Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 February 2008
In this article I edit and comment on the Hoernle manuscript IOL Toch 81 (H 149.292) with fragmentary texts in three languages, Sanskrit (6 lines) TocharianB (1 line) and Turkic (15 lines). The primary interest is in the Turkic text, which probably forms part of an upāsaka's vow. Its orthography, morphology and lexis, perceptibly different from standard Uighur, show features which point to high antiquity and perhaps to non-Uighur provenance. Some Buddhist terms seem to be deliberately designed on a Manichaean foil. Thus the Turkic part of the manuscript may date back to the second half of the ninth century, or, if non-Uighur, to an even earlier period.
* I would like to express my gratitude to Ursula Sims-Williams for helping me in administrative and logistic matters, to Professor Dr P. Zieme for stimulating discussions, and to Dr J. P. C. Toalster, who kindly polished my English. The responsibility is mine, of course.