LASSEN, Christian. Bergen 22.10.1800 — Bonn 8.5.1876. Norwegian Indologist in Germany. Professor in Bonn. Son of Nicolai Christian Vendelboe L. (1748–1818), a lawyer, and Frederikke Elisabeth Frisch (1761–1830). Matriculated 1818 from Bergen school and after his father’s death went in 1819 with his mother to his married sister living in Altona. Student at Heidelberg in 1820, then 1821-24 studies of Indology at Bonn, under A. W. von Schlegel, and in 1824-26 further studies in Paris and London. In Paris he became a close friend with E. Burnouf. Ph.D. and PD 1827 Bonn. From 1830 eo. Professor at Bonn, from 1840 full Professor für altindische Sprache und Literatur and the successor of von Schlegel. Taught at Bonn until his death, in later years assisted by his student, J. Gildemeister as he was himself suffering of an eye disease, which restricted his ability to work and teach. Formally retired 1868 (succeeded by Aufrecht). Married in 1849 Auguste Wiggers (1808–1879).
Lassen was a type of reticent and shy scholar, who could well cope with the egotistic and domineering von Schlegel. At the same time he was learned, industrious and many-sided scholar who achieved great things. He was the real founder of Prākrit philology, and one of the first to study Indian philosophy (Sāṁkhya). In their early work he and Burnouf had also started the Pāli philology. His much used Sanskrit Chrestomathy he compiled mainly from manuscripts. For one living in Europe he was an exceptionally good scholar of Indian epigraphy and numismatics, who keenly followed and commented the finds made in India. Early in his career he also worked on Umbrian and on Old Persian cuneiform.
The later part of his life was wholly filled by work at his monumental Indische Altertumskunde, a sum of Indological scholarship of the time and the first really competent general survey of the subject. As Heeren had known no Sanskrit and von Bohlen too little, and Benfey had been too young, Lassen was able to displace all these predecessors. The chapters dealing with Greek and Roman evidence are still not really superseded, although they contain much what is now antiquated. He rightly rejected Weber’s theories of the supposed Western origin of the Rāmāyaṇa, of Krishna and of bhakti religion. He had some idea of the Veda and of its importance for the earliest period (especially in the 2nd edition), but still this was one of his weak points. He was also giving too much weight to the Mahābhārata as a historical source and he still saw a Buddhist sect in the Jaina religion.
Publications: Diss. Commentatio Geographica atque historica de Pentapotamia Indica. 91 p. Bonnae ad Rhenum 1827.
– With E. Burnouf, Essai sur le Pali ou langue sacrée de la presqu’ile au-dela du Gange. 6+226 p. Paris 1826.
– “De nominibus, quibus a veteribus appellantur Indorum philosophi”, RM 1, 1833, 171-190: “Ueber Herrn Bopps grammatische System der Sanskrit-Sprache” (Review of F. Bopp, Ausführliches Lehrgebäude der Sanskrita-Sprache. Berlin 1827), Indische Bibliothek 3, 1830, 1-113.
– Beiträge zur Deutung der Eugubinischen Tafeln. 57 p. Bonn 1833.
– Edited with A. W. von Schlegel: Hitopadesas, id est Institutio salutaris. Textum codd. mss. collatis recensuerunt, interpretationem latinam et annotationes criticas adjecerunt A. G. a Schlegel et Chr. Lassen. Pars I. 16+133 p. [text]. Pars II. 16+204 p. [commentary]. Bonnae 1829-31.
– Gymnosophista sive Indicae Philosophiae Documenta. Collegit, edidit, enarravit. Voluminis I fasc. 1. Isvaracrishnae Sankhya-caricam tenens. 14+63 p. Bonn 1832; Malatimadhavae fabulae Bhavabhutis actus primus ex recensione. 6+42 p. Bonnae 1832; Gita Govinda, Jayadevae poetae Indici drama lyricum. Textum ad fidem manuscriptorum recognovit, scholia selecta, annotationem criticam, interpretationem latinam adjecit. 38+142 p. Bonnae 1836.
– Die altpersischen Keilinschriften von Persepolis. 6+186 p. 2 pl. Bonn 1836; “Die neuesten Fortschritte in der Entzifferung der einfachen Persepolitanischen Keilschrift”, ZKM 2, 1839, 165-177; “Ueber einige neue Keil-Inschriften der einfachsten Gattung”, ZKM 3, 1840, 442-466.
– Institutiones linguae pracriticae. 10+488+93 p. Bonnae 1837 (based on Vararuci).
– “Beiträge zur Kunde des indischen Alterthums aus dem Mahâbhârata I. Allgemeines über das Mahâbhârata”, ZKM 1, 1837, 61-86; “Id. II. Die altindische Völker”, Ibid. 341-354; 2, 1839, 21-70; 3, 1840, 183-217; “Id. III. Untersuchungen über die ethnographische Stellung der Völker im Westen Indiens”, ZKM 4, 87-122, 1842, 419-488; “Untersuchungen über die ethnographische Stellung der Völker im Westen Indiens 4) Die Brahuî und ihre Sprache”, ZKM 5, 1844, 337-409.
– Edited with H. Ewald, C. v. d. Gabelentz, J. G. L. Kosegarten, C. F. Neumann, E. Rödiger & F. Rückert, Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes 1–3, Göttingen 1837-40; alone 4–7, Bonn 1842-50.
– Zur Geschichte der Griechischen und Indoscythischen Könige in Baktrien, Kabul und Indien durch Entzifferung der Altkabulischen Legenden auf ihren Münzen. 12+284 p. Bonn 1838; translated by E. Roer: “Points in the History of the Greek and Indo-Scythian Kings in Bactria, Cabul, and India, as illustrated by decyphering the ancient legends on their coins”, JASB 9, 1840, 251-276, 339-378, 449-488.
– Anthologia Sanscritica glossario instructa. In usum scholarum edidit. 14+358 p. Bonnae 1838; editio altera a J. Gildemeister. 1865.
– “Über den Gebrauch der Buchstaben zur Bezeichnung der Zahlen bei den Indischen Mathematikern”, ZKM 2, 1839, 419-427.
– “Die neuesten Bereicherungen der Indischen Litteratur”, ZKM 3, 1840, 307-326, 467-489 (latter part wholly on Rosen’s Rigveda).
– Dissertatio de insula Taprobane veteribus cognita. 24 p. Bonnae 1842.
– “Ueber eine alte Indische Inschrift der königlichen Satrapen von Surâshtra, worin K’andragupta und sein Enkel Açôka erwähnt werden”, ZKM 4, 1842, 146-202; “Eine auf einer Kupfertafel in Sattâra gefundene Inschrift Naravarma’s aus dem Jahre 1104”, ZKM 7, 1850, 294-352.
– “Neueste Bereicherungen der Griechisch-Baktrischen und Indoskythischen Münzkunde”, ZKM 4, 1842, 202-208; “Fernere Bereicherungen der Griechisch-Baktrischen und Indoskythischen Münzkunde”, ZKM 4, 1842, 377-397.
– “Bemerkungen über dieselbe Stelle des Megasthenes”, ZKM 5, 1844, 232-259 (postscript to an article by Benfey, ibid. 218-231).
– With N. L. Westergaard, Ueber die Keilinschriften der ersten und zweiten Gattung. 302+130 pp. Bonn 1845.
– “Die Altpersischen Inschriften nach Hrn. N. L. Westergaard’s Mitteilungen”, ZKM 6, 1845, 1-188, 467-580.
– Edited Schlegel’s: Bhagavad-Gita id est ΘΕΣΠΕΣΙΟΝ ΜΕΛΟΣ sive Almi Crishnae et Arjunae colloquium de rebus divinis. Textum recensuit, adnotationes criticas et interpretationem latinam adjecit Aug. Guil. a Schlegel. Editio altera auctior et emendatior cura Chr. Lasseni. 54+298. Bonnae 1846.
– Indische Alterthumskunde. Band I. Geographie und die älteste Geschichte. 6+862+108 p. Bonn 1847 (first fasc. 1843); Band II. Geschichte von Buddha bis auf die Ballabhi- und jüngere Gupta-Dynastie. 12+1182+53 p. Bonn 1852; Band III. Geschichte des Handels und des griechisch-römischen Wissens von Indien und Geschichte des nördlichen Indiens von 319 nach Christi Geburt bis auf die Muhammedaner. 12+1203 p. Leipzig 1858; Band IV. Geschichte des Dekhans, Hinterindiens und des indischen Archipels von 319 nach Christi Geburt bis auf die Muhammedaner und die Portugiesen. Nebst Umriss der Kulturgeschichte und der Handelsgeschichte dieses Zeitraums. 10+988. Leipzig 1861; Anhang zum III. und IV. Bande. Geschichte des chinesischen und arabischen Wissens von Indien. 2+86. Leipzig 1862; Band I. 2. Auflage. Leipzig 1867; Band II. Geschichte von Buddha bis zu dem Ende der älteren Gupta-Dynastie. 2. Auflage. 16+1238. Leipzig 1873.
– “Sur la connaissance que les anciens hindous avaient de l’Asie en dehors de l’Inde et sur leurs rapports avec les peuples étrangers (trad. de l’Indische Alterthumskunde)”, Nouvelles Annales des Voyages 5. série, 6. année, tome 22 (=126), 1850, 269-310; “Prof. Lassen on Weber’s Dissertation on the Râmâyaṇa. Translated from the German [Ind.Ak. 2II, 502] by J. Muir”, Indian Antiquary 3, 1874, 102f.
– Vendidadi capita quinque priora emendavit C.L. 6+67 p. Bonn 1852.
– “Ueber die Lykischen Inschriften und die alten Sprachen Kleinasiens”, ZDMG 10, 1856, 325-388.
– Reviews: Asiatic Researches 20:1, Calcutta 1837, ZKM 1, 1837, 103-110; J. Prinsep (ed.), JASB 5, Calcutta 1836, ZKM 1, 1837, 222–239; J. Prinsep (ed.), JASB 6, Calcutta 1837, ZKM 3, 1840, 152-178; O. Böhtlingk (hrsg.), Panini. Acht Bücher grammatischer Regeln. Bonn 1839-40, ZKM 4, 1842, 233-253; N. L. Westergaard, Radices linguae Sanscritae ad decreta grammaticorum. Bonn 1841, ZKM 4, 1842, 253-259; A. Holtzmann, Indravidschaja. Eine Episode des Mahâbhârata hersg. Karlsruhe 1841, JALZ 1842, 1127-1132; JASB 7-9:1, Calcutta 1838-40, ZKM 5, 1844, 444-470; The Dabistan, or school of Manners, translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations, by David Shea and Anthony Troyer, 3 Vols., Paris 1843, ZKM 5, 1844, 473-487; F. Nève, Essai sur le mythe des Ribhavas. Paris 1847, ZKM 7, 353-383.
– Translated with notes: E. Hincks, “Ueber die erste und zweite Gattung der Persepolitanischen Schrift”, ZKM 7, 201-209.
Sources: Buckland, Dictionary; Th. Hansen, Norsk biogr. lex . 8, 1938, 218-220; *H. Jacobi, Ersch & Gruber, Encyclop. 2:42, 1888, 180-183; *W. Kirfel, “Christian Lassen 1800– 1876”, 150 Jahre Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Bonn. 1818–1968. Bonner Gelehrte. Beiträge zur Geschichte der Wissenschaften in Bonn. [Bd. 5] Sprachwissenschaften. Bonn 1970. 296-299; K. Karttunen, “Christian Lassen (1800–1876), a Neglected Pioneer of Indology”, K. Preisendanz (ed.), Expanding and Merging Horizons. Contributions to South Asian and Cross-Cultural Studies in Commemoration of Wilhelm Halbfass. Öst. Akad. der Wiss., Philosophisch-historische Klasse, Denkschriften 351. Vienna 2007, 109–119; *J. Klatt, A.D.B. 17, 1883, 784-788; *K. Kristiansen, Lex. gramm. 1996, 553; *V. Prantl, Sb. Bayer. Akad. Wiss., Philos.-philol. & hist. Classe 1877, 37-41; *K. Schoebel, I Congrès Intern. des Orientalistes, Paris 1873, Comptes-rendus III, 1876, 39-41; Stache-Rosen 1990, 17-19; Stache-Weiske 2017, 539; Fr. Wilhelm, N.D.B. 13, 1982, 673; Windisch 154-158, 164-197; JRAS Proc. 1876, vii–x; briefly in D.B.E. 6, 1997, 260; Wikipedia with picture, more details in German version; photo in Pedersen 1959, 15 and Rau 10.
E. Burnouf, Choix de Lettres d’Eug. Burnouf, 1825–1852. Paris 1891; “Briefe an Theodor Benfey”, BB 8, 1884, 245–268; W. Kirfel (ed.), Briefwechsel August Wilhelm v. Schlegel – Christian Lassen. Bonn 1914.
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