Guide to the W. Y. Evans-Wentz Buddhism and Eastern Religions Collection M0205

Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1999 ; revised 2018-2019, 2022
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu


Language of Material: Multiple languages
Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Evans-Wentz Buddhism and eastern religions collection
Identifier/Call Number: M0205
Physical Description: 23 Linear Feet (29 boxes, one oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): cIrca 1600-1922
Abstract: Asian religious texts, largely collected by professor Walter Evans-Wentz.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

Biographical / Historical

Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz, born February 2, 1878 in Trenton, New Jersey, attended Stanford University where he received his B.A. and his M.A. Evans-Wentz traveled extensively in Mexico, Europe, and the Far East. He spent several years in Tibet where he became a Buddhist monk. He was a pioneer in the field of Tibetan Buddhism and authored several books on the subject.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Dr. Evans-Wentz, 1923; Louise Evans, 1975, transfer from Stanford Museum, 1981, and likely other sources.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] Evans-Wentz Buddhism and eastern religions collection, M0205, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Scope and Contents

A collection relating to the religions of Asia, principally Sri Lanka, but also China, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. The bulk of the collection consists of Buddhist textual works assembled by Evans-Wentz on his travels, including palm leaf manuscripts and other medical and religious texts. Note that some material was added later to the collection and were not originally collected by him.
Identification of the works in this collection is based on the notation of Evans-Wentz. Similarly, the descriptions (dates, nature of the work, etc.) are as quoted from him, as well as from a pamphlet entitled, Catalogue of Pali, Sinhalese, and Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Colombo Museum Library (Colombo, Government Printer, 1901). Although there was consultation with various scholars in the process of reorganizing the collection in 2017-2018, some items remain unidentified.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are believed to be in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use of public domain materials.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Buddhism -- Sri Lanka
Buddhism -- China -- Tibet Autonomous Region
Taoism -- China
Evans-Wentz, W. Y. (Walter Yeeling)

box 1, object 1a

A Folk Treatise On Astrology (as applied to man's daily life and occupations) (Sinhalese)

Scope and Contents note

"The auspicious moment for doing particular acts or the time when they should be avoided, as indicated by the Planets and constellations." -- English inscription on last leaf
box 1, object 1b

Medicine Books In Verse (Sinhalese)

box 1, object 1c

Neket Pota, an horarary astrology (Sinhalese)

box 2

Satipatthána Sutta (The Discourse on the Establishing of Mindfulness) (Pali-Sinhalese)

Scope and Contents note

"The Satipatthána Sutta is a sermon by the Buddha on Meditation and is one of the most frequently copied of the Suttas, being one of the best known portions of the Buddhist scriptures amongst the people of Ceylon who are Buddhists. This sort of ms. in paraphrase is made use of by students in the monasteries in studying the Pali language, the language of all the canonical writings of the Ceylon Buddhists ...Cover of MS is a very fine specimen of Ceylon Satin Wood." Other version of text in box 9.
box 3

Visuddhi Magga (Pali) circa 1800 - 1820

Scope and Contents note

A Pali prose work, being a compendium of the Buddhist scriptures, by Buddhaghosa Théra. This is a very important work, and is considered by all Southern Buddhists to be of the highest authority on questions relating to the Buddhist religion. It is considered to be Buddhaghosa's first work during his three years' sojourn in Ceylon, 930 A.D.
box 4

Anguttara Nikaya (also known as Anguttara Sangiya) (Pali)

box 5

Anguttara Nikaya (Sinhalese)

Scope and Contents note

One of the five sections of Sutta Pitaka: miscellaneous discourse and sermons of Buddha. Was wrapped in a cotton shroud. Satinwood boards, paginated. Begins in Pali, possibly a mix of languages.
box 6

Majjhima Nikaya (Sinhalese) circa 1800

Scope and Contents note

One of the five sections of Sutta Pitaka: miscellaneous discourses and sermons of Buddha.
box 7

Syámópasampadávata (Sinhalese) circa 1780

Scope and Contents note

"An account of the embassies to Siam and the introduction of Siamese ordination of Buddhist monks to Ceylon, …"written in Sinhalese prose by Buddharakhita Therea, a pupil of Velivita Pindapatika Saranankara. This Copy was made by Sidharta Buddharakkhita Late High Priest of Malwathu Viharaya, Kandy, Ceylon in 2318 A.B."
box 8

Milinda Panha (Pali) circa 1800

Scope and Contents note

A well-known Pali work, being questions on Buddhism by King Milinda, and replies thereto by Nágaséna Théra.
box 9

Satipatthána Sutta (Sinhalese)

Scope and Contents note

A sermon of Buddha On Meditation. Signed W. Ratanapala.
box 10

Unidentified Sinhalese or Pali manuscript

box 11

Unidentified Sinhalese or Pali manuscript

box 12

Abhidhamma Pitaka (Sinhalese)

Scope and Contents note

One of the three great divisions of the canon of the Buddhist scriptures, treating the metaphysics of Buddhism.
box 13, box 14, box 15, box 16, box 17

Śatasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā (The Perfection of Wisdom in 100,000 Lines) (Tibetan)

box 18, object 18a

Small fortune-telling book (Sinhalese)

box 18, object 18b

Patimokkha (3 leaf fragment)

box 18, object 18c

Styli for inscribing palm leaf manuscripts

box 18, object 18d

Unidentified portion of palm leaf manuscript with colored illustrations

box 19

Blank palm leaves

box 20

Unidentified palm leaf manuscript

box 21

Unidentified palm leaf manuscript

box 22

Vessantara Jātaka (Lanna) 18th-early 20th century

box 23

Unidentified palm leaf manuscript

M0205_b23

box 24

Artifacts

 

Covis from Old Delhi and Taxila (was in Kodak film canister)

 

Urn from Kandy, Ceylon

 

Seal, Hanuman, Lingam, Vishnu, Feet of Vishnu, Talisman, and Armpiece from Benares

 

Lingam from Kashmir

 

Buddhas from [Mt.] Isaya, India

 

Buddhist Temple Lamp, Kandy, Ceylon

 

2 Indian votive offerings or Talismans

 

Seal from Ceylon

 

Sandalwood Rosary from [Risbi?] Kesh

Scope and Contents note

[Printed leaf, folded, removed from box and placed with manuscripts, MZ 78/8/9 Tirukalukundrum Patchi Dharisana Chart, Viadras: Counian Press, 1918. 15th ed. 4,000 copies]
 

Votive offering (?)

 

Link chain with unidentified objects

 

Incense burner (?)

box 25

Three Taoist texts (Chinese)

box 26

Yin Deng Wen Tu Shuo (Chinese) circa 1821

Scope and Contents note

Evans-Wentz inscription on wrapping paper flyleaf inside, describes work as a second edition. In 4 volumes, printed on rice paper with wood blocks. "Tao Kung, Manchu Emperor of China."
box 27, folder 1

Unidentified map/poster, probably from Ceylon

box 27, folder 2

Two drawings by L.C. W. Samaranayake, a student in Badulla, Ceylon December 1917

box 27, folder 3-4

Rubbings

map-folder 28

Chinese map

 

Palm-leaf manuscripts (transferred from M0582 artifact collection)

Box 29, object 1

1. Pali Gatha No.11

Scope and Contents

Palm leaf pages between two elongated rectangular wooden cover-boards. Cover has painted floral decoration in light blue, painted title. Paper label Pali Gatha, No. 11. Various cataloging numbers pasted/painted on. 15" × 2½" × 1" thick. End of drawstring holds an 1898 Ceylon Quarter Cent coin.
Box 29, object 2

2. Pali Gatha No.14

Scope and Contents

Boards have floral decoration in light blue, painted title. Paper label Pali Gatha No. 14. Assorted catalog numbers pasted/painted on. 14" × 2½" × 1".
Box 29, object 3

3. unidentified manuscript

Scope and Contents

Plain natural brown wood cover boards. 16" × 2" × 2". M1029 accession number sticker.
Box 30, object 4

4. Kammavaca of the Vinaya Pitika

Scope and Contents

Cover boards have gold and red incised floral designs, gilt edging on pages. Paper label inside cover reads "M469. This palm leaf manuscript is the Kammavaca of the Vinaya Pitika transcribed by a Bhikchu, a Buddhist priest of Laos, Farther India, and dedicated by him to the temple service." Accessioned Bender Collection (SUL Misc. Accessions book). 24 × 2½ × 1½". May 9, 1935.
Box 30, object 5

5. unidentified manuscript

Scope and Contents

Cover boards have black and gold floral design, gilded page edges. With pointer, red and gold, on cord (cord broken). Identified as M470 in SUL Misc. Accessions book. 58 × 8½ × 5 cm.
Box 30, object 6

6. unidentified manuscript

Scope and Contents

Boards two of black and gold floral design on orange-red, stylized birds with intertwined necks. Inside covers are buddhas[?] in white on deep blue background. 21" × 2" × 2½".
Box 30, object 7

7. unidentified manuscript

Scope and Contents

Mss. with plain brown wood boards, 20" × 2½" × 2".