Sa-paṇ’s Hermeneutics: The Principles of Interpretation in His Three Major Works
Sonam Jamtsho
Issue Section Research
Keywords sakya pandita, hermeneutics, exegesis, sakya, epistemology
Abstract
This article examines the hermeneutical framework developed by Sa-skya Paṇḍita Kun-dga’ rgyal-mtshan (1183–1251, hereafter Sa-paṇ), a pivotal figure in Tibetan scholasticism. Focusing on three major works—Tshad ma rigs gter, mKhas pa ’jug pa’i sgo, and sDom gsum rab dbye—the study analyzes how Sa-paṇ articulated principles of textual interpretation, logic, and ethical differentiation. The article demonstrates how Sa-paṇ’s systematic methodology integrated epistemological precision, scholastic training, and polemical rigor. His hermeneutical strategies not only shaped the intellectual foundations of the Sa-skya tradition but also exert enduring influence on broader Tibetan Buddhist exegetical practices.
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Sonam Jamtsho
Published 2025-07-03
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Bibliography
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http://purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW3CN2601
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