Unsolicited Diaries of Two Czechoslovak Travellers from the 1950s : Theoretical and Methodological Challenges in Editing and Analyzing Narratives about Tibetan Buddhism
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| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | On the one hand, the unsolicited diary as a source of information is a particular treasure. It contains data that cannot otherwise be obtained, it is often private (the author, therefore, did not expect it to be analysed), and it can serve as a fascinating time capsule that was created based on socio-cultural background, interests and other phenomena reflecting the author and the time when it was written. On the other hand, however, such unsolicited diaries are difficult to access and edit. They may provide insight into the religious life of the author or the people he or she described. However, they cannot be approached as a source of historical truth – the researcher must always ask why the diary was written and how its use relates to the research question. The private travel diaries of Josef Vanis and Vladimir Sis are just such an example, a one-off record of unique life experiences that took place against the backdrop of crucial socio-political events that shaped and continue to shape Tibetan society and Tibetan Buddhism in general. This paper aims to uncover the theoretical, methodological and editorial challenges behind publishing critical editions of these sources and the accompanying studies. The subtle puzzles and obstacles that have to be faced in such research will be shown through concrete examples. |
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