Terjék József: Collection of Tibetan MSS and Xylographs of Alexander Csoma de Kőrös.
The History of the Collection
9 stands out from the rest in that it has an eloquent title and a lengthy, embellished colophon. The introduction speaks of the questions posed with great respect, admitting that they were not too easy to answer. It is a litis surprising to find this contrast of form and style if we remember that Chul-khrims rgya-mcho was the best qualified of all the authors of the Alexander-books. The explanation could be found in Chul-krims rgya-mcho's introduction. The questions referring to the essential notions of Buddhism may have confused and embarrassed the Lamas who had probably been never asked to think about them before in their strictly regulated monastic life. They were accustomed to sophisticated theological disputes, and a concise summary of essential questions may have provoked scorn and ridicule in Lamalst circles. Chul-khrims rgya-mcho, however, although a rab'byams-pa, did not think it was beneath his dignity to answer Csoma's questions, while Kun-dga' ihos-legs is full of resentment and excuses although his little syllabus became remarkably popular even with the Tibetans, with several copies made and spread among them. The Alexander-books were of great heip to Csoma. True, he translated only one of them (Sans-rgyas phun-chogs' work on medicine) into English, but ho made use of the other books too, especially in acquiring certain books recommended in the Lamas' syllabuses. The Rest of the Collection Csoma is known to have collected a large number of xylographs and manuscripts during his seven year stay in monasteries; it can, therefore, be safely presumed that the books to be found in the Collection are but a fraction of what he originally collected. The question is whether the Collection is the outcome of systematic and deliberate selection or the accidental survival of books. The answer probably is that this Collection formed Csoma's private library in the sense that it included books on subjects in which he had as interest. There is some evidence to support this. The books all contain notes made by Csoma, a sign of their being thoroughly read and studied by him. Besides, he marked the initials of
