The Catalogue of the Rig 'dzin Tshe dbang nor bu rNying ma'i rgyud 'bum
Modern library pagination and markings
In this volume, the western numbering is in black ink stamped numbers. At the front of the volume, there is a long rectangle of coarse red cloth, on which is stuck a rectangular IOL paper sticker, which is white with red borders (as in other volumes, with a heart-shaped decoration in each corner). We find red handwriting, reading, '318 pages', blue writing, reading, 'MISC COLL. GYUT 2', and in large Tibetan writing, 'rgyud kha'.
Paper composition
Some sheets are thinner than others (eg. 22 and 238 are thin and the writing on each side is just visible on the other), although most are quite thick, appearing to consist of two layers of paper.
Size of folios
The size of the plain sheets is 576 x 125mm. There is some size variation.
Sheet numberings
As in other volumes, many of the sheets have tiny Tibetan numerals written sideways, some of which are missing or partially cut off, and where they do occur, they do not seem to correspond to the page numbering in words.
Pagination
Page details are given in words written sideways in black ink, to the left of the writing on each recto side.
Page settings
Most sheets, as in other volumes, have 7 lines of black ink writing, with double red vertical lines to the sides of the writing.
Ornaments, openings and punctuation
Double yig mgo are found in the upper left corner of all recto sides, apart from 1-3. gNyis and gsum each have a triple yig mgo, and the verso side of gcig also has a triple yig mgo. The regular double yig mgo usually start on or to the right of the red vertical margin delineators. There are some slight differences in style, with some larger or more elongated than others.
Handwriting
The writing in this volume seems to be of a fairly consistent style throughout, with the letters mostly clear and distinct and the ink often quite thick. Sometimes the ink appears through on the other side of the folio (eg. dots of the ink from 142a are visible on 142b, and similarly dots of ink from the other sides are visible on both sides of 153 and 154). The writing varies only very slightly in size.
Corrections and interventions
There are two small holes in the writing area of 180; in the 3rd line of 180a, we find almost one third of the line has been amended. The original letters have been removed from the page, and replaced with new smaller letters. The removal has made the paper thinner and generated the holes, although the writing is clearly legible on both sides of the folio. There is a similar amendment, with the longer string of inserted syllables going over the end of and beginning of line 3 and 4 respectively on 244b, but the sheet is thick and there is no damage to the folio.
Marks and blemishes
There are occasional ink smudges and many sheets have slightly discoloured brownish patches. However, the clear writing is hardly ever obscured. 192a has a brown mark to the right, over a few syllables on each of the first 4 lines, but the writing remains legible.
State of preservation
The writing in this volume is rarely obscured by tears and rips. Most sheets are in a reasonable state with few holes or tears - there are occasional small holes and tears. In a small area at the top of 11a, the surface is uneven, seemingly due to a small piece of the top layer of paper having come away, presumably before the sheet was written on, since a gap is left over the uneven part of the sheet in the top line. There is a tear from the top edge of 17, going into the writing area, but the writing remains clear. 22 has two small holes near the bottom, below the writing, 280 has a small hole above the writing area. Some folios have small tears, eg. 32, 186, 238, 252, 259, and 308 each have a small tear in the bottom edge; 122 and 155 each have two such tears and 193 a larger bottom edge tear; 107, 150 and 314 each have a tear at the right edge; 115, at the left edge, and 240 at the top edge. Occasional sheets have edge indentations - eg. 82, 194, and 211 on the right edge, 99, 102, 149, and 165 on the bottom edge; 156 on the left edge; and some have a single small hole outside the writing area, eg 91, 92, 157, 300, and 305. 150 has a small hole within the writing area but it presumably predated the writing, since gaps are left around the hole; 170, 256, 257, and 276 have similar holes.
There are two small holes in the writing area of 180, due to an amendment (see above). 191 and 296 each have a single small hole in the writing area, not however obscuring any letters. 238 has two small holes, not affecting the legibility of the writing. 278 has the bottom right corner torn off and a piece torn out of the left edge, but the writing area is unaffected; 296 also has a bottom right corner torn off.
Cover folios
The blue lacquered front folio, measuring approximately 570 x 115 mm, has been torn into two pieces, and sewn together again, with plain paper stuck to both sides and three blue thread cross stitches. However, the front of one side of the folio seems to have been attached to the back, since part of the red box is on one side of the folio, and the other part on the other side! The folio is also torn and frayed at the edges. The lacquer has come away in parts. It is plain blue in colour, with margins ruled in red, making a box 360mm one side of the folio, together with 86 mm on the other side, x 53mm one side, and 44 mm on the other side.
There are no index leaves in this volume.
State of preservation
The blue lacquered front folio has been torn into two pieces, and sewn together again, such that the front of one side of the folio seems to have been attached to the back! See description of Cover folios.
Decorated first folios: construction
The first folio, gcig, is a laminate of about 15 sheets, 569 x 125 mm.
The recto side is plain azure blue lacquer, but with gold margins ruled and the collection, volume, and folio identifications given at the left border, in gold writing. The box made by the ruled lines measures 435 x 68 mm, with the vertical lines not at exact right angles to the horizontal lines, but coming down slightly to the left. The blue sheet is torn slightly at the edges and the blue lacquer is rubbed off in parts. Thick crossed stitches attach the folio together, two along the top, five along the bottom, and one to the left and the right of the folio.
Decorated first folios: frames [ TITLE PAGE]
The verso side of gcig (1b) is blue lacquer, with elaborate intertwining straight gold lines around the outside of the page, outlining exactly the same interlocking key design as we find in other volumes. The upper sheet has a rectangular window cut out for the text, 450 x 72mm right/74mm left, outlined (around the frame) with a red paint line. Part of the lower window frame to the right of the centre, measuring about 98mm across, is missing.
Decorated first folios: window curtain
There is a material cover fitted over the window, with three layers. The yellow layer is at the top, with gold thread around the outside, and it measures 428 x 61mm visible (the upper part tucks under the blue frame above). A blue layer is the middle layer, with white thread around the outside, measuring 436 x 65mm visible to the right, 67mm to the left. The third and final layer beneath is orange, with green thread around the outside, measuring 447mm x 70mm visible to the right, 72mm to the left. They are not exact rectangles of material, the lower edge of the orange layer forms a slightly wavy line, and to the left and right, it does not quite reach to the window frame.
Decorated first folios: window layout
Beneath the cover is a double lined gold rectangle drawn on black lacquer, with 3 lines of gold writing, split across two sides of the page. There are miniatures to the left and right, besides which the areas for writing are bounded by vertical strips with a regular pattern of gold lines, in this case, the diamond and swastika design (see "General Information on Volumes"). The larger miniature in the centre, which breaks up the page, is bounded to the left and right by a thin double vertical gold line, outlining a rectangle, 80 x 68mm. The lefthand miniature is within a rectangle 52 x 69mm, the righthand miniature's rectangle is 50 x 71mm. The legends for the miniatures are written below each, within the border of gold lines outside the window. Each legend is within double ornamenal brackets:
[ first, to the left:] {{[yig mgo x 1] //rig 'dzin tshe dbang nor bu la na mo//}} [ second, to the left of centre. Much of this is smudged out and barely readable but the remnants of the syllables appear to suggest a reconstruction in line with other volumes:] {{//lha lcam man dha ra ba/ [yig mgo x 1]//sangs rgyas the remaining syllables are torn off; almost certainly they would have been: gnyis pa oyan [Then they would have continued to the right of centre, on the other side of the gold vertical strip transversing the text, torn off but reconstructed in accordance with other volumes: rje/ mkha'gro ye shes mtsho rgyal}} ] [third, to the right:] {{ [yig mgo x 1]//slob dpon namkha'i snying po la na mo//}}Cloth volume wrapping
The whole text is wrapped in a coarse rectangular piece of orange cloth with a fringe along one side, and near to the fringed edge, there is a small rectangle of printed black ink, with what appears to be Hindi writing.
Size of folios
The second folio, gnyis, measures 575 x 124 mm.
Decorated second folios
The recto side of gnyis is blue lacquer, with 4 lines of gold writing, within a gold rectangular box, 480mm (top)/483mm (bottom) x 78 mm. The margins are ruled as usual, with the collection, volume and folio identification to the left.. The box is not an exact rectangle; the vertical lines are not at exact right angles to the horizontal lines, coming down slightly to the left. The folio is a laminate of about 8 pages, with thick cross stitches visible on both sides, two to the top and bottom, one to the left and right. The verso side is ordinary paper.
Page settings
As mentioned above, 2a has 4 lines of gold writing. 2b is ordinary paper. 2b - 6a have double red lined rectangular boxes and margins. 2b and 3a each have 4 lines of black writing; 3b - 5b, have 5 lines of slightly smaller writing, and 6a, 6 lines of writing. The boxes are not exact rectangles, and the lines within them are not always exactly square, eg. 5b's lines go up slightly to the right. The boxes measure as follows. 2b: 496 x 82 mm; 3a: 496 x 82mm; 3b: 492 x 82 (left)/80 (right) mm; 4a: 478 x 80mm; 4b: 482 x 78 mm; 5a: 490 x 82 right/80 left mm; 5b: 487 x 79 mm; 6a: 482 x 77. Some of the lines overshoot the boxes. 6b starts the usual style of red margins down each side and 7 lines per side.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
Folio 63 and 64 appear to be in the wrong order: see note below regarding references for Chapters 4 and 5.
Microfilm
Note that a large brown mark over the right hand side of this folio (192a) partially obscures the writing on the microfilm, although the manuscript itself is clearly legible.
Page settings
318a is the final page. It has a red ruled box, measuring 498 x 80mm, with 6 ruled lines (of which 4 are used). 318b is blank.