Shiite Fund
Presentation
The Shiite collection of the library of religious sciences of the EPHE-PSL (1150 volumes) is composed of two collections forming a system:
- the "Henry Corbin Collection" (bequeathed to the EPHE in 1979, 1057 volumes), which brings together the Shiite sources collected by the famous orientalist [1903-1978]. It is a set of works in Arabic and Persian belonging to the two main branches of Shiism (Imamism and Ismailism), mainly in the fields of theology, philosophy, Koranic exegesis and mysticism. There are many old lithographic editions (second half of the 19th century), which have become impossible to find in Iran itself.
- the "Shaykhî Collection" (157 volumes) set up between 1974 and 1979, also on the initiative of Henry Corbin, brings together the works of the dignitaries of the brotherhood of the Shaykhiyya of Iran (Imam theology and mysticism). These are facsimile editions of autograph manuscripts, produced by the Kirman Printing House in Iran.
The Shiite collection of the EPHE, unique in France and the second most important collection of Shiite sources in Europe after the collection of the Oriental Department of the University of Cologne–which it completes–is a fundamental source for the study of Iranian Islamic philosophy as well as for the study of Shiite esotericism. Known worldwide among specialists for its rarity and exceptional content, it was the subject of an article published in the Journal Asiatique (AMIR-MOEZZI, Mohammad Ali and SCHMIDTKE, Sabine. "Twelver-shî'ite Resources in Europe. The Shî'ite Collection at the Oriental Department of the University of Cologne, the Fonds Henry Corbin and the Fonds Shaykhî at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE), Paris. With a Catalogue of the Fonds Shaykhî". Journal Asiatique, vol. 285/1 (1997), pp. 73-122).
Links
Condorcet Campus Humathèque
Calames (Abes)