【平成30年度　一般公募プロジェクト】Tibetan Nītiśāstras in Bhutan: ethical and political philosophy

研究課題
Tibetan Nītiśāstras in Bhutan: ethical and political philosophy

研究代表者
ALVAREZ ORTEGA / MIGUEL UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE　 associate professor

本センター担当教員
熊谷誠慈 京都大学こころの未来研究センター　特定准教授

The aim of my project is to study the political, legal and ethical notions found in an Indo-Tibetan genre called Nītiśāstra (normative guides for rulers and civilians known in Tibetan as “lugs kyi bstan bcos”), which constitute a special type of gnostic literature with great importance in the Himalayas, specifically in Bhutan.
In particular, I would like to focus on the potential influence of these texts both in the conformation of an ideal notion of moral ruler, ethical citizens and social structure, as well as in the references in properly legal and political material; since, for example, we have reasons to believe that they played an important role in the configuration of Bhutan’s foundational law (bca ‘yig chen mo, 1629) derived from monastic regulations as well in Regent’s Guidelines (1681).
My expectations regarding the results imply that it is possible to describe a model of social structure and order that either reflects certain socio-historical
realities, serves legitimizing purposes or finally functions as an ideal to be achieved.
I also hope it will contribute to further the comprehension of the philosophicalfoundations of the legal system of Bhutan, currently the only surviving Buddhist
monarchy that strives to combine a modern political model with its Buddhist values with an emphasis on happiness.