Tibetan Literature in Translation

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to Tibetan literature in English translation, spanning a wide array of genres such as religious biographies, visionary writings, epic poetry, oral folklore, drama, and contemporary fiction. Students will engage critically with translated texts while examining the historical, religious, and cultural contexts in which they emerged. Special attention will be given to the dynamics of translation, including the interpretive choices and challenges of rendering Tibetan literary voices into English. Key themes include narrative and memory in Tibetan Buddhist traditions, gender and power, the transmission of oral and literary forms, and the emergence of modern Tibetan literary expressions. No prior knowledge of Tibetan is required. The course is ideal for students interested in Himalayan cultures, Buddhist studies, comparative literature, or translation studies.