Tibetan Bound Books from the Drangsong Collection in Upper Mustang, Nepal

Abstract

This article discusses a little-known Tibetan bound-book format, using examples from a unique collection of manuscripts, named Drangsong, belonging to the Bon religion of Tibet. Despite the fact that Tibetan sewn books are rare compared to other formats, they are common in Mustang. This study of sixteen sewn Drangsong manuscripts explores the technical details of their binding, the interdependence of the format and function of these manuscripts, as well as their manufacturing materials in the context of the provenance of these books and the social history of the region. A comparison will then be made between the books’ individual vs. collective features.

Keywords

• Tibetan manuscripts
• Bon religion
• Bookbinding
• Book technology
• Paper analysis
• Codicology