Conference
Call for Papers: A Celebration of Tibetan and Himalayan Studies: 150 Years Van Manen
- Date
- Thursday 15 April 2027 - Saturday 17 April 2027
- Location
- Leiden university Library
Witte Singel 27
- Room
- t.b.a.
The Members of the Van Manen Project invite submissions of original research papers for a conference held in honor of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Johan van Manen, to be held 15-17th of April at Leiden University. We welcome contributions that in some way or another directly engage with the materials that Van Manen collected in and around Darjeeling in the 1920s and 1930s.
The Van Manen collection consists of blockprints and manuscripts that deal with a range of subjects; a catalogue of these works can be accessed here.
Understudied and unexplored texts available in the collection contain topics such as astrology, minor ritual texts, death rituals, gtor ma making rituals, and Lepcha manuscripts (for Lepcha manuscripts, look at this catalogue, or start your search here), and many more.
In addition, Van Manen collected material culture from Tibet, Nepal, and the greater Himalayan region, housed in the Wereldmuseum Leiden. We especially invite papers that deal with ritual and monastic musical instruments and Tibetan furniture. Interested scholars can write to Nils Martin n.m.r.martin@hum.leidenuniv.nl for more detailed information.
Additionally, the Leiden University Library also possesses numerous archival materials that are not yet available to a larger audience. These materials consist of notes, copies of texts, correspondence, and Van Manen’s studies of various subjects. The topics of these materials cover subjects such as:
- Tibetan folk songs
- Songs attributed to the 6th Dalai Lama
- Tibetan and Himalayan proverbs (gtam dpe)
- A study of Kha che pha lu
- Astrology
- Gro mo/ Chumbi valley language and culture
- An autobiography and other writings by a man from Rgyal rong
- Thang ka painting instructions
- Bar do thos grol translation strategies
- Tibetan letters/epistles
- Various (unfinished) studies of Lepcha materials
- Van Manen’s study of the 道德經 (Dao de jing)
A provisional catalogue of these materials can be accessed here. Requests for complete access to specific archival materials or texts can be addressed to Anna Huggenberg at jvmproject@hum.leidenuniv.nl with the subject heading “Request”.
We seek scholars who want to work deeply with the above topics or want to engage critically with Johan van Manen’s writing, his life, his role in the Theosophical Society or the Asiatic Society, etc. The main criterion is a willingness to directly use the Collection’s materials as primary sources.
Please note that we expect that all attendees submit a written contribution for inclusion in the collected volume to be published following the conference. Prospective participants should be prepared to develop their presentations into full manuscripts (between 6000 and 8000 words).
Selected participants shall be provided with room and board. For travel costs, we encourage participants to make use of their own travel budgets, but lacking these, we are willing to cover travel expenses.
Please send your 300-word abstract to jvmproject@hum.leidenuniv.nl. The deadline for the submission of proposals is November 30th. Accepted proposals will be notified by December 15th.
Other inquiries may be addressed to Dr. Berthe Jansen, PI of the VAN MANEN project, b.k.jansen@hum.leidenuniv.nl, with the subject heading: Van Manen Conference.
Feel free to share this call for papers with your colleagues, friends, and students!
See our website for additional information on the project