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, '286 pages', blue writing, reading, 'MISC. COLN. GYUT 10', and in large Tibetan writing, 'rgyud tha'.
Paper composition
Some sheets are thinner than others (eg. 84), 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 (eg. 38 is 570mm and 210 is 568mm in length, while 39 is 578mm).
Sheet numberings
In this volume, we do not find the tiny Tibetan numerals written sideways towards the right on the left-hand side of the folio.
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. Some sheets are not cut very straight (eg. the bottom edge of 32 goes down to the right), and the writing is not always exactly square on the page (eg. the lines, especially the final three lines, on 213b go down to the right).
Ornaments, openings and punctuation
Apart from 1-3 and 5, double yig mgo plus gter tsheg (U0F14) are found in the upper left corner of all recto sides up to 215, and double yig mgo plus rnam bcad (U0F7F) are found from 216. gNyis, gsum, and lnga 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. In comparison with other volumes, most of the yig mgo seem to be written with more of a flourish, with a longer curved line beginning them on the left. Note that gter tsheg [ (U0F14) ] and rnam bcad [ (U0F7F) ] are used instead of the usual shad throughout this volume, the former in the first part from folio 3 and the latter mostly in the second part of the volume, inconsistently on some pages (interspersed with gter tsheg (U0F14) ), eg. 169, and from 199b, and more consistently from 215b. The rnam bcad (U0F7F) in the second part of the volume are used inconsistently on some pages (interspersed with gter tsheg (U0F14) ), eg. on 169, and from 199b, and more consistently from 215b.
Rubrication and bracketing
Note that in this volume, we have several examples of ornamental bracketing of text titles in black and red ink from above: 99b, 112b, 122a, 146a, 182b, 205b, 261b. We also find a single example of rubrication of a title (compare the more extensive rubrication in the first part of Volume Pha): on 261b line 6, the first part of the first title immediately following the bracketed title is given in red.
Handwriting
The writing in this volume seems to vary a little in style, with parts where the writing is slightly larger or the ink thicker; the letters are mostly clear and distinct. There are some distinctive features. For instance, we often find reversed gi gu and small na ro where there are clusters of writing above, and we also find a number of instances of ornamental bracketing (see above).
Marks and blemishes
There are some ink smudges (eg. 2b) 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, or ink smudges, and most sheets are brownish in colour and in some cases rather dirty. However, the clear writing is hardly ever obscured. Some sheets have edge indentations, eg. 3, 6-7, 24-30, 42, 61-2, 64-6, 68-9, 72-80, 82-6, 88, 91, 98-9, 101-3, 106-7, 109-114, 120-2, 124-5, virtually all sheets 137-176, 180, 191, 194, 209, virtually all sheets 223-254, 277, 279; some (eg. 33, 52, 108, 127, 144, 149-50, 208, 283-6) have larger pieces torn out of the edges. Some sheets have one or more small holes outside the writing area, eg. 7, 15-18, 42-3, 53, 72, 127, 142, 201-2, 215-8, 222, 245, 264, 280, 284-6. Some have one or more holes within the writing area, eg. 49, 211-3, which may affect the writing, but it is usually possible to decipher the affected word. A small hole in the writing area of 49 appears to pre-date the writing; a gap has been left for it. Some sheets have one or more edge tears, eg. 3, 6, 71, 73, 86, 102, 108-9, 122, 124, 131, 148, 162, 174, 181, 194-6, 199, 211, 215-6, 219, 225-6, 232, 237, 250, 278, 282, and some (eg. 272) a small part of a corner torn off. There are some repairs of edge tears and holes; some sheets (eg. 87, 102, 113, 172) have a small piece of paper stuck over both sides of a tear/hole, and some (eg. 92) have more than one repair.
Cover folios
There is no blue lacquered front folio in this volume. At the front of the volume, there is a long rectangle of coarse red 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 124 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 430 x 71 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, 449 x 73mm, outlined (around the frame) with a red paint line. There is a tear in the upper window frame.
Decorated first folios: window curtain
There is a silk cover fitted over the window, with three layers stitched together, and stiched to folio above, with yellow running stitch visible under the torn blue window frame. The yellow layer is at the top, with gold thread around the outside, and it measures 431 x 60mm (left)/ 65mm (right) visible (the upper part tucks under the blue frame above). A blue layer is the middle layer, with white thread around the outside, measuring 440 x 66mm (left)/ 70mm (right) visible. The third and final layer beneath is orange, with green thread around the outside, measuring 450 x 72mm (left)/ 74mm (right) visible. They are not exact rectangles of material, the orange left edge bulges out a little towards the bottom, as does the blue right edge, and the lower edge of the orange layer 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 wavy line and spiral 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 (above)/ 81 (below) x 70mm. The lefthand miniature is within a rectangle 50 x 69mm, 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 ma}} [second, to the left of centre. Much of this is slightly smudged but it is just readable:] {{//lha lcam man da' ra ba/ [yig mgo x 1]/sangs rgyas gnyis pa oyan rje/ [Then continued to the right of centre, on the other side of the gold vertical strip transversing text:] mkha'gro yees mtsho rgyal}} [third, to the right:] {{ [yig mgo x 1]/ g.yu sgra snying po 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 490 x 82 mm, the inner, 473 x 70 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 5 thick 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 have red margins ruled; one inner sheet appears to be a discarded version of Volume Tha, gsum. There is a small hole outside the writing area which goes down through several layers of paper. 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 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): 480 x 82 mm; 3a (outer): 495 x 80mm (left)/ 78mm (right); 3b: 495 x 81mm (left)/ 79mm (right); 4a: 487 x 81 mm; 4b: 485 x 80mm (left)/ 78mm (right); 5a: 481 x 81 mm. 5b starts the usual style of red margins down each side and 7 lines per side.
Page settings
There are only 3 lines of writing on 71b; the remaining 4 ruled lines have no writing. The next text begins on the following folio.
Rubrication and bracketing
This title is in fact above the line, with double straight red lines around it to the sides and above, highlighting it or possibly indicating that it was originally omitted and then inserted.
Rubrication and bracketing
There is not a great deal of space between the end of Tha 2 and the cover title of Tha 3. Attention is, however, drawn to it by double straight red lines around it, to the left-hand-side, to the above and below, making a three-sided box stretching to the right-hand margin.
Corrections and interventions
84b (gya bzhi) - We have what appears to be a long deletion and insertion into the text, line 3-4. It looks as if the original writing has been washed out from the manuscript. The inserted writing follows the original lines but it is written small in order to exactly fit the space.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title to Tha 4 has a decorative ornamental bracketing around and above it, in black and red ink - the black line is above and the red line inside, following the shape of the black line.
Justification
Note that we find some interesting pages with mantra syllables (108a and b, 109a), with individual letters in usual size but leaving huge gaps between syllables, and some syllables stacked up, going down across three lines (p.108b).
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Tha 5 has a decorative ornamental bracketing around and above it, in black and red ink, the red line inside the black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Tha 6 has a decorative ornamental bracketing around and above it, in black and red ink, the red line inside the black.
Page settings
Line 7 of 145b is blank. The next text begins on the next folio.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Tha 7 has a decorative ornamental bracketing around and above it, in black and red ink, the red line inside the black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Tha 8 has a double red lined rectangular box around it, highlighting it.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Tha 9 has a decorative ornamental bracketing around and above it, in black and red ink, the red line inside the black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Tha 10 has a decorative ornamental bracketing around and above it, in black and red ink, the red line inside the black.
Rubrication and bracketing
The cover title of Tha 11 has a decorative ornamental bracketing around and above it, in black and red ink, the red line inside the black.
State of preservation
286 is the last folio we have. This folio is badly torn and frayed around the edges, but all the writing is clearly legible.
Missing or misplaced folios and other numbering anomolies
Although 286 is the last folio we have, the text is not within a red rectangular box, nor does the numbering (nyis brgya gya drug) suggest that this is the final folio. Although it completes a text, the final words appear to end abruptly. This might indicate that there could be a further missing folio.
Corrections and interventions
At the end of the final line of 286b, we find a cross (above the line) beneath which there are a number of small horizontal lines and then a single syllable, apparently "mngag/" (perhaps for, “manga”), written in dbu med, under the end of the line.