throw so much light on points hitherto dark, or even unsuspected, that the trouble of collecting it is, so far at least, fairly justi fied. Any words, however, are, I am afraid, of little avail against such sentiments. Wherever they exist the inevitable tendency is to dispute the evidence, and to turn a deaf ear to the conclusions. And there is, perhaps, after all, but one course open, and that is to declare war, always with the deepest re spect for those who hold them, against such views, The views are wrong. They are not compatible PREFACE V with historical methods, and the next generation will sec them, and the writings that are, uncon sciously, perhaps, animated by them, forgotten. Another point of a similar kind, which ought not in this connection to be left unnoticed, is the pre valent pessimistic idea with regard to historical re search in India. There are not only wanting in India such books givingconsecutive accounts of the history as we are accustomed to in Europe, but even the names and dates of the principal kings, and battles, and authors, have not been preserved in the literature that is, of course, in the brahmin litera ture which is all that has hitherto been available to the student. That is unfortunately true, and some of the special causes which gave rise to this state of things are pointed out below. But the other side of the question should not be ignored... BUDDHIST INDIA - THS SFORV OJP THE-, T -- K i i n i-. r NATIONS BUDDHIST INDIA BY T. W RHYS DAVIDS, LL. D., PH. D. MSSOtt IAI I AND UUUDlIIsl MIKKAIUUK AT UNIVFKMIV CO LI ECS E LONDON AUIHOK f I u HUt DHISIVI IIS HISTORY AND LlTt-K rUKb, 11 fcTC. NEW YORK G. P. PUTNAMS SONS LONDON T. FISHER UNWIN PREFACE IN the following work a first attempt has been made to describe ancient India, during the pe riod of Buddhist ascendancy, from the point of view, not so much of the brahmin, as of the rajput. The two points of view naturally differ very much. Priest and noble in India have always worked very well together so long as the question at Issue did not touch their own rival claims as against one an other. When it did and it did so especially during the period referred to the harmony, as will be evi dent from the following pages, was not so great. Even to make this attempt at all may be regarded by some as a kind of Ihe majestt. The brahmin view, in possession of the field when Europeans entered India, has been regarded so long with rev erence among us that it seems almost an imperti nence now, to put forward the other. Why not leave well alone Why resuscitate from the well deserved oblivion in which, for so many centuries, they have happily lain, the pestilent views of these tiresome people The puzzles of Indian history have been solved by respectable men in Manu and the Great Bhdrata, which have the advantage of be IV PREFACE ing equally true for five centuries before Christ and five centuries after. Shade of Kumdrila what arc we coming to when the writings of these fellows renegade brahmins among them too are actually taken seriously, and mentioned without a sneer If by chance they sayanything well, that is only because it was better said, before they said it, by the orthodox brahmins, who form, and have always formed, the key-stone of the arch of social life in India. They are the only proper authorities. Why trouble about these miserable heretics Well, I would plead, in extenuation, that I am not the first guilty one. People who found coins and inscriptions have not been deterred from con sidering them seriously because they fitted very badly with the brahmin theories of caste and his tory. The matter has gone too far, those theories have been already too much shaken, for any one to hesitate before using every available evidence. The evidence here collected, a good deal of it for the first time, is necessarily imperfect but it seems of ten to be so suggestive, to throw so much light on points hitherto dark, or even unsuspected, that the trouble of collecting it is, so far at least, fairly justi fied. Any words, however, are, I am afraid, of little avail against such sentiments. Wherever they exist the inevitable tendency is to dispute the evidence, and to turn a deaf ear to the conclusions. And there is, perhaps, after all, but one course open, and that is to declare war, always with the deepest re spect for those who hold them, against such views, The views are wrong. They are not compatible PREFACE V with historical methods, and the next generation will sec them, and the writings that are, uncon sciously, perhaps, animated by them, forgotten. Another point of a similar kind, which ought not in this connection to be left unnoticed, is the pre valent pessimistic idea with regard to historical re search in India. There are not only wanting in India such books givingconsecutive accounts of the history as we are accustomed to in Europe, but even the names and dates of the principal kings, and battles, and authors, have not been preserved in the literature that is, of course, in the brahmin litera ture which is all that has hitherto been available to the student. That is unfortunately true, and some of the special causes which gave rise to this state of things are pointed out below. But the other side of the question should not be ignored...<
