Abstract
Otani University has a rich collection of Pāli palmleaf manuscripts received
from the Thai(Siam) royal family more than hundred years before. It is
generally known as Otani baiyō. It contains 64 packages of manuscripts mostly
written in Khemr script, each package containing more than one bundle of
manuscripts. It is the largest collection in Japan in the field of Pāli palmleaf
manuscripts.
In the present paper, I would like to introduce briefly the present condition,
physical description and the contents of the Otani baiyō to understand its
special characteristics. Next, I will highlight on the history of the Otani baiyō
such as when, why and how they came to Otani University. Based on such
details, finally I will reconsider the history of the Otani baiyō referring to
the movement of Japanese scholar monks active during the late 19th century,
particularly of Ikuta Tokunō, a scholar monk of Otani sect of Shin Buddhism.
So far it is believed that the Otani baiyō was brought to Japan in 1900 along
with the sacred relics of the Buddha (仏舎利奉迎) as a gift from the royal family
of present Thailand. But, in this paper I will explain with some documentary
evidences that how the Otani baiyō was brought to Japan as a result of the
enthusiastic movement of famous Japanese Buddhist temples, particularly the
Higashi Honganji temple.
