Optional background. Buton's history, written in 1322, is mostly a doctrinal survey and a catalogue of the canon; its historical part on Tibet gives the kings of the empire, the later diffusion, and lists of translators and teachers. For 1200 it offers little beyond names already in the Blue Annals, but it is a century closer to the events and is the source of several lineage lists and of the standard chronology of translators active around 1200 (for example the Kashmiri pandit Sakyasribhadra, who came to Tibet in 1204). It is a monk's work with no interest in secular lords.
About this source
- Title
- bDe bar gshegs pa'i bstan pa'i gsal byed chos kyi 'byung gnas (Bu ston chos 'byung)
- Author
- Buton Rinchen Drub (Bu ston Rin chen grub)
- Author's dates
- 1290 to 1364
- Written
- 1322
- Language
- Tibetan
- Covers
- the Buddha to the early 14th century
- Kind
- History
Obermiller died in 1935 and his translation is public domain in most countries. The historical section is short; use the Blue Annals first.
Where to read it
Editions
- Tibetan text in the Collected Works of Bu ston (Lhasa and Delhi editions); on BDRC, not located as a single item in this task (not freely online)
Translations
- E. Obermiller (tr.), History of Buddhism (Chos 'byung) by Bu-ston, 2 parts (Heidelberg, 1931 to 1932), English
- Obermiller's part 2 (History of Buddhism in India and Tibet), separate scan