The Kanjur, a revered collection of translations of the Buddha’s teachings, stands as one of the two primary religious canons of Tibetan Buddhism. It is traditionally divided into the Tripitaka, or Three Baskets, and is also classified into the Three Wheels of Dharma, representing the Buddha’s sequential teachings. The number of volumes in the Kanjur collection varies based on its line of transmission. This particular Kanjur consists of 109 volumes in the loose poti format, meticulously inscribed in uchen script. Black ink is used on the cream-colored Bhutanese handmade paper for the main text, while gold ink graces the dark blue paper of the opening pages. The first page of each volume of the Vinaya section and Tantra section is uniquely adorned with two illustrations of Buddha Shakyamuni, positioned on the left and right margins. The Semtokha Kanjur belongs to the Thempangma line of transmission and is one of many manuscript Kanjurs preserved in Bhutan. In addition to serving as a medium for transmitting the Buddha’s words, the creation of Kanjur texts is also considered an act of merit-making in the Himalayan Buddhist tradition. Since the systematic compilation of the Kanjur in Tibet during the 13th century, Bhutan has actively reproduced numerous sets of the Kanjur, aided by the abundance of high-quality paper. While many Kanjur collections were destroyed during Tibet’s Cultural Revolution, Bhutan has safeguarded its literary heritage with remarkable integrity, becoming a valuable repository of Kanjur recensions today. The Semtokha Kanjur is preserved as a sacred relic within the Dzong fortress. Housed on newly constructed wooden bookshelves, the volumes are carefully wrapped in layers of cloth and protected by two wooden boards, securely fastened with a string. This meticulous preservation reflects the profound reverence and care dedicated to safeguarding this invaluable spiritual treasure.
Extent: 109 volumes of manuscripts.
Arrangement: The arrangement system followed by this Sangzab Kanjur is currently unknown due to the absence of its catalog. However, we have meticulously arranged it based on the system and order of the Kanjur described in the text found in the Gangteng Archive. This arrangement closely follows the structure of the Bhutanese Kanjur, identified as belonging to the Thempangma lineage, and aligns with the Kanjur catalogue composed by Pelden Gyatsho. According to the description, the Kanjur is divided into two primary sections: the Philosophical Vehicle and the Diamond Vehicle. Within the Philosophical Vehicle section, further divisions are made based on the Three Baskets of Buddhist teachings. In this comprehensive structure, the Vinaya section takes precedence, representing the Vinaya Pitaka. Following the Vinaya, the Sutra section unfolds, which includes the General Sutra, the Great Parinirvāṇa Sutra, the Ornament of Buddha, and the Heap of Jewels. Although this section predominantly features Mahayana sutras, it also includes texts from mainstream Buddhism. The Prajnaparamita section follows, representing the Abhidharma Pitaka. This section is subdivided into categories based on the length of the texts: One Hundred Thousand Lines, Twenty-Five Thousand Lines, Eighteen Thousand Lines, Ten Thousand Lines, and Eight Thousand Lines, along with concise texts on various Perfections of Wisdom. This structure reflects the expansive nature of these teachings. The Diamond Vehicle section comprises Tantra, which serves as the sacred scripture of Vajrayana. The tantric texts are arranged hierarchically, reflecting their importance and interrelationship. This systematic arrangement ensures that the Semtokha Kanjur is presented in a well-organized manner, faithfully adhering to the foundational principles of the Thempangma lineage.
Author(s)/Creator(s): The historical origins and production of the Sangzab Kanjur remain enigmatic, primarily due to the absence of a catalog or narrative account detailing its compilation. Oral traditions attribute its creation to Zhabdrung Rinpoche; however, evidence points to its production during the reign of Tenzin Rabgye (1638–1698). His biography records the production of three sets of Kanjur during his reign, excluding the celebrated golden-scripture Kanjur. Of these sets, one is preserved at Tango Monastery, while the fate of the other two remains unknown. It is highly plausible that the Sangzab Kanjur could be one of these sets. Further insight comes from the biography of Kunga Gyatsho, which reveals that the Sangzab Kanjur lacked the Perfection of Wisdom in One Hundred Thousand Lines (Shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa stong phrag brgya pa). To address this omission, an effort was made to produce this missing text, with Kunga Gyatsho (1702–1776) participating as a scribe. He is credited with contributing the first volume of this scripture. While details regarding the exact date, organizer, and other contributors to this project remain uncertain, available evidence suggests the initiative likely occurred during the reign of the 9th Desi, Ngawang Gyatsho (1720–1729).
Original institution reference: Kanjur.
