El orientalismo en la cultura española en el primer tercio del siglo XX. La Sociedad Teosófica Española (1888-1940)

Abstract

This research deals with the establishment and development of the Theosophical Society in Spain between 1888 and 1940. The first part is dedicated to the formation of the Theosophical Society in New York, its establishment in India and in the cities of London and Paris, cities from where later it established in the major capitals of Europe during the Decade 1880-90. In the establishment in Spain we can distinguish four periods (1890-1910, 1910-1920, 1921-1930 and 1930-1940). In April 1891 it was formed the Spanish Group of the Theosophical Society, two branches were constituted in Madrid and Barcelona in May 1893; until 1940, other 33 theosophical centers were constituted in several cities. It is exposed the most relevant people and activities that took place. Finally, is attached a list of people who were members of the Spanish Theosophical Society between 1891-1940. The following chapter discusses one of the most important activities from the Spanish Theosophists, translation and publishing of pamphlets and books that conformed the collection “Orientalist library of Ramon Maynade” in Barcelona. It also discusses the journals published (Theosophical studies, Antahkarana, Sophia, White Lotus, Hesperia, Zanoni, Fiat Lux, 2nd time Sophia, and Theosophy), each one attached with a description of each one of them, their digitization and database summaries; also, a list of works translated into Spanish and their translators, among these Federico Climent Terrer. Other chapter is devoted to the educational activity in the Spanish Theosophical Society. It is briefly described the philosophical approach that theosophists had on education, and the introduction of the Gold chain, the Round table and Leagues of goodness (educational substructures dedicated to children and young people), and the Esoteric school (aimed at internal progress in the Theosophical path among adults). The educational activity in the social sphere took place in Barcelona with the formation of the “Institute of Integral and Harmonical education” (1911), the International fraternity of education in Spain (1921) and the “New Damon" international school (1926), in which the active school and Montessori methods were applied. In other chapter is described the activity of the Theosophist in the Spanish cultural landscape through the Association of Practical idealists, Madrid´s Theosophical Athenaeum and the Theosophical Club of Barcelona, of which ones is dealt the aspects of their ideas, characters and more representative activity. Finally, two brief biographies of Federico Climent Terrer and Attilio Bruschetti are accompanied.

Date of Award	4 Dec 2013
Original language	Spanish
Supervisor	Jordi Pomes Vives (Director)