The Scientific Legacy of Rene´ de Nebesky-Wojkowitz

The project, to be hosted at the Research Center CIRDIS (Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Documentation of Inner and South Asian Cultural History), University of Vienna, and directed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Gaenszle, will provide a valuable contribution to the preservation and utilization of the legacy of the Austrian Tibetologist and ethnographer René de Nebesky-Wojkowitz (1923-1959) and highlight the importance of his pioneering and influential work on Tibetan religion and culture. Scheduled for four years, the project concentrates on his three travels to South Asia (1950-1953, 1956-1957 and 1958-1959) and on his academic work at the University of Vienna and the former Museum für Völkerkunde, through which he brought the culture of Tibet and Nepal to the attention of a broader public at an early stage. His pioneering work and his innovative way of combining his language skills, his anthropological inquiries and his interest for the living religion, ritual practice and art, created a new method of what could be called Ethno- Tibetology, establishing a continuing academic tradition of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies in Austria and influencing the scientific perspective of subsequent scholars around the world. The project aims to compile, archive, analyse and make available the heterogeneous material of various ethnic cultures consisting of monographs, articles, unpublished field notes, tape recording, photographs and film material, Tibetan manuscripts and texts, as well as numerous ethnological and artistic artefacts collected and purchased by Nebesky-Wojkowitz during his travels. The largest part of these resources are now in the possession of the Weltmuseum Wien (former Museum für Völkerkunde); the rest are scattered over a number of national and international archives and libraries. We will especially take into consideration the geographical, political and socio-historical context of his journeys. The material will be archived and disseminated in line with the principle of long-term preservation and open accessibility. The team further plans to create a Cultural Map, which intends to digitally re-unite and locate the multitude of data Nebesky-Wojkowitz produced during his few but intensive years of academic research, and which shall illuminate his societal contacts and research network in Europe and the Eastern Himalayas. The reappraisal of his interests, his research strategies and methods should also contribute to a more comprehensive picture of the academic history of Asian Anthropology and Tibetology in Austria and beyond, highlighting the impact of his work on colleagues and successors. In addition, the project will emphasize the meaning and value of his his extensive but neglected collection at the Weltmuseum Wien and contribute to the museums research programmes and particularly to its current reorganisation and future exhibition concepts.

The project, conducted at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Documentation of Inner and South Asian Cultural History (CIRDIS) and the Department for South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna under the leadership of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Gaenszle, was dedicated to the rich scientific heritage of René Nebesky-Wojkowitz (1923-1959), an Austrian Tibetologist and ethnographer. The project primarily focused on Nebesky-Wojkowitz's explorations in South Asia during the 1950s and his collection acquired there for the Weltmuseum Wien, as well as his academic and popular scientific contributions. Nebesky-Wojkowitz's groundbreaking approach, which combined language skills, anthropological investigations, and an appreciation for living traditions, laid the foundation for what is today known as "Ethno-Tibetology". This innovative method not only paved the way for ongoing Tibetan and Buddhist studies in Austria but also left a lasting impression on researchers worldwide. The project meticulously collected and analyzed a diverse range of materials gathered by Nebesky-Wojkowitz during his travels. These materials, from unpublished field notes and photographs to audio recordings, films, and artifacts including manuscripts and printed books, offer invaluable insights into the cultures and traditions of the Himalayan region. By embedding the data in their geographical and historical contexts, the project provided initial insights into the cultural and political situation of the Himalayan region in the 1950s, and moreover on Nebesky-Wojkowitz's broad academic network and the development of Cultural Anthropology and Tibetology in Austria's post-war period. A significant outcome of the project was the discovery and identification of previously unknown publications, lectures, and misattributed or poorly documented objects, which greatly enriches our understanding of Nebesky-Wojkowitz's work and its significance for Austrian research. Furthermore, newly established collaborations with local experts and institutions in Nepal and India led to an important transfer of data and knowledge, and the dissemination of research findings to local communities in the region (to be strenghtened in the future). Through its efforts to disseminate the findings and results in international workshops, publications and the online database of the Himalaya Archive Vienna (HAV), the project aims to highlight the significance of Nebesky-Wojkowitz's neglected publications and his collection at the Weltmuseum Wien as a potential contribution to ongoing research debates and future exhibition concepts - making it known to a younger generation. Overall, the project serves as a testament to the enduring relevance of Nebesky-Wojkowitz's work and its ongoing impact on the study of the cultures of the Himalayas.