Burnouf, Eugene

Burnouf, Eugene a French Orientalist, was born at Paris, April 8,1801, and died May 28,1852. Through his researches he greatly promoted the knowledge of ancient religions in the first half of our century. In his Essai sur le Pali ou Langue Sacree de la Presquile au Dela du Gange (1826), he showed, in a most complete and definite manner, that this language, which was regarded as sacred among the Buddhists of Ceylon, Burmah, Siam, etc., was nothing but an offshoot of the Sanscrit. His greatest work, however, was' his deciphering of the Zend language (Commentaire sur le Yuana, 1833). His other great work is his Introduction a l'Histoire du Bouddhisme Indien (1844). See Notice sur les Travatux de M. Eugene Burnouf, in Barthelemv Saint -Hilaire's Introduction au Bouddhisme (Paris, 1876); Vernes, in Lichtenberger's Encyclopedie des Sciences Religieuses, s.v. (B. P.)