Pang T.A. A Historical Sketch of the Study and Teaching of the Manchu Language in Russia (First part: up to 1920) // Central Asiatic Journal. Vol. 35. No. 1-2. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1991. P. 123—137.
The study of the Manchu language in Russia began with the
establishment of trade and diplomatic relations between Russia
and Ch’ing-dynasty China. The interpreters taking part in border
negotiations and in the caravan trade usually knew the Chinese,
Manchu and Mongolian languages. This multilingual ability was
necessary because all official Ch’ing documents from the 17th century
to the 19th century were issued in all three languages. The
Chinese language was spoken by the bulk of China’s population;
Manchu was the official state language, used for diplomatic negotiations;
Mongolian was used in Sino-Russian political relations,
and all the documents going from Urga to China proper were
copied out in this language as well. As P. E. Skackov noted, “Russian
sinology is characterized by the equal significance of the
Chinese, Manchu and Mongolian languages from the very start...
In fact, research in Manchu studies, for example, played a big role
during the first stages of the establishment of sinology [in
Russia]”...
45th Zograph Readings “Interpreting traditional Indian texts” will be held on May 14–17, 2024 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The program of the conference is now available.
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