Johannes Emil Otto Klatt (1852–1903). Forgotten Chronicler of Jainism and Bibliographer of Oriental Literature: Letters to Albrecht Weber 1874–1882, Ernst Kuhn 1881–1889, Charles Rockwell Lanman 1889 and Ehrhardt Karras 1891, with Curricula Vitae, and a Complete Bibliography of Johannes Klatt’s Works

Flügel, Peter

Abstract

Research on the unpublished correspondence of Western Jainologists and of Jaina mendicants, preserved only in fragments in Indian, European and American archives, has unearthed many previously unknown letters of the pioneers of Jaina Studies, presumed lost. The present article demonstrates the significance of such letters which, once published to a greater extent, will provide more insight into personal research agendas and methods, as well as
into the networks and institutional and political contexts contributing to the formation of Jaina Studies as a new, specialised field of investigation, and the
re-emergence of public (self-)awareness of the supporters of a hitherto little known Indic ‘religion’ nowadays referred to as ‘Jainism,’ who speak of themselves
as ‘Jainas’ or ‘Jains’. The article presents transcriptions of previously unpublished documents throwing light on the life and work of Johannes Klatt. The materials will contribute to a micro-sociology of epistemic practices in 19th century Oriental Studies. They provide a rare insight into the professional concerns, networks and working practices of one of the leading participants. Some of the letter are of great significance for the history of Jaina Studies and Oriental Studies in general.

Citation

Flügel, P. (2017). Johannes Emil Otto Klatt (1852–1903). Forgotten Chronicler of Jainism and Bibliographer of Oriental Literature: Letters to Albrecht Weber 1874–1882, Ernst Kuhn 1881–1889, Charles Rockwell Lanman 1889 and Ehrhardt Karras 1891, with Curricula Vitae, and a Complete Bibliography of Johannes Klatt’s Works. Berliner indologische Studien, 23(1), 1-76

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 2, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 22, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 29, 2016
• Journal: Berliner Indologische Studien
• Print ISSN: 0935-0004
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-76
• Keywords: Jainism, Jaina Studies, Oriental Studies, Johannes Klatt, Albrecht Weber, Ernst Kuhn, Charles Rockwell Lanman, Ehrhardt Karras, epistemic practices, scientific correspondence, Literatur-Blatt für orientalische Philologie, Jahresbericht der Geschichtswissenschaft, Wissenschaftlicher Jahresbericht über die morgenländischen Studien, Jaina-Onomasticon