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Flügel, Peter (2023) 'The Jaina Prosopography Database: A New Tool for the Humanities.' In: van Lit, L. W. Cornelis and Morris, James Harry, (eds.), Digital Humanities and Religions in Asia: An Introduction. Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 157-175. (Introductions to Digital Humanities – Religion)

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Abstract

How can the blind spots in Jaina social and intellectual history be investigated in a systematic fashion given the fragmentary nature of the evidence? The idea of a prosopographical database with a sociological focus emerged organically from a SOAS Centre of Jaina Studies project on Johannes Klatt’s Jaina-Onomasticon. The initial aim of the JPD project was to cross-reference the complex bio-bibliographic data on more than 5,000 historical Jaina individuals collated by Klatt between 1880 and 1892 and make them available in form of a database with the capacity to incorporate potentially all available historical information on the Jaina tradition. The JPD, a product of international research collaboration between SOAS and researchers in India, now offers linked data on more than 21,000 individuals and on more than 7,000 works in Indic and European languages. What makes the JPD unique is its combination of sociological and indological methodologies with advanced data visualisation technology. The article highlights key innovations and types of outcomes and discusses sociological, indological, and technological challenges and strategic plans for this long-term research project, and benefits for users of this new resource.

Item Type: Book Chapters
Keywords: Jaina, Prosopography, Database, History, Religion, Sociology, Indology, Jainism, Epithets, Inscriptions, Meta-Data, Data Linkage
SOAS Departments & Centres: School Research Centres > Centre of Jaina Studies
Departments and Subunits > School of History, Religions & Philosophies > Department of Religions & Philosophies
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religions. Mythology. Rationalism
C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CB History of civilization
C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CD Diplomatics. Archives. Seals
C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CD Diplomatics. Archives. Seals > CD921 Archives
C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CN Inscriptions. Epigraphy.
C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CS Genealogy
C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CT Biography
D History General and Old World > DS Asia
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources
ISBN: 9783110747607
Copyright Statement: With permission of the editors and publishers
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110747607-008
Date Deposited: 24 Nov 2023 14:52
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/40971
Funders: Leverhulme Trust

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