MONGOLIAN TRANSLATIONS OF TIBETAN TEXTS: A STUDY OF LOGICAL AND EPISTEMOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY

Following the initial codification of Buddhist lexical signs by the Mongols, numerous dictionaries have been compiled – not only in Tibetan and Mongolian, but also in conjunction with other languages or with a focus on specific domains. In doing so, most technical terms in Buddhist philosophy and logic have been preserved in accordance with their original formulation in the The Source Lexical Sage (Merged γarqu-yin oron, tib. Dag yig mkhas pa’i ‘byung gnas), a tradition that continues to be maintained. Dictionaries serve as essential guides to accurate translation. However, within the traditional renderings of Buddhist logic and epistemology into Mongolian, there are numerous terms prone to misinterpretation and confusion. Moreover, existing dictionaries often lack comprehensive entries for many of these terms. Therefore, revising ambiguous or inadequate terms through the lens of contemporary scientific terminology is crucial. This forms a foundational step for further academic work in the field of Mongolian Buddhist studies. Based on this need, the present article analyzes the Tibetan version of Dharmakīrti’s Pramāṇaviniścaya and its traditional Mongolian translation in the Mongolian Tanjur, comparing them with both lexicographical sources, explanatory commentaries, and recent scholarly translations as tertiary references. The aim is to identify accurate and stylistically appropriate renderings of key terminology in Buddhist logic and epistemology in contemporary Mongolian.