On a Particular Aspect of the Identification of Tibetan Xylographs: Preliminary Remarks on the Importance of Craftsmen
Abstract
This essay briefly discusses the early history of Tibetan printing by comparing some facets of this subject with the European phenomenon. Printing started to be a means of dissemination of texts in Tibet and Europe at roughly the same time. Recent research indicates that although printing in Tibet does not seem to have had the kind of socially transformative effects highlighted in Elisabeth Eisenstein’s study, it did have some important consequences and also similarities with the European printing history. This article also presents a Marie Sklodowska Curie project on Tibetan xylographs entitled Tibetan Book Evolution and Technology (TiBET), which was carried out at the University of Cambridge (Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit) from 2013 to 2015. This paper focuses in particular on one of the aspects of the above-mentioned project, that is to say, the craftsmen who worked on sixteenth century xylographs and their importance for the identification of Tibetan prints. These artists were allowed to sign their work, a peculiarity that was typical of the earliest stage of printing and is extremely relevant for locating the printing house where a certain xylograph was produced. By comparing the different signatures and patterns of carving, writing or drawing, we might learn to distinguish the diverse style of each artist. This would help us in identifying those who worked on xylographs that lack signatures and do not mention them in colophons. From these prints we can also extract information about the craftsmen and the printing projects with which they were associated.Downloads
References
Tibetan Sources
BKDR = Brag dkar rta so sprul sku Chos kyi dbang phyug (1775-1837), Grub pa’i gnas chen brag dkar rta so’i gnas dang gdan rabs bla ma brgyud pa’i lo rgyus mdo tsam brjod pa mos ldan dad pa’i gdung sel drang srong dga’ ba’i dal gtam. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (NGMPP L940/8, ff 1a-48a).
BL 19999a3 = gTsang smyon Heruka (1452-1507), rJe btsun mi la ras pa rnam thar rgyas par phye pa mgur 'bum. Xylograph kept at the British Library, London (ff. 1a-250a).
NGMPP E2518/6 = lHa btsun Rin chen rnam rgyal (1473-1557), edited by, Grub thob gling ras kyi rnam mgur mthong ba don ldan. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-61b).
NGMPP E2518/11 = Ko brag pa bSod nams rgyal mtshan (1170-1249), Khams gsum ‘dran bral grub thob ko rag pa’i mgur ‘buṃ bzhugs / badzra dho dza. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-16a).
NGMPP L10/22 = lHa btsun Rin chen rnam rgyal (1473-1557), dPe chos rin po che spungs pa’i ‘bum ‘grel. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-170a).
NGMPP L66/5 = mTshan ldan bla ma dam pa mnyam med chos dbang rgyal mtshan gyi rnam par thar pa / rin po che nor bu’i phreng ba. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-129b).
NGMPP L189/4 = Rig 'dzin mChog ldan mgon po (1497-1531), sPrul sku rig 'dzin mchog ldan mgon po'i rnam thar mgur 'bum dang ldan spro ba bskyed byed. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-241a).
NGMPP L194/13 = bSod nams dpal, bDe gshegs phag mo gru pa’i rnam thar. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-18a).
NGMPP L211/3 = rGyal thang pa bDe chen rdo rje, rJe rgod tshang pa’i rnam thar rgyal thang pa bde chen rdo rjes mdzad pa la mgur chen ’gas rgyan pa. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-42a).
NGMPP L456/14 = Tilopa (928-?), rGyal ba rdo rje ‘chang yab yum gyi rnam thar. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-11a).
NGMPP L969/4 = gTsang smyon Heruka (1452-1507), sGra bsgyur mar pa lo tstsha’i mgur ‘bum. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-40a).
NGMPP L969/4_1 = lHa btsun Rin chen rnam rgyal (1473-1557), mKhas grub kun gyi gtsug rgyan / paṇ chen nā ro pa’i rnam thar / ngo mtshar rmad ‘byung. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-46a).
NGMPP L1107/4 = gTsang smyon Heruka (1452-1507), Sangs rgyas thams cad kyi rnam ’phrul rje btsun ti lo pa’i rnam mgur. Microfilm kept at the National Archives, Kathmandu (ff. 1a-24a).
PT 2013 = dPal brtsegs bod yig dpe rnying zhib 'jug khang (2013), Bod kyi shing spar lag rtsal gyi byung rim mdor bsdus. Lhasa: Bod ljongs bod yig dpe rnying dpe skrun khang.
PBP 2007 = Pho brang po ta la do dam khru'u rig dngos zhib 'jug khang (2007), Pho brang po ta lar tshags pa'i bka' brgyud pa'i gsung 'bum dkar chag. Lhasa: Bod ljongs mi dmangs dpe skrun khang.
Vol. 286/1 = Yang dgon pa rGyal mtshan dpal (1213-1258), rGyal ba yang dgon chos rje’i mgur ’bum. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-165a).
Vol. 361/2 = 'Brom ston rGyal ba'i 'byung gnas (1004/5-1064), dGe bshes ston pas mdzad pa’i glegs bam gyi bka’ rgya. Xylograph kept at the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 120a-123a).
Vol. 361/3 = 'Brom ston rGyal ba’i 'byung gnas (1004/5-1064), Zhus lan nor bu’i phreng ba lha chos bdun ldan gyi bla ma brgyud pa rnams kyi rnam thar. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 124a-246a).
Vol. 363/2 = A.A.V.V, bKa’ rgya / khu chos gnyis / lung bstan / rdor glu / kha skong rnams. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 215a-343a).
Vol. 587 = Shākya btsun pa Kun dga’ chos bzang (1433-1503), Jam dbyangs zhal gyi pad dkar ‘dzuṃ phye nas / lung rigs gter mdzod ze ‘bru bzheng la / blo gsal rkang drug ldan rnaṃ ‘phur lding rol / legs bshad sbrang rtsi’i dga’ ston ‘gyed pa. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-124a).
Vol. 657/5 = lHa btsun Rin chen rnam rgyal (1473-1557), dPal ldan bla ma dam pa mkhas grub lha btsun chos kyi rgyal po’i rnam mgur blo ’das chos sku’i rang gdangs. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-54a).
Vol. 657/6 = lHa btsun Rin chen rnam rgyal (1473-1557), rNal ’byor dbang phyug lha btsun chos kyi rgyal po’i rnam thar gyi smad cha. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-32a).
Vol. 671/1 = 'Ba' ra ba rGyal mtshan dpal bzang (1310-1391), rJe btsun ‘ba’ ra pa [sic] rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po’i rnam thar mgur ‘bum dang bcas pa. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-190b).
Vol. 671/4 = 'Ba' ra ba rGyal mtshan dpal bzang (1310-1391), Ka kha’i gsol ’debs sogs mgur phran tshegs rnams. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 206b-222a).
Vol. 671/5 = 'Ba' ra ba rGyal mtshan dpal bzang (1310-1391), sKyes mchog ‘ba’ ra bas mdzad pa’i sgrub pa nyams su blang ba’i lag len dgos ‘dod ‘byung ba’i gter mdzod. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 223a-365a).
Vol. 671/6 = 'Ba' ra ba rGyal mtshan dpal bzang (1310-1391), sKyes mchog gi zhus lan thugs kyi snying po zab mo’i gter mdzod. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 366a-397a).
Vol. 707 = Āryaśūra, sTon pa sangs rgyas kyi skyes rabs brgyad bcu pa slob dpon dpa’ bos mdzad pa bzhugs. Xylograph kept at the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-170a).
Vol. 709/2 = Chos rgyal lhun grub, Shā kya’i dge slong rdo rje ‘dzin pa chen po / na mkha’ rdo rje’i rnaṃ par thar pa ngo mtshar gsal ba’i me long. Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-53a).
Vol. 709/4 = Nam mkha’ rgyal mtshan (1475-1530), Shākya’i dge slong nam mkha’ rgyal mtshan dpal bzang po’i mgur ‘bum, Xylograph kept in the Tucci Tibetan Collection, IsIAO Library, Rome (ff. 1a-46a).
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