concertina manuscript; double layer of paper

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Long concertina manuscripts (l'accordéon) were produced by pasting together several lengths of paper because papermaking technology only allowed for the production of a limited length (p. 288). The concertina form required greater rigidity than a standard scroll, resulting in the use of a double layer of paper (p. 288). The overlapping joins are visible at the beginning and ends of sheets, and the sequence of manufacture shows the manuscript was constructed before the scribe applied text (p. 288).

Evidence

"Pelliot tibétain 116 is a concertina manuscript composed of 124 panels... most concertinas are made with a double layer of paper. Since the sheets of paper are pasted together, the overlap can be seen at the beginnings and ends of a sheet."

Remarks

The manuscript was discovered in a sealed cave in Dunhuang (p. 287). It is composed of 124 panels measuring roughly 7 x 29.5 cm (p. 288). The document underwent a major repair at a later date where the first and last panels were replaced with different paper and written in a distinct scribal hand (p. 289). This suggests the manuscript was well-used and worn before being placed in the cave (p. 289).