The Study of Literature
The earliest written narratives were almost always religious: creation myths, prayers, psalms, and parables that have become touchstones within — and even beyond — their cultures. Some have endured for millennia, even outliving the gods they celebrate, due to their poetic beauty and the elemental truths of human nature they express.
Nihon shoki. Edo: Suharaya Mohē, Kansei, 1793.
Also called “The Chronicles of Japan,” this text is a copy of the second oldest book of Japanese history, originally completed in 720. It begins with the Japanese creation myth, followed by many other myths and histories of rulers. It is a sacred text of relatively new Shintoism.
Japanese Netsuke, 1800-1900.
Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese Taoism/Buddhism. Daruma, modeled after the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, is a sign of good luck.Mask of Okame, the goddess of mirth.Karako washing Daruma. Items on loan from the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.
Japanese Buddhist pocket shrine, 1800-1900.
On loan from the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.
Ethiopic manuscript, 1700s.
This service book contains many prayers as well as the Song of Songs and stories of the miracles of the Blessed Virgin. The Song of Songs is considered to be one of the earliest recorded pieces of poetry in the Bible.August Eisenlohr collection, purchased in 1902.
Psalms in Arabic, 1687.
Gift of Mrs. William F.E. Gurley, 1944.
Bhadrabāhu. The Kalpa sutra, and Nava tatva: two works illustrative of the Jain religion and philosophy. London, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain; Bernard Quaritch, 1848.
This text contains the translation (as well as notes on the translation) of the original Sanskrit biographies and stories of the important Jain figures Mahavira and Parshvanath.Gift of Benno Loewy, 1919.
A.D. White lecture notes on Literature, including Christian Literature. Circa 1870.
Dante Alighieri. Die göttliche Komödie. Band 1: Hölle. Zürich: Amalthea-Verlag, 1921.
This German translation (and Italian original) of Dante’s Inferno was illustrated by Franz von Bayros, who was notorious for his erotic art. The poem, though not a religious text per se, is a Christian pilgrimage through the afterlife marked by encounters with historical figures from Antiquity to Renaissance Italy. Viewed as one of the greatest works of world literature, The Divine Comedy has been translated into dozens of languages and has influenced artists around the world.
Benno Loewy
An active Freemason and appeals lawyer from New York City, Benno Loewy’s interests spread far beyond his law classes at Columbia University. In addition to books on law, his personal library contained over 50,000 items related to the Freemasons, theater, culture, and literature. Loewy had no affiliation with Cornell, but bequeathed his collection to the University library in 1919 because of its nonsectarian stance. It arrived in train cars in 1923, after four years of litigation.