The Tibetan Corpse Stories (By Acarya Nagarjuna and King Gautamiputra)

by Ryoshun Kajihama (Trans)

Most of the early Tibetan literature was derived from ancient Indian Buddhist literature. However, one popular non-buddhist literature that came from India was Vetala (Vetalapancavimsatika) or Corpse stories. In Tibet, it is called Ro Sgrun (pronounced Ro Dun) also called Siddhivad Corpse stories it means stories told by dead body. Tibetans memorized the Corpse stories and transmitted them orally to all parts of Tibet. During that time, the Indian Vetala (Corpse Stories) changed into Tibetan stories. They became one of the most important literature in Tibet. Many years later, after the stories had traveled to all of the areas in Tibet, hand –written manuscripts (U Med) were made of them. This is way there are a few different versions of the same stories, because people in different areas remembered them differently.

 

Ryoshun Kajihama PHD was a Professor at the Faculty of Foreign studies at Setsunan University in Osaka Japan. He specializes in Tibetan Buddhism and culture.