AMUNDSEN, Edward (Norwegian Edvard A.). Kirkeholmen, Vestre Kragerø 27.1.1873 — Larvik 21.11.1928. Norwegian Missionary and Tibetan Scholar. Born in a strictly religious home, son of Amund Hergen and Anne Amundsdatter, he decided early to become a missionary. After being ordained in 1893, he went to England and joined the new Tibetan Pioneer Mission. He went soon to Darjeeling, where he learned Tibetan and then attempted to penetrate Tibet reaching 8 days distance from Lhasa. Unable to work from India he then settled in 1896 in Sichuan (China), learnt Chinese, and founded a station at Ta-chen-lu near Tibetan border. From there he made a long trek to South-Eastern Tibet in 1898-99. In 1900 he fled before the Boxers to India. Began translating the Bible and other religious books in Tibetan. From 1903 Superintendent of the British and Foreign Bible Society for South-West China and Tibet, made several journeys in the area. In 1915 he quitted the British service, returned home and worked then in 1919-24 for Det Norske Missionsforbund. His last years he spent in Larvik in Norway. Married late with Petra Næss (1862–1928), also a Norwegian missionary. Known of his study on the Tibetan tonal system.
Publications: Primer of Standard Tibetan. 182 p. Darjeeling 1903; rev. ed. of V. E. Henderson’s Tibetan Manual, with Vocabulary. Calcutta 1903.
– Account of his travels in Tibet, Geogr. Journal 15-16, 1900; Tibetan Catechism. 15 p. Calc. 1905.
– In the Land of the Lamas: The story of Trashilhamo, a Tibetan lassie, in which are described Tibetan character, life, customs, and history. 12+82 p. London 1910 (a novel).
– Short cut to western Mandarin: first hundred steps. 12+69 p. Shanghai 1910.
Sources: O.J. Skattum, Norsk Biogr. Lex. 1, 1923, 121f.; Ascheborgs Konversasjons Leksikon 4th ed. 1, 1954; *A.E. Køhler, “Edward Amundsen – en norsk misjonær, språkforsker og oppdagelsesreisende (1873–1928)”, Tidsskrift for Telemark historielag 1985, 131-147; Wikipedia with photo (also Norwegian version).
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