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Edicts of Aśoka
Edicts of Aśoka. A collection of inscriptions by the Buddhist emperor of India, Aśoka (r. 272–231 bce). A total of 33 have been found to date inscribed upon rocks pillars and caves in various parts of India and surrounding regions such as Afghanistan. The edicts proclaim Aśoka's policy of rule by Dharma (righteousness) and his belief in the virtues of kindness, toleration, and upright conduct as the means to the happiness and well-being of his subjects both here and in the afterlife. The language of the edicts is Prakrit, the connecting link between the classical language of Sanskrit and the modern Indo-European languages of India, and two different forms of script are used for this. Aśoka also uses Greek and Aramaic, giving four forms of script in all. Altogether there are 16 Rock Edicts, 3 Minor Rock Edicts, 7 Pillar Edicts, 3 Minor Pillar Edicts, 2 Pillar Inscriptions, and 2 Cave Inscriptions.
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DAMIEN KEOWN. "Edicts of Aśoka." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "Edicts of Aśoka." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-EdictsofAoka.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "Edicts of Aśoka." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-EdictsofAoka.html |
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Edicts of Aśoka
Edicts of Aśoka. A collection of inscriptions by the Buddhist emperor of India Aśoka (c.274–232 BCE). A total of thirty-two have been found to date inscribed upon rocks, pillars, and caves in various parts of India. The edicts proclaim Aśoka's policy of rule by dharma (righteousness) and his belief in the virtues of kindness, toleration, and upright conduct as the means to the happiness and well-being of his subjects both here and in the afterlife.
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Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Edicts of Aśoka." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Edicts of Aśoka." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-EdictsofAoka.html JOHN BOWKER. "Edicts of Aśoka." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-EdictsofAoka.html |
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