The Life and Ideas of the 8th Century A.D. Indian Buddhist Mystic Vimalamitra: A Computer-Assisted Approach to Tibetan Texts
Date
1983-11
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Doctoral
Abstract
This dissertation uses some techniques of computational stylistics to analyze 29 of the 44 extant Tibetan language texts of the 8th Century AD Buddhist scholar Vimalamitra. The major tool is a fast on-line random-access Tibetan compound dictionary. This dictionary is used to create a Keyword-In-Context (KWIC) subject index, a vocabulary frequency distribution dictionary, and line-numbered formatted text editions. Additional techniques demonstrate book catalogs, book comparison, word processing, table of contents preparation (sa-bead), Tibetan-script printing, and author identification. This dissertation includes a partial translation of Lonchenpa's history of the rdzogs-chen snying-thig transmission. This dissertation, by its very nature, cannot be a comprehensive study of Vimalamitra. Rather it is a presentation of a computer-assisted approach to his texts and the inherent possibilities for further research. The conclusion indicates the important position of Vimalamitra in the history of Buddhism and summarizes the value of computer technology for research in the Oriental field. Many techniques are applicable to any character-based language.
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Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Graduate Studies and Research
Program
Department of Far Eastern Studies