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 written in blue pencil numbers. The first index leaf (see below) bears a rectangular IOL paper sticker, white with red borders (as in other volumes, with a heart-shaped decoration in each corner), with the red handwriting: "247 pages"; and in blue writing, "MISC. COLLN. GYUT 26."; and in large Tibetan writing, "rgyud la".
Paper composition
Most sheets in this volume are quite thick, apparently consisting of at least two layers of paper, although some folios are thinner than others (eg. 201; 94 is thin despite consisting of two layers).
Size of folios
The size of the plain sheets varies a little: most are 572-8 x 125 mm. Some sheets are not cut very straight. Especially, many of the left-hand edges go down to the left or occasionally to the right, some of the right-hand edges are similarly badly cut (eg. 84), and some of the other edges are not straight, such as the wavy upper edge of 133.
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. The lines are ruled with faint (diluted?) reddish ink. The writing is not always exactly square on the page (eg. 5b, where the writing goes up slightly to the right).
Ornaments, openings and punctuation
Double yig mgo are found in the upper left corner of all recto sides, apart from 1-4. gNyis, gsum and bzhi 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 quite consistent in style, with some size variation; the letters are mostly clear and distinct.
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. The condition of the paper is a little variable: the colour of the sheets varies from off-white to brown, some folios are rather crinkled, and many sheets are rather dirty or have dark streaks or spots (eg. 88 and 136a have brown blotches and spots on them). However, the clear writing is hardly ever obscured . Some folios have small holes outside the writing area, eg. 10, 11, 13, 14, 24, 28, 148, 181, 234, 244. 48 and 99 each have a small hole within the writing area which appears to have predated the writing since there appears to be some attempt to avoid them on 48a and 99b respectively. It is difficult to tell whether a similar hole on 103 was also deliberately avoided. Other folios, eg. 188, 222, 233, have a tiny hole in the writing area, not affecting the writing. Some folios (eg. 9-11, 27-9, 31-4, 48, 56, 62, 67-9, 96, 98, 108-110, 112-117, 122, 134, 173, 192, 198, 203, 209-210, 218, 220, 223, 226, 235, 241, 243-246) have edge indentations. 18, 21, 49, 60, 108, 119, 128, 153, 202, 210, 218, 219 each have an edge tear. 10, 48, 68, 83, 164 have a corner torn off. Some syllables are obscured on 50b and 51a, where a small piece of the top layer of 50b appears to have come off and stuck to 51a. There are similar problems on 55b/56a and 203b/204a. There is some evidence of attempted repairs, eg. a small piece of paper stuck over a torn edge: 67, 69, 80; or on one side of an edge: 166a, 243b. Final folio 248 is in poor condition.
Cover folios
The blue lacquered front folio has been damaged and repaired. The folio measures approximately 555 at its longest point x 115mm (left)/ 112mm (right). It has been torn into two right down the sheet and repaired with thick thread stitching attaching the two sides together. The sheet otherwise is in poor condition, with tears in the edges, especially along the left-hand side, much of which has been torn away, and some creasing. The lacquer has come away in parts. The recto side is plain blue in colour, with margins ruled in red, making a box measuring approximately 448 x 39 mm. The verso is also plain blue, and the index leaves are sewn to the right of the folio, with thick leather cross stitches, and red thread stitches which attach the layers together, as well as some black and some white thread stitching.
Index leaf 4: 105 mm x 86 mm, plain beige canvas type cloth, stained with dirt, fraying badly at the edges, two horizontal neatly ruled red lines at the top, under which there is writing: [yig mgo x 1]/ /gled. bam. la [la in red, slightly larger] pa 'di la/
La1, bdud rtsi yees gsang ba 'khor lo'i rgyud/
La2, bdud rtsi mchogi lung zhes bya ba bam po brgyad pa/
La3, tham.d bdud rtsi'i rang bzhin gyi rgyud dum bu gsum pa/
La4, bdud rtsi chen po 'khor lo 'bar ba'i rgyud/
La5, tham.d bdud rtsi lnga'i rang bzhin rin po che phreng ba'i rgyud/
La6, bdud rtsi bde ba chen po'i rgyud/
La7, tham.d bdud rtsi'i rang bzhin du 'khrungs shing skye bar byed pa'ibras bu rin po che 'od ltar bstan pa'i rgyud/
La8, bdud rtsi las rgya mtsho'i rgyud/
La9, tham.d bdud rtsi lnga'i rang bzhin dngorub [? unclear; abbreviation for dngos grub?] chen po nye ba'i snying po mchog/
La10, bdud rtsi chen po chos nyid gsang ba'i rgyud/
La11, bdud rtsi 'khyil pa 'chi med tshe'i rgyud/
La12, sangs rgyas thams cad kyi bdud rtsi ye shes 'od ldan gyi rgyud
rnams bzhugs so// //
Decorated first folios: construction
The first folio, gcig, is a laminate of at least 16 sheets, 572 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. Some of the lacquer has been rubbed off, there are also some tears in the edges, and close to the right-hand edge, the top sheet appears to have been torn right the way down. However, both sides of the tear remain in place. The box made by the ruled lines measures 425 x 67 mm, with the vertical lines not at exact right angles to the horizontal lines, but coming down slightly to the left. 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 73mm, outlined (around the frame) with a red paint line. There are three tears in the upper window frame.
Decorated first folios: window curtain
There is a silk cover fitted over the window, with three layers sewn together. Where there are tears in the upper window frame, yellow running stitches are visible beneath the frame, attaching the material layers to the sheets below. The yellow layer is at the top, with gold thread around the outside, and it measures 430 x 86 mm to the top of the folio, 68 mm to the left/ 61 mm to the right visible beneath the frame. A blue layer is the middle layer, with white thread around the outside, measuring 432 x 71 visible beneath the frame to the left and 65 mm visible to the right. The third and final layer beneath is orange, with green thread around the outside, measuring 440 x 75 mm visible beneath the frame to the left and 71 mm visible to the right. They are not exact rectangles of material, the bottom edge of the orange layer forms a slightly wavy line, and it does not quite cover the whole of the window frame, especially on the right and left sides, where there are slight gaps between the curtain and 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 wave 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 69mm. The lefthand miniature is within a rectangle 50 x 69mm, the vertical double gold lines coming down very slightly to the left; the righthand miniature's rectangle is 50 x 70mm. 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:] {{[yig mgo x 1]//lha lcam man dha ra ba// [yig mgo x 1]//sangs rgyas gnyis pa [Then continued to the right of centre, on the other side of the gold vertical strip transversing the text:] oyan rje// mkha'gro ye shes mtsho rgyal//}} [third, to the right:] {{//dkon mchog 'byung gnas la na mo//}}Size of folios
The second folio, gnyis, measures 577 x 125 mm.
Decorated second folios
The recto side of gnyis is blue lacquer, with 4 lines of gold writing, within a double gold rectangular box, the outer measuring 486 (left)/ 490 (right) x 81mm (left)/ 79mm (right), the inner, 470 x 71mm (left)/ 68mm (right). The margins are ruled as usual, with the collection, volume and folio identification to the left. The boxes are not exact rectangles; 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 at least 6 thick layers, 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 - 5a have double red lined rectangular boxes and margins; in the case of 2b and 3a, with an inner double red lined rectangular box. 2b and 3a each have 4 lines of black writing; 3b - 4b, have 5 lines of slightly smaller writing, and 5a, 6 lines of writing. The boxes are not very exact rectangles, and the ink sometimes is of variable thickness. Sometimes, the lines overshoot the boxes or do not quite join up at the corners. The writing lines are not exactly parallel to the horizontal lines of the boxes: on most pages, the lines come up slightly at the right. The boxes measure as follows. 2b (outer): 494 x 81 mm; 3a (outer): 492 x 80mm (left)/ 84mm (right); 3b: 494 (above)/ 491 (below) x 81 mm; 4a: 486 x 81 mm; 4b: 486 x 79 mm; 5a: 489 x 85 mm. 5b starts the usual style of red margins down each side and 7 lines per side.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
46 is missing; there is an IOL note dated 28/1/1949, noting this. The note appears once to have been stuck to 47, but has since mostly torn off. A comparison of ch. 7 of Rig ’dzin Tshe dbang nor bu La 2 with mTshams brag’s equivalent text shows that this missing folio 46 is the misplaced folio zhe drug, mislabelled as “da zhe drug” and found in Volume Da.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
We find two 102 brgya gnyis. The one marked in blue at the side, 'Duplicate' (although it is not a duplicate) does not fit: the writing is slightly different. On examination, it is clearly the missing folio 102 from Volume Wa (containing part of ch. 68 of Rig ’dzin Tshe dbang nor bu Wa 1 ): see note below, concerning the extra folio 107, which is also mislabelled as belonging to Volume La when it in fact comes from Volume Wa. 103 follows on from the other, correctly placed, 102, which follows on from 101.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
We have a misplaced folio 107 brgya bdun (called, 'Duplicate' in blue writing, although not a duplicate) which follows 107 brgya bdun. This 107 Duplicate is in a different writing style from the main text, and its content does not fit, while our other 107 follows from 106 and leads on to 108. On examination, it becomes clear that this folio 107 Duplicate is correctly numbered 107, but incorrectly labelled as from Volume La, when it is in fact from Volume Wa. We have a chapter ending given on 107b Duplicate line 3-4: /dpal zla gsang nag po'i rgyud las/ /srog gcod spu gri gnod sbyin gyi zla gsang// gsang ba ltar bsgrubs pa'i le'u ste don gnyis pa'o// [ nyis tsheg shad (U0F10) x 2, syll 1] This fits exactly with what we would expect on the folio 107 which is missing in Volume Wa (see under Rig ’dzin Tshe dbang nor bu Wa 1 ). A card note has been inserted into the ms here. Three people seem to have contributed comments: “[1] Not a duplicate, but f. 107 of vol. 'a (23) ? [2] 'a 107 in place [3] Not R! Vol. 22 Za The work is called dpal zla-gsang nag-po'i rgyud. It is the last text of vol 22. S.G. Karmay.” Note that Samten Karmay’s comment correctly identifies the name of the text which is given in Volume Za (Rig ’dzin Tshe dbang nor bu Za 22). However, this text is another version of the dpal zla gsang nag po’i rgyud, and its ch. 72 (entitled, “srog gcod spu gri zla gsang gi le'u ste don gnyis pa'o”) is similar but not exactly the same as ch. 72 of the edition given in Wa. However, a comparison between ch. 71-73 of Za 22 and Wa 1 is useful in that it shows beyond doubt that the text we have on this misplaced folio 107 exactly corresponds to the text missing in Wa 1 , after Wa folio 106 and before folio 107. Similarly, a comparison with the version in Za 22 also demonstrates that our earlier extra folio 102 (also a missing folio in Wa) has the part of the text for ch. 68 of Wa 1 which is missing between Wa folios 101 and 103.
Microfilm
On the microfilm of Volume La, 107b Duplicate comes after 106b and we have a repeat (on the film) of 106b, followed by misplaced 107a Duplicate. We then have another shot of the misplaced 107b Duplicate, followed by the correct 107a.
Microfilm
190a brgya dgu bcu is photographed twice on the microfilm and 190b is omitted.
Page settings
248a is the final page. The text is within a red rectangular box, approximately 475 x 80 mm with 6 ruled lines, which are all used. 248b is blank, apart from a red ruled box and lines, and the paper repairs.
State of preservation
This final folio 248 is rather damaged: there are three long creases, possibly repaired tears, right down the folio in three places, which have been reinforced by pieces of paper on the back, but the lines no longer run straight across the page, and some of the syllables in the middle are slightly obscured. One of the pieces of paper used for a repair has Chinese writing on it. Moreover, two of these repairs are further covered with IOL note paper with red edges, perhaps to act as further reinforcement. The edges of the folio are also badly torn down and repaired with pieces of paper in several places. Despite this, the writing is mostly legible.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
There is a final blue lacquered folio, with a red ruled box on one side. This folio resembles the usual front folios to which index leaves are attached; it has possibly come from one of the other volumes, and been mistakenly placed here. In any case, there are no attached index leaves, so it is not possible to be certain.