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. 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), measuring 56 x 35mm, with the red handwriting: "337 pages"; and in blue handwriting, "MISC COLL. GYUT. 14"; and in large Tibetan writing, (quite possibly by a Westerner?) "rgyud pha".
Paper composition
Some sheets are thicker than others; most are thick, but occasional sheets are thin and the ink shows through to the opposite side of the folio (eg. 178).
Size of folios
The size of the plain sheets is 579 x 125mm. There is some size variation, and some sheets are not cut very straight (eg. the upper edge of 220 is uneven).
Sheet numberings
In this volume, we do not find the tiny Tibetan numerals written sideways (ie same direction as word numbering) towards the right on the left-hand side of the folio, which are found in most other volumes.
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.
Ornaments, openings and punctuation
Double yig mgo are found in the upper left corner of all recto sides, apart from 1-5. gNyis, gsum, bzhi, and lnga each have a triple yig mgo, and the verso side of gcig also has a triple yig mgo. 171b, 221b, 290b, 302b also have triple yig mgo, following title pages, 171a, 221a, 290a, 302a respectively. 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.
Rubrication and bracketing
In the first part of this volume, we find rubrication of chapter endings and beginnings (between 14b and 36a), and bracketing of text titles (Pha 2 and Pha 3).
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. The writing varies a little in size.
Marks and blemishes
Occasionally, ink smudges obscure the writing, eg. the red letters on 18a.
State of preservation
The writing in this volume is rarely obscured by tears and rips. However, there are many small holes and tears in the edges of the sheets, outside the writing area. There are small edge indentations or tiny holes near the edge on almost every folio, especially along the right-hand edges. We also find repairs of small pieces of paper stuck to the edges of damaged sheets, eg. 29, 39, 42-3, 74, 2nd 76, 78-9, 81-2, 94, 104, 108, 114, 125, 127, 140, 143, 159, 164-7, 171, 173, 185, 205, 217-9, 221, 227-8, 230, 255-9, 262, 282-3, 285-6. In fact, there are few unrepaired edge tears. 336a has a long strip of paper repairing the bottom edge of the sheet, which obscures the writing on line 7. There are some small holes in the writing area, partially obscuring letters: eg. 31-2, 86.
Cover folios
The blue lacquered front folio measures approximately 550 x 115mm. It has some large tears from the edges and some edge parts are torn away. The lacquer has come away in parts. The recto side is plain blue in colour, with margins ruled in red, making a box measuring456 x 44 mm. The verso is also plain blue, and the index leaves are sewn to the right of the folio, but are coming away from the it. Some large leather stitches and also red and blue thread stitches are visible on both sides.
Index leaf 4: 113 x 85mm, plain beige canvas type cloth with writing: [yig mgo x 1] /glegs bam pha [pha in red] pa 'di la/
Pha1, gsang ba'i snying po de kho na nyid nges pa rtsa ba'i rgyud/
Pha2, de'i rgyud phyi ma/
[ tsheg shad (U0F0F) , curving, after syll 1]Pha3, sgyu 'phrul rgyas pa /
Pha4, de'i phyi ma/
Pha5, sgyu 'phrul le'u zhe drug pa/
Pha6, sgyu 'phrul le lhag/
Pha7, sgyu 'phrul brgyad pa/ [ tsheg shad (U0F0F) , curving, after syll 1]
Pha8, sgyu 'phrul bla ma chen mo
rnams bzhugso//
Decorated first folios: construction
The first folio, gcig, is a laminate of about 8 sheets, 570 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 approximately 424 x 70mm, 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 tiny 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, 450 x 72-74mm, outlined (around the frame) with a red paint line.
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 427mm 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 437 x 67mm visible. The third and final layer beneath is orange, with green thread around the outside, measuring 450 x 72mm visible.
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 flower blossom 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, 81 x 69 mm. The lefthand miniature is within a rectangle 51 x 69mm, the vertical double gold lines coming down very slightly to the left; the righthand miniature's rectangle is 49 x 69 mm. The legends for the miniatures are written in gold below each, within the border of gold lines outside the window. Each legend is within double ornamenal brackets:
[ first, to the left:] {{[yig mgo x1]//rig 'dzin tshe dbang nor bu la na mo//}} [second, to the left of centre:] {{//lha lcam man dha ra ba/ [yig mgo x1]// sangs rgyas gnyis pa oyan [the next syllable is indistinct, but appears to be:] rje/ [this would fit with other volumes; then continues to the right of centre] mkha' 'gro ye shes mtsho rgyal//}} [third, to the right:] {{ [yig mgo x1]//lha dpal 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 476 x 79 mm, the inner, 458 x 66 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 9 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, and one is a re-used folio with writing on it. The verso side is ordinary paper.
Page settings
As mentioned above, 2a has 4 lines of gold writing. 2b is ordinary paper. 2b - 5a and 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 - 4b, have 5 lines of slightly smaller writing, and 5a-6a, 6 lines of writing, although unusually, 5b does not have a box. The boxes are not very exact rectangles, and the ink sometimes makes thicker lines, for instance on 3b, where parts of the box have two clear thin red lines but at the bottom of the left edge, the thick ink lines almost merge together. The writing is not always square in the box: eg. 4a, where the lines and writing go up slightly towards the right. The boxes measure as follows. 2b (outer): 494 x 81 mm; 3a (outer): 497 x 82mm (left)/ 79mm (right); 3b: 495 x 82 mm; 4a: 481 x 78 mm; 4b: 488 x 81 mm; 5a: 485 x 80 mm; 6a: 496 x 77mm. 6b starts the usual style of red margins down each side and 7 lines per side.
Elements of decoration
2b has black ink designs in ruled strips to the left and right of the page, in this case, with the wave pattern (see "General Information on Volumes").
Rubrication and bracketing
The indicated letters in Chapter 8’s title are in red ink instead of black while those in between them are smaller size than normal. While the closing and opening shad are in black, the first two syllables of the next chapter are also in red - //de nas.....this is evidently to help the reader identify chapter breaks.
Rubrication and bracketing
The indicated letters in Chapter 9’s title are in red -as are the first two syllables of the next chapter, //de nas... while all the shads remain black.
Rubrication and bracketing &
State of preservation
The red final syllables of Chapter 10’s title have been messily washed off and erased, as have the initial syllables of the next chapter, but they are just about readable as //de nas - but both the end and the beginning double shads are intact, in black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The indicated letters in Chapter 11’s title are in red - even the double shad this time - but the opening shads for the next chapter are black, followed on the next line by red de nas....
Rubrication and bracketing
In Chapter 12’s title, the consonants in the final syllables are all red, but the gi gu and na ro are black, as are the shads; ditto with the following, //de nas, where the 'greng bu and shads are black, but the main letters are red.
Rubrication and bracketing
In the final syllables of Chapter 13’s title, we find red main letters, black zhabs kyu and na ro; and a similar style with the following, // de nas. Note also that the syllable Ho, which begins a section on line 3, together with its shad ( rin chen spungs shad (U0F11) ), is also red.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 14’s title are all red except the shads - ditto following, //de nas.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 15’s title are all in red ink, but not the shads; the following //de nas is also left unrubricated ie. in black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 16’s title are all red - even the shads - but the following shads are black, while the following de nas is all red.
Rubrication and bracketing
No red at all on Chapter 17’s ending - but the following de nas bcom is all red, except the opening shads.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 18’s title are all in red, but not the shads; the following chapter start is all black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 19’s title are all red except the shads; the following incipt is all black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 20’s title are red, the shads black, the next chapter start is all black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 21’s title have no rubrication, neither the finish nor the next chapter start.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 22’s title are in red - the shads and the next chapter start are black; note that the words, “brgya pa las” on line five are also rubricated.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Pha 2, but not the yig mgo, is in small writing, put in parenthesis by red bracketing from above.
Rubrication and bracketing
The “bod skad du” is rubricated, including the following shad.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 1’s title are in red, except the shads.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 16’s title are rubricated, including the shads, but not the initial “ga” of gynis; the next chapter start is all black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The “pa'o” of Chapter 3’s title is all red - the shads and next chapter start is all black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The “zha” and “pa'o” are in red; the gi gu and initial “ba” of “bzhi” are black; the shads and next chapter start are black.
Rubrication and bracketing
There is no rubrication of Chapter 5’s title at all.
Rubrication and bracketing
There is no rubrication on the colophon at all.
Rubrication and bracketing
The “bod skad” is rubricated.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Pha 3, but not the yig mgo, is in small writing, put in parenthesis by red bracketing from above.
Rubrication and bracketing
The final syllables of Chapter 1’s title are all red - except the shads; the next chapter start is all black
Rubrication and bracketing
No rubrication here or from this point.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
The pagination runs from don bzhi to don drug - then repeats a second don drug. The first don drug is made of two sheets glued together - ie double thick - a form of correction? A Western red and white IOL sticker of the same type as found on the index leaves has been stuck on - then mainly removed, leaving the torn top left sector remaining. Also, the Western numbering is no longer in a rubber stamp, but in pencil: '76a', followed by question mark '?', then '75'.
Page settings
163b is entirely blank.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Pha 4 is in small writing, put in parenthesis, bracketed from above in a slightly gau-like curvy shape, the outer line in black, the inner in red.
Page settings
171b and 172a have red rectangular boxes outlining the writing (480 top/ 484 bottom x 89mm left/ 85 mm right; 481 x 87 mm respectively), and 6 lines on each page, like 5a and 6a, then 172b reverts to 7 lines and no rectangular box.
Page settings
171a: title page, centred, within red rectangular box, 430 x 64 mm, with the folio identification information given outside the box to the left.
Microfilm
Note that on the microfilm, 190b and 191a are filmed twice.
Page settings
220a has a ruled red rectanglular box, 485 x 80 mm, with 6 lines ruled (only 5 used).
Page settings
220b is blank.
Page settings
221b and 222a each have red rectangular boxes (485 x 86 mm; 483 x 86 mm respectively),and 6 lines per page; then we revert to the usual 7 lines without boxes from 222b.
Page settings
221a: title page - centred text, in red rectangular box, 425 x 64 mm, with the folio identification information given outside the box to the left.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
Folios 244 and 245 are conflated, both in Tibetan and Western numbers.
Page settings
Note that 256a has 6 lines, for no particular apparent reason. This also applies to 260b.
Microfilm
The microfilm photographs folios 278b and 279a twice.
Page settings
289a: the text is within a red rectangular box, although it still has the usual 7 ruled lines (only 5 actually used).
Page settings
289b is blank.
Page settings
290a: title page - the text is centred, within a red rectangular box, 430 x 69 mm, with the folio identification information given outside the box to the left. 289a, 290b and 291a each have red rectangular boxes (487 x 85 mm; 485 x 87 mm; 484 x 85 mm respectively). 289a has 7 ruled lines, of which 5 are used; 290b has 5 lines and 291a has 6 lines. Then we find the usual 7 lines without boxes from 291b.
Page settings
301a has 6 lines ruled, within a ruled red rectangle (only 5 lines actually used). 301b is blank.
Page settings
302a: title page, the text is centred, within a ruled red rectangular box, 427 x 65 mm, with the folio identification information given outside the box to the left. 301a, 302b, 303a, also have red ruled rectangular boxes (486 x 82mm left/ 87mm right; 485 x 87mm; 500 x 82mm left/ 86mm right respectively). 301a has 6 ruled lines, of which 5 are used; 302b and 303a have 6 lines each). 303b is not in a rectangular box, but still has only 6 lines. Then pages revert to 7 lines each.
Microfilm
Missing on microfilm:314b. 314a is photographed twice, but 314b is missing.
State of preservation
Folio 336a has a long strip of paper stuck onto the bottom of the page, obscuring much of the right hand side of line 7. Possibly, a conservationist could remove the paper and recover the original writing?
Page settings
337a is the final page. The writing is within a ruled red rectangular box, 490 x 85 mm, with space for 7 lines but only 5 are used. 337b is blank.