Professor Dr. Walther Schubring

This article by F.R. Hamm commemorates Professor Dr. Walther Schubring (1881‑1969), a German Indologist and one of the founding figures of modern Jaina studies. Born in Lübeck, Schubring studied Oriental languages at the University of Strasbourg and was trained by Ernst Leumann. He dedicated his career to the Jain canonical texts written in Prakrit. Schubring catalogued Jain manuscripts for the Prussian State Library and produced critical editions and translations of canonical texts. His seminal book Die Lehre der Jainas (The Doctrine of the Jains) appeared in 1935 and was translated into English in 1962. Schubring taught at the University of Hamburg, where he became professor of Indology in 1919 and served as editor of the Journal of the German Oriental Society. The article traces his visits to India, where he collaborated with Jain monks and scholars to study manuscripts; he emphasised that accurate interpretation of Jain scriptures requires deep knowledge of Prakrit grammar and Jain philosophy. The author recounts Schubring’s mentorship of younger scholars such as Wilhelm Schubring and Klaus Bruhn, his methodical approach to textual criticism, and his belief that Jainism’s principle of non‑violence is central to its doctrine. The article notes that Schubring’s research contributed to establishing Jain studies as an independent academic discipline. His work, along with earlier contributions by Leumann and Jacobi, demonstrated that Jainism is distinct from Buddhism and Hinduism. F.R. Hamm praises Schubring’s humility, his dedication to students, and his lifelong commitment to making Jain scriptures accessible to scholars worldwide. The article concludes with reflections on the continuing relevance of Schubring’s scholarship for modern research on Jain doctrine and literature.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.