This section introduces the historical background of Naxi Dongba literature research and the contributions of Jackson. In 1867, French missionary Desgodins first introduced Dongba scriptures to Western academia. By the mid-20th century, American scholar Rock elevated Western Naxi studies to its peak. After Rock's death in 1962, Western Naxi studies gradually declined. British anthropologist Jackson emerged as the leading figure in Western Naxi studies after Rock, achieving outstanding accomplishments in the study of Naxi Dongba literature. Domestic scholars such as Yang Fuquan, Bai Gengsheng, and Gan Xuechun have provided brief introductions to Jackson's research. Building on previous studies, this article will offer a comprehensive review of Jackson's contributions to Naxi literature research.

1. Jackson’s Life and Naxi Studies

Anthony Jackson was a British anthropologist specializing in Naxi religion, Dongba literature, and the history of Naxi studies. He earned his Ph.D. in 1970, and his dissertation, "The Structure of Naxi Religion," was later published as "Naxi Religion: An Analytical Appraisal of Naxi Ritual Texts." Before visiting Lijiang, Jackson conducted detailed surveys of Dongba scriptures in China and published multiple papers analyzing Naxi Dongba rituals in depth. In his work "The Past, Present, and Future of Naxi Studies," he reviewed the history of Naxi studies, assessed its current state, and proposed future directions. Jackson also co-authored a paper with Pan Anshi titled "Naxi Rituals, Index Books, and Divination Texts." In 1999, he delivered a report at the First Lijiang International Dongba Culture and Arts Festival. After 2000, he published no new works and passed away in 2011 at the age of 85.

2. Jackson’s Research on Dongba Literature

Jackson’s research focused on Dongba literature, with in-depth studies of Dongba scriptures through papers such as "The Magical Mo-so Manuscripts" and Pan Anshi’s doctoral thesis. In the 1960s, he investigated the global collection and circulation of Dongba scriptures, compiling statistics on the number of texts, acquisition dates, collectors, and other details into tables widely cited by scholars. Jackson categorized Dongba scriptures into six types, aligning them with four schools, and identified different scribes. His research also addressed the authorship and dating of Dongba scriptures, such as re-evaluating the copying time and author of a dated Dongba manuscript.

3. Contributions and Limitations of Jackson’s Dongba Literature Research

Jackson’s contributions to Dongba literature research include: 1) Clarifying the collection and dissemination of Dongba scriptures in the West, planning to compile a catalog of Dongba texts, classifying Naxi Dongba rituals, determining the number of canonical texts, and tracing their developmental trajectory; 2) Applying Western philological and anthropological methods to analyze Dongba scriptures, asserting that they are key to understanding Naxi pictographic writing; 3) Advocating for the establishment of an international organization for Naxi studies and the training of Naxi studies Ph.D. students. Limitations of his work include: 1) Insufficiently detailed surveys of the global distribution of Dongba scriptures, with some statistical inaccuracies; 2) A lack of in-depth fieldwork, relying on secondary sources and yielding less reliable conclusions; 3) No proficiency in the Naxi language and a lack of Dongba assistants, hindering the interpretation of ancient texts; 4) Some speculative claims lacking factual support. Despite these minor flaws, Jackson’s research provided new perspectives and methodologies for Naxi literature studies, leaving an indelible contribution.