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[ocha_no_hanashi]

Some months ago I was introduced to working with original handwritten manuscripts as primary sources. Needless to say despite having some skill in reading Classical Chinese, when it comes to reading the handwriting of anonymous scribes from the Tang Dynasty, I lack self-confidence. Nevertheless, it is quite a fascinating pursuit that brings the

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[lordameth]

I just completed a brief introductory summer course introducing us to reading handwritten Heian period (794-1185) Japanese manuscripts.

It's really a fascinating thing, to be able to read original documents, in the original handwriting. Frustrating though it may be, it can, in the end, be quite rewarding.

And, of course, digitalization and transcription is of incredible convenience for those who cannot make out the original.

Thanks for sharing this!

[robot_mel]

I LOVE the IDP! I remember when I started my MA 5 years ago and my professor told me the dunhuang documents were now online I was SO excited. I'm really pleased they're now adding the Pelliot collection as well, as for Chinese they definitely have the most interesting documents. It is my dream to be able to work with these collections. What are you researching with them?

[ocha_no_hanashi]

Unfortunately the commentary I'm study is not in the Dunhuang archives, however my prof has showed me how a lot of texts, which we now have typeset editions, might have errors and that going back to the handwritten manuscripts might be the only solution in resolving transcription errors. For example at times a character might seem totally random, but if you look at the handwritten manuscript you might resolve the issue and see how the editors of the typeset edition misread a character, or in some cases the original scribe screwed up.

Unfortunately the thing with Dunhuang is that it is like a collection of Buddhist texts in hickville Tang Dynasty. They had plenty of texts, sure, but it isn't comprehensive like what you'd have found in the urban monasteries of the capital.

In any case it is a lot of fun. :)

[robot_mel]

Lols to hearing it called Hickville Tang dynasty! The central Asian scholars would be most cross! I think on of the things that's most interesting about Dunhuang is the crossroad of cultures. I went to a conference at the British Library a few years ago and the people who were most excited by the BL's collection were the ones studying non-Chinese (as that's what Stein collected) Pelliot on the other hand found more interesting Taoist texts there, so most of the good Chinese stuff (ie not just the standard Buddhist sutras) are found there. But as you point out even the standard texts are interesting for character variation, not to mention dedication etc.

[ocha_no_hanashi]

They also got Sogdian and Tanghut stuff in there too