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 flower patterned Western 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, '296 pages', blue writing, reading, 'MISC. COLLN. GYUT 13', and in large Tibetan writing, 'rgyud pa'.
Paper composition
Some sheets are thinner than others (eg. 93, 104), although most are quite thick, appearing to consist of two layers of paper.
Size of folios
The size of the plain sheets is 575 x 125mm. There is some size variation, and some sheets are not cut very straight (eg the left edge of 67 comes out to the left at the bottom).
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. it goes down slightly to the right on 63a and 153a).
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 sometimes start on or to the right of the red vertical margin delineators, sometimes to the left. 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; the letters are mostly clear and distinct.
Marks and blemishes
There are occasional ink smudges (eg. 5a, 21a, 119a, 231a). There is a red ink mark at the beginning of a mantra on 15, but this may not be deliberate; the mantra is one of a series which begins earlier.
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, or ink smudges, and most sheets are brownish in colour and in some cases rather dirty. However, the clear writing is hardly ever obscured . We find small edge indentations on many folios, especially on the right hand edges, and there are small edge tears on 3, 8-9, 16, 19, 47, 73, 138, 235, 266. Some sheets (eg 69, 74, 103, 146, 197, 220, 294-6) have small holes outside, and some (eg. 21, 173, 219, 248) holes within the writing area, and some (eg 106, 144, 194, 207) are missing part of a corner of the paper. 136 has a long tear within the writing area; some of the writing has been partially torn off but the words remain legible. 212 has part of the top layer of paper torn away at the top, although the writing is unaffected; other sheets (eg. 17, 279) have smaller tears from the top layer of paper. Very occasionally, part of a syllable, or slightly more writing has been transferred to an adjacent sheet (eg. 17b/18a), presumably due to water damage. We find small thin pieces of red paper with jagged edges stuck, perhaps accidentally, on 19b, 46b, 47a, 166b, 167a, 192b, in some cases slightly obscuring the writing. The right hand edge of 21b has what appears to be small bits of mud stuck to it, as though it has been dropped in dirty ground and not cleaned off. 36a has a large splotch as though splashed by a dirty liquid, but the writing remains clear; 148a is marked by a smaller similar splotch. A small amount of a brown coloured substance is smeared across a few syllables on 92a. The only folio which has deliberate repairs and reinforcements is the final folio 296.
Cover folios
The blue lacquered front folio, measuring approximately 562 x 115mm (left)/ 111mm (right), is torn at the edges, especially at the left and right edges. The lacquer has come away in parts. It is plain blue in colour, with margins ruled in red, making a box 446 x 44mm left/ 38mm right. At the front of the volume, there is a long rectangle of flower patterned Western cloth, on which is stuck a rectangular IOL paper sticker with volume identification (see above).
There are no index leaves in this volume.
Decorated first folios: construction
The first folio, gcig, is a laminate of about 15 sheets, 571 x 123 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 425 x 70 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 there are a few small holes in the top layers of the sheets. 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, 500 x 72mm, outlined (around the frame) with a red paint line.
Decorated first folios: window curtain
There is a silk cover fitted over the window, with three layers sewn together; the upper part tucks under window frame above, but the frame is torn with a small section missing so that the top of the yellow layer is visible, along with yellow running stiches attaching the cover to the folio. The yellow layer is at the top, with gold thread around the outside, and it measures 425 x 81 mm to the top of the folio, 61mm visible below the frame to the left, 59 mm to the right. A blue layer is the middle layer, with white thread around the outside, measuring 437 (above)/ 432 (below) x 68mm (left)/ 63mm (right) visible below the frame. The third and final layer beneath is orange, with green thread around the outside, measuring 450 (above)/ 445 (below) x 75mm (left)/ 71mm (right) visible below the frame. They are not exact rectangles of material, the orange left edge goes in towards the bottom, its bottom edge forms a slightly wavy line, and it does not quite cover the whole of 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"). There is some black smudging at the bottom of both of the strips, extending slightly into the areas where the left and right miniatures are painted. 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 71mm. The lefthand miniature is within a rectangle 51 x 70mm, the righthand miniature's rectangle is 49 x 69mm. 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. Some of this is slightly smudged but it is still readable:] {{ [yig mgo x 1]// lha lcam man da' ra ba/ [yig mgo x 1]//sangs rgyas gnyis pa oyan rje/ [Then continued to the right of centre, on other the side of the gold vertical strip transversing text:] mkha'gro ye shes mtsho rgyal/}} [third, to the right:] {{ [yig mgo x 1]//ye shes dbyangs la na mo//}}Size of folios
The second folio, gnyis, measures 575 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 485 x 80 mm, the inner, 468 x 68 mm. 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 about 8 layers, with thick cross stitches visible on both sides, two to the top and bottom, one to the left and right. Some of the inner sheets are ruled with 7 lines and red margins. 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; 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 - 5b, have 5 lines of slightly smaller writing, and 6a, 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 boxes measure as follows. 2b (outer): 498 x 80 mm; 3a (outer): 492 x 80 mm; 3b: 490 x 80 mm; 4a: 476 x 79 mm; 4b: 479 x 76 mm; 5a: 490 x 80 mm; 5b: 485 x 76mm (left)/ 72mm (right); 6a: 495 x 80mm (left)/ 84mm (right). 6b starts the usual style of red margins down each side and 7 lines per side.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
There is no folio 7. However, it seems that this is a misnumbering rather than a missing folio; folio 8 appears to follow on from folio 6. We have compared our text with that in the gTing skyes edition of the same text and established that no text is missing. Folio 6 appears to have been re-numbered; an original syllable (number?) seems to have been rubbed from the folio in front of "drug".
Corrections and interventions
Chapter title 5 is written small at the end of the folio, as though omitted in the first instance, but seemingly, in the same hand.
Readers' marks
The syllable, “so”, at the end of the colophon, is slightly obscured by small thin piece of red paper stuck here. possibly deliberately, marking the beginning of the next text? However, the paper has jagged edges and it may be stuck accidentally; similar pieces of paper are stuck, presumably accidentally, on 19b, 46b, 47a.
Page settings
207b is blank except for ruled lines. 208a is a title page, centred title within a red box, 487 x 58mm (left)/ 54mm (right). 208b has a red box, 498 x 83 mm, with six ruled lines; 209 reverts to the usual style of seven lines per side.
Page settings
296a is the final page. The text is within a red rectangular box, approximately 488 (above)/ 491 (below) x 75 mm, with 6 ruled lines, of which 3 are used. 296b is blank.
State of preservation
This final folio 296 is damaged, with holes and tears in the edges; it has been reinforced with extra layers stuck to the verso side, and 296a has strips of paper stuck to the top and bottom edges. However, all the writing is clearly legible.