Buddhist chants were performed at the opening ceremony of the Sanskrit
summer camp. (Photo by Xiang Xiang)
HANGZHOU, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A group of 60 Chinese intellectuals have
enrolled at the Hangzhou Buddhism Institute for a free summer camp to
study Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language.
The trainees were selected from more than 300 candidates and cover a
broad sphere of professions, including yoga instructors, mechanical
designers, performers, hotel management and environmental protection
personnel.
Their study over the next six days will focus on reading and writing Sanskrit.
The language has very complicated grammar. For the present tense
alone, the inflection of one verb can have 72 alterations, according
Li Wei, an instructor who holds a doctorate in Indology from the
University of Mainz, Germany.
Many of the trainees have been required to work overtime beforehand to
get the six days off, some used their annual vacation while others
working night-shifts to save the day for study.
Trainee He Min, who graduated with an economics degree from Renmin
University of China in Beijing and now works as a yoga practitioner in
Hangzhou, says the chance was "too precious" to pass up.
"Sanskrit is a common language used by yoga practitioners across the
world. Though many yoga textbooks are written in English, the postures
we practice remain named in Sanskrit and the chants are also in
Sanskrit," said the 39-year-old who practices yoga two or three hours
a day.
Teaching herself Sanskrit for almost three years, she said she was
"still a rookie" due to the lack of professional instruction.
Another trainee Pan Long, a PHD in mechanical design and automation
with Zhejiang University, joined the summer camp hoping to better
understand Buddhist scriptures written in Sanskrit.
"In my spare time, I often read classical literature and Buddhist
works such as the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra, but do not
understand them well. This summer camp gives me a chance to live a
different life and provides a getaway from everyday stress," the
27-year-old said.
Before the trainees arrived, volunteers from an ongoing Sanskrit class
organized by the institute designed a T-shirt and a flag decorated
with Sanskrit for participants.
Trainees wearing special T-shirtdecorated with Sanskritwhile watching
tea ceremony. (Photo by Xiang Xiang)
Since March, more than 100 students have regularly attended the
two-hour class held twice a week at the Institute. The lecture is also
free, but currently in recess due to summer break.
To help the 60 trainees learn as much as possible, Li Wei said a dozen
students from the regular class volunteered to be teaching assistants.
They will help teach pronunciation and handwriting.
"Although the summer camp is only week-long, I hope all participants
grasp basic reading and writing, while those who aspire to learn
further can also get the assistance they need," said Li.
Trainee Zhang Can, 25, said she was inspired after the first day on
Monday. She said the instructor clearly outlined the differences
between Mandarin and Sanskrit, making study much easier.
"My goal for the summer camp is to speak and write correctly and use
Sanskrit dictionaries properly. Therefore, in the future I can try
teaching myself and consult with the instructor when necessary," she
said.
Chinese schools began Sanskrit classes in the late 1940s. But the
discipline has developed slowly due to the lack of proper textbooks
and a teacher shortage.
Gang Xiao, deputy chief of the Hangzhou Buddhism Institute, said the
purpose of holding the free summer camp was to meet growing public
interests in Sanskrit and facilitate the disciplinary development of
the language.
A flag decorated with Sanskrit was shown at the opening ceremony.
(Photo by Xiang Xiang)
"Through public education and future international academic exchanges,
we are hoping to turn Hangzhou into a center of Sanskrit study and
exchanges," he said.
Having studied Sanskrit and Indology for 14 years in Germany, Li Wei
said despite its slow academic progresses in Sanskrit, China has a
rich history in Sanskrit study.
"The earliest Sanskrit study in China began at temples, with clergy of
different generations spending more than 1,000 years translating
Sanskrit Buddhist scripture," said he.
Amid all the alien words in modern Chinese, Sanskrit ranks the second
biggest source only next to English. The amount of words from Sanskrit
is twice as much as that from French, he added.
"The influence of Sanskrit upon the Chinese culture is so subtle that
few people realize it,"said Li.
Zu Guang, a master with the Hangzhou Buddhism Institute and a
doctorate in philosophy from the the Sri Lanka International Buddhist
Academy, regarded the growing interest among Chinese intellectuals in
Sanskrit "a good phenomenon".
"Quite a number of people used to think making more money as the way
to live a better life. Now, they would rather devote their spare time
to the study of an ancient language as well as ancient culture, that
is exhilarating," she said.
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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-08/19/c_134534376.htm
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summer camp. (Photo by Xiang Xiang)
HANGZHOU, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A group of 60 Chinese intellectuals have
enrolled at the Hangzhou Buddhism Institute for a free summer camp to
study Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language.
The trainees were selected from more than 300 candidates and cover a
broad sphere of professions, including yoga instructors, mechanical
designers, performers, hotel management and environmental protection
personnel.
Their study over the next six days will focus on reading and writing Sanskrit.
The language has very complicated grammar. For the present tense
alone, the inflection of one verb can have 72 alterations, according
Li Wei, an instructor who holds a doctorate in Indology from the
University of Mainz, Germany.
Many of the trainees have been required to work overtime beforehand to
get the six days off, some used their annual vacation while others
working night-shifts to save the day for study.
Trainee He Min, who graduated with an economics degree from Renmin
University of China in Beijing and now works as a yoga practitioner in
Hangzhou, says the chance was "too precious" to pass up.
"Sanskrit is a common language used by yoga practitioners across the
world. Though many yoga textbooks are written in English, the postures
we practice remain named in Sanskrit and the chants are also in
Sanskrit," said the 39-year-old who practices yoga two or three hours
a day.
Teaching herself Sanskrit for almost three years, she said she was
"still a rookie" due to the lack of professional instruction.
Another trainee Pan Long, a PHD in mechanical design and automation
with Zhejiang University, joined the summer camp hoping to better
understand Buddhist scriptures written in Sanskrit.
"In my spare time, I often read classical literature and Buddhist
works such as the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra, but do not
understand them well. This summer camp gives me a chance to live a
different life and provides a getaway from everyday stress," the
27-year-old said.
Before the trainees arrived, volunteers from an ongoing Sanskrit class
organized by the institute designed a T-shirt and a flag decorated
with Sanskrit for participants.
Trainees wearing special T-shirtdecorated with Sanskritwhile watching
tea ceremony. (Photo by Xiang Xiang)
Since March, more than 100 students have regularly attended the
two-hour class held twice a week at the Institute. The lecture is also
free, but currently in recess due to summer break.
To help the 60 trainees learn as much as possible, Li Wei said a dozen
students from the regular class volunteered to be teaching assistants.
They will help teach pronunciation and handwriting.
"Although the summer camp is only week-long, I hope all participants
grasp basic reading and writing, while those who aspire to learn
further can also get the assistance they need," said Li.
Trainee Zhang Can, 25, said she was inspired after the first day on
Monday. She said the instructor clearly outlined the differences
between Mandarin and Sanskrit, making study much easier.
"My goal for the summer camp is to speak and write correctly and use
Sanskrit dictionaries properly. Therefore, in the future I can try
teaching myself and consult with the instructor when necessary," she
said.
Chinese schools began Sanskrit classes in the late 1940s. But the
discipline has developed slowly due to the lack of proper textbooks
and a teacher shortage.
Gang Xiao, deputy chief of the Hangzhou Buddhism Institute, said the
purpose of holding the free summer camp was to meet growing public
interests in Sanskrit and facilitate the disciplinary development of
the language.
A flag decorated with Sanskrit was shown at the opening ceremony.
(Photo by Xiang Xiang)
"Through public education and future international academic exchanges,
we are hoping to turn Hangzhou into a center of Sanskrit study and
exchanges," he said.
Having studied Sanskrit and Indology for 14 years in Germany, Li Wei
said despite its slow academic progresses in Sanskrit, China has a
rich history in Sanskrit study.
"The earliest Sanskrit study in China began at temples, with clergy of
different generations spending more than 1,000 years translating
Sanskrit Buddhist scripture," said he.
Amid all the alien words in modern Chinese, Sanskrit ranks the second
biggest source only next to English. The amount of words from Sanskrit
is twice as much as that from French, he added.
"The influence of Sanskrit upon the Chinese culture is so subtle that
few people realize it,"said Li.
Zu Guang, a master with the Hangzhou Buddhism Institute and a
doctorate in philosophy from the the Sri Lanka International Buddhist
Academy, regarded the growing interest among Chinese intellectuals in
Sanskrit "a good phenomenon".
"Quite a number of people used to think making more money as the way
to live a better life. Now, they would rather devote their spare time
to the study of an ancient language as well as ancient culture, that
is exhilarating," she said.
====================
====================
SEE FULL REPORT :-
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-08/19/c_134534376.htm
====================
====================
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