The Examination and Analysis of Dunhuang and Turfan manuscript materials at Princeton University Library’s East Asian Library

Abstract

Around 1900 a major discovery of early Chinese manuscripts and other archaeological materials occurred in the area of the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, China, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The vast hoard of materials, which spans from the fourth to the 14th century, provides a rare glimpse of the various cultures that passed along the great Silk Road. The huge mass of materials was dispersed over time to various major research institutions around the world for study. This paper discusses an analytical examination of the seventh to 14th century Dunhuang and Turfan collection held at Princeton University Library's East Asian Library. The study involves an examination of the manuscripts’ fiber composition by polarized light microscopy, Graff C staining, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as well as the examination of a small unattributed painting on cloth by the same methods and with the addition of x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. A preponderance of ramie (Boehmeria nivea) fibers was found in the collection of manuscript fragments as well as a very small amount of bamboo (Gramineae bambusa). The small painting is made of silk cloth. The pigments on the silk appear to be natural ultramarine (lapis lazuli), malachite (copper carbonate), lead white (basic lead carbonate), and red lead (lead tetroxide).

Résumé

Autour des années 1900, une découverte majeure a été faite de manuscrits anciens et d’autres matériaux archéologiques chinois dans la région des grottes de Mogao à Dunhuang, en Chine, site désormais inscrit sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO. La vaste horde de matériaux, qui s’étend du IVe au XIVe siècle, donne un rare aperçu des cultures variées qui ont fait usage de la route de la soie. Au fil du temps, la masse importante de documents a été dispersée à but d’étude dans différents centres de recherche majeurs à travers le monde. Cet article traite de l’étude analytique de la collection de Dunhuang et de Turfan datant du VIIe au XIVe siècle, conservée à la bibliothèque de l’Asie de l’Est de l’université de Princeton (PEALD). Cette recherche comprend une étude de la composition des fibres des manuscrits par microscopie avec lumière polarisée (PLM), coloration de Graff « C » et spectroscopie de réflectance totale atténuée infra-rouge à transformée de Fourier (ATR-FTIR), ainsi que l’étude d’une petite peinture sur toile non attribuée, avec les mêmes méthodes et en plus la spectrométrie de fluorescence des rayons X (XRF). Une prépondérance de fibres de ramie (Boehmeria nivea) a été identifiée dans la collection de fragments de manuscrits, ainsi qu’une très faible quantité de bambou (Gramineae bambusa). La petite peinture est faite de tissu de soie. Les pigments sur la soie semblent être du bleu outremer naturel (lapis lazuli), de la malachite (carbonate de cuivre), du blanc de plomb (carbonate de plomb basique), et de plomb rouge (tétraoxyde de plomb). Traduit par Elsa Thyss et Bruno Pouliot.

Resumo

Por volta de 1900 ocorreu uma importante descoberta de manuscritos primitivos chineses e outros materiais arqueológicos na zona das cavernas de Mogao de Dunhuang, China, que é um lugar classificado como Património Mundial pela Unesco. A vasta gama de materiais, que abrange os séculos IV e XIV, proporciona um vislumbre raro das várias culturas que passaram pela grande Rota da Seda. A grande massa de materiais foi dispersa, ao longo do tempo, por diversas instituições mundiais de pesquisa com o objectivo de estudo. Este artigo discute o exame analítico da coleção Dunhuang e Turfan, dos séculos VII ao XIV, existente na Princeton University Library's East Asian Library (PEALD). O estudo envolve um exame da composição de fibras dos manuscritos por microscopia de luz polarizada (PLM), coloração com Graff C, reflexão total atenuada - espectroscopia de infravermelho de transformação de Fourier (ATR-FTIR), bem como o exame de uma pequena pintura em tecido, sem autor atribuído, pelos mesmos métodos; além da espectrometria de fluorescência de raios X (XRF). Foi encontrada uma preponderância de fibras de rami (Boehmeria nivea) e uma pequena quantidade de fibras de bambú (Gramineae bambusa). A pequena pintura é feita de tecido de seda. Os pigmentos na seda aparentam ser ultramarino natural (lapis lazúli), malaquite (carbonato de cobre), branco de chumbo (básico carbonato de chumbo) e vermelho de chumbo (tetróxido de chumbo). Taduzido por Teresa Lanca.

Resúmen

Alrededor de 1900 se produjo un importante descubrimiento de manuscritos chinos tempranos y otros materiales arqueológicos en el área de las Cuevas de Mogao de Dunhuang, China, que ahora es Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO. La gran multitud de materiales, que se datan desde el S IV hasta el S XIV, ofrece un raro panorama de las diversas culturas que pasaron por la gran Ruta de la Seda. La enorme cantidad de materiales se dispersó con el tiempo a varias instituciones de investigación importantes de todo el mundo para su estudio. Este documento discute un examen analítico de la colección de Dunhuang y Turfan del S VII al XIV realizada en la Biblioteca de Asia Oriental de la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Princeton (PEALD por sus siglas en inglés). El estudio incluye un examen de la composición de las fibras de los manuscritos mediante microscopía de luz polarizada (PLM), tinción de Graff C, reflectancia total atenuada-espectroscopía infrarroja de transformada de Fourier (ATR-FTIR) así como el examen de una pequeña pintura sobre tela, no atribuida, usando los mismos métodos; además de la espectrometría de fluorescencia de rayos X (XRF). Se encontró una preponderancia de fibras de Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) en la colección de fragmentos de manuscritos, así como una muy pequeña cantidad de bambú (Gramineae bambusa). La pequeña pintura está hecha de tela de seda. Los pigmentos en la seda parecen ser ultramarino natural (lapislázuli), malaquita (carbonato de cobre), blanco de plomo (carbonato de plomo básico) y plomo rojo (tetróxido de plomo). Traducido por Amparo Rueda.

Keywords:

• Mogao Caves
• Dunhuang and Turfan
• Chinese papermaking
• Ramie
• Bamboo
• PLM
• Graff C staining
• ATR-FTIR

Acknowledgments

The author would like to give much thanks and appreciation to Martin Heijdra, Director of the East Asian Library, Princeton University Library, for providing his thoughts and insights into the East Asian Library's collection of Dunhuang and Turfan materials as well as his overall advice and assistance. I would like to extend many thanks and appreciation to Fei Wen Tsai, Associate Professor, Tainan National University of the Arts, Taiwan, and Emma Kummrow, Philadelphia, PA, for their very helpful assistance.

Sources of Materials

Chinese Paper (Fiber References); Paper Mulberry, Hemp, Bamboo

Blue Heron Arts

19386 Waterfall Way

Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Telephone [phone]

[email protected]

USA

Pulp Fiber (Fiber References, half stuff); Paper Mulberry, Hemp, Bamboo

Institute of Paper Technology (IPT is no longer active)

Georgia Tech University

Atlanta, GA

USA

Textile (Fiber Reference); Ramie

Mood Fabrics

225 W. 37^th Street

New York, NY 10018

Telephone [phone]

USA

Fiber Reference; Jute Twine (Chinese)

Washed in acetone before use

Everbilt

35 W. Valley Blvd

Alhambra, CA 91801

Telephone [phone]

USA

Silk Fiber (Fiber Reference); 100% Natural Silk Bead Cord

Griffin GmbH

PO Box 168

D-78713 Schramburg

Telephone [phone]

[email protected]

GERMANY

Graff C Stain

John D. Hankey & Associates

PO Box 1856

Appleton, WI 54913-1856

Telephone [phone]

[email protected]

USA

Bruker Tracer III-SD Hand-Held XRF Spectrometer BRUKER AXS

5465 East Cheryl Parkway

Madison, WI 53711

Telephone [phone]

[email protected]

USA

ALPHA P FTIR Spectrometer

Bruker Optics

19 Fortune Drive

Manning Park

Billerica MA 01821

Telephone [phone]

[email protected]

USA

Olympus BX51 Polarized Light Microscope

Zeiss OPMI® 1 FC Stereo-Binocular Microscope

Olympus America

3500 Corporate Pkwy

Center Valley, PA 18034

Telephone [phone]

www.olympusamerica.com

USA

Lumenera Infinity 2 Digital Camera

Lumenera

7 Capella Court

Ottawa, ON, K2E 8A7

Telephone [phone]

[email protected]

CANADA

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ted Stanley

Author Biography

Ted Stanley is the Special Collections Paper Conservator, Conservation Laboratory, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library. He has been in charge of paper conservation at the Library from 1992 to present. He was a senior paper conservator at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, where he trained and served from 1976 to 1992. During that time he conducted comprehensive conservation studies in the conservation laboratories of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Paris) and the Centro Nationale de Conservación y Restauración de Bien Culturales, Madrid, Spain, through a National Endowment of the Arts fellowship. He is an American Institute for Conservation Fellow, who has extensively published and lectured on a wide range of paper conservation topics. The topics include the study of (reverse) glass-prints and Aztec maps, the conservation of papyrus, the history and treatment of Frakturs, optical view prints, and Persian illuminated manuscripts, among others. Address: One Washington Road, Princeton University Library, Princeton, NJ 08544-2098, USA. E-mail: [email protected]