Journal | Bhasha
Monographic journal issue | 2 | 1 | 2023
Research Article | Phonographic Characters in the Biography of Xuanzang by Hui Li

Phonographic Characters in the Biography of Xuanzang by Hui Li

The article discusses an interesting case of the use of Chinese characters as phonographic devices: the Sanskrit declension of puruṣa (bùlùshā 布路沙) ‘man’ as transcribed by the Chinese monk Hui Li in his Biography of Xuanzang. In particular, the analysis will focus on two aspects: the way Hui Li renders the different Sanskrit nominal endings; the evaluation of the general accuracy of these transcriptions. For the latter point, I will take as reference the phonetic reconstructions of Chinese characters proposed by Pulleyblank (1991) and Baxter - Sagart (2014).


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: Feb. 10, 2023 | Accepted: March 13, 2023 | Published: June 26, 2023 | Language: en

Keywords Chinese historical phonology Middle Chinese Chinese siddham studies Sino-Indian contact Chinese Rime Tables


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