Annotation
The Tangut language is an extinct rGyalrongic language of the Sino-Tibetan language family, which was one of the key languages of the Tangut Western Xia Empire (1038-1227). The course consists of three units. In the first unit, the instructor will introduce background knowledge about the Tanguts, the remaining textual corpus, and main dictionaries and grammar books. In the second unit, the instructor will conduct a guided reading and translation of one the Tangut
Buddhist scriptures (Guanyin sūtra). In the third unit, the students will lead the reading and translation of passages selected by the instructor. The passages are of various genres, including Buddhist, Confucian, and legal texts. This course will be useful for the student of Asian history and Sino-Tibetan linguistics. Knowledge in Classical Chinese and/or Classical Tibetan will be helpful, but not mandatory. All the materials will be distributed by the instructor in advance. Preparation is required for each class.