Oldest dated paper manuscripts from India and Nepal?

Birgit Kellner birgit.kellner at UNIVIE.AC.AT
Mon Dec 15 10:04:22 UTC 2008


Dear all,

I am wondering what might be the oldest dated paper mss from India and 
Nepal respectively that are currently known.

For India, I am aware of Alsdorf's reference to a Jaina ms of the 
Karmagranthaṭippaṇaka (Jaisalmer) from 1198 CE (Alsdorf 1951: 62).

For Nepal, Trier 1972: 132 reports a Pañcarakṣā ms of 1105 CE (N.S. 225) 
as the oldest dated paper ms (at the time kept in the Asutosh Museum, 
Calcutta, ms. plate 121), made of Thymelaeaceae fibre.

(References:

Alsdorf, Ludwig: "Neues von alten Jaina-Bibliotheken." Beiträge zur 
indischen Philologie und Altertumskunde. Walter Schubring zum 70. 
Geburtstag dargebracht von der deutschen Indologie (Alt- und 
Neu-Indische Studien 7). Hamburg (1951), 59-65.

Trier, Jesper: "Ancient Paper of Nepal. Results of ethno-technological 
field-work on its manufacture, uses and history - with technical 
analyses of bast, paper and manuscripts" Jutland Archaeological Society 
Publications 10. Copenhagen (1972).)

Does anyone know of any older *dated* paper mss?

Thanks in advance, and best regards,

Birgit Kellner





More information about the INDOLOGY mailing list