Sogdian Translations of Buddhist Texts as A Form Intercultural and Spiritual Relationships

This report explores the complex and multifaceted intercultural and spiritual interactions between the peoples of Central Asia and the Far East, with a particular focus on the historical processes surrounding the transmission, adaptation, and transformation of Buddhism across these regions. Drawing on manuscript evidence, philological studies, and comparative doctrinal analysis, the study highlights the role of the Sutra of Golden Light as a central vehicle for cultural integration and religious dissemination. It examines how Buddhist texts, especially in their Sogdian, Uyghur, Chinese, and Oirat versions, not only reflected the philosophical core of Mahayana Buddhism but were also reshaped by local linguistic, cultural, and spiritual contexts. The report also addresses the syncretic nature of these translations, the role of Buddhist rituals in statecraft (particularly in Tang China), and the use of sacred texts as instruments of moral, social, and political legitimacy. In doing so, it demonstrates how Buddhism served as a bridge between diverse civilizations and contributed to the historical development of religious thought and intercultural dialogue across the Eurasian continent.