Treatment of a Severely Damaged Paper Manuscript of the Tang Dynasty Unearthed from the Western Regions

Abstract

Abstract A batch of paper manuscripts of the Tang Dynasty unearthed from the Western Regions represents one of the most important special collections at the Museum of Renmin University of China. These paper manuscripts are a unique source for studying history, religion, paleography, and culture. Due to their age and the detrimental storage environment, most manuscripts were severely damaged and incomplete and needed conservation treatment. One of these manuscripts dated to the 5th year of the Zhenyuan period (789 C.E.) was distorted and it was not possible to identify its content; it also posed serious challenges for handling. This paper proposes method for preserving this manuscript. Soiling was removed using dry-cleaning methods, followed by unfolding the folds with tweezers, mending losses and lining. After conservation measures, the surface of the manuscript was flat, and the handwriting was recognizable. For long-term storage and utilization, the manuscript was encapsulated in paper and stored in a self-made paper folder. This paper aims to contribute to research on a safe and reliable method for preserving severely damaged and distorted manuscripts.