Early Tantra

In the framework of its ANR-DFG Franco-German thematic programme, the French National Research Agency (ANR) has decided to allocate the sum of €129,065 to the EFEO (Dominic Goodall), effective as of December 28, 2007. Set to last for three years, the programme is entitled "Discovering the Interrelationships and Common Ritual Syntax of the Saiva, Buddhist, Vaisnava and Saura traditions" (or Early Tantra)

The principal objective of the programme is to elucidate the interactions and relations between the ancient Tantric traditions. It was felt that by studying the similarities and differences between their ritual systems and terminology it would be possible to reach a clearer understanding of how these traditions were established and defined. The programme is also intended to make available for the first time reliable scholarly editions of a certain number of the earliest Tantric texts, all of them previously unpublished.

In the German part of the programme, scholars will focus their expertise and experience on the study of Nepalese manuscripts, particularly Buddhist manuscripts and early Saiva material. German partner researchers have privileged access to the National Archives of Kathmandu. Meanwhile, French researchers possess unique expertise regarding such material as well as of Shivaism in general. The two groups will pool their databases on Tantric literature.

This close and intensive collaboration will be reinforced by annual two-week long workshops attended not only by the members of the French and German teams but also by a substantial number of leading international experts in Tantric traditions who have agreed to be associated with the project.

The programme will culminate in six principal publications. Five of those publications will be constituted by the texts themselves. Depending on the state of the sources, the texts will be published either as critical editions or as diplomatic transcriptions. Each publication will be accompanied by a DVD containing digital images of the manuscripts in colour. The sixth publication will be a collection of articles on the ritual syntax common to the earliest Tantric traditions.

EFEO News
Study days
Paris, France, 17 October 2024
Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October, together with Stéphane Gros (CESAH), Pascale-Marie Milan is organising two study days entitled Family Resemblances: Kinship Practices along the Sino-Tibetan Borderlands.

They will be held at the Maison de l'Asie and the Condorcet campus. They will bring together specialists in kinship issues in different communities along the Sino-Tibetan borderlands.

Study Days
Paris, France, 24 June 2024
Attend the study days "An Intellectual History of Late Vedānta" on the reception of classical and medieval Vedāntic sources in late Sanskrit works (18th-20th century), on 24 and 25 June 2024, at the Maison de l'Asie

Programme
Study Day
Paris, France, 21 June 2024
Charlotte Schmid is organising a study day entitled "Depuis l'Inde, les Passeurs d'art", at the EFEO, 22 avenue du Président Wilson, Friday, June 21, from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m.

Programme
Workshop on ''Dunhuang Studies''
Paris, France, 17 June 2024
The University of Zhejiang and the EFEO, with the support of the GIS Asie and the collaboration of the BnF Manuscripts Department, are organising a workshop on Dunhuang Studies.

At the Maison de l'Asie, 22 avenue du Président Wilson, from 9.30 am to 6 pm.

Programme
Study Day
Paris, France, 13 June 2024
Luca Gabbiani and Frédéric Constant are organising a study day entitled "Savoirs administratifs (16e-19e siècles): approches comparatives".

It will be held in the Salon on the 1st floor of the Maison de l'Asie, from 9.45 am to 6 pm.

Programme