Regulations of the Sutra Transcription Office: System Design and Actual Operation of Sutra Transcription in Dunhuang Temples

Abstract

The bulk of the Dunhuang Library Cave documents consists of Chinese Buddhist documents, and the majority of these Chinese Buddhist documents were produced through sutra transcription projects organized by temples and other institutions during the Tubo and Guiyi Army periods. By examining the various stages of sutra transcription, such as sutra transcription records, rejected drafts, and entry into circulation, it is possible to roughly reconstruct the design of the sutra transcription system at that time, as well as how this system actually operated. The system featured a clear division of labor and evolved into a fairly sophisticated, assembly-line workflow. In the course of its operation, it also involved multifaceted interactions and tensions among organizers, scribes, inspectors, and mounters. Close scrutiny of a large number of Buddhist sutra manuscripts enables a relatively thorough understanding of these historical details, thereby deepening our overall comprehension of the Dunhuang Library Cave documents.

Keywords

Dunhuang / sutra manuscripts / sutra transcription system / rejected drafts

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