The Tibetan Ancient Documents Restoration Center, which operates as a branch of the Tibet Ancient Documents Preservation Center, has achieved a remarkable feat since its establishment in 2015. Tselo, the deputy director of the center, notes that the Tibet Ancient Documents Preservation Center, affiliated with the regional library of Tibet, initiated a comprehensive census on ancient books in 2009. The primary objective of the census was to assess the preservation of ancient documents in the region.
As part of the census, over 18,000 volumes of Tibetan ancient documents were surveyed from more than 1,160 public and private institutions all over the region that are involved in collecting ancient documents. The census aimed to provide a clear picture of the region’s preservation of ancient documents. This initiative was undoubtedly instrumental in identifying gaps in the preservation of these valuable cultural artifacts.
The Tibet Ancient Documents Restoration Center was established to address some of the challenges identified during the census. The center has since been engaged in a massive workload, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and innovative techniques to restore, digitize, and preserve ancient documents. The center has made significant progress in its restoration efforts, which has resulted in the retrieval of invaluable information that was previously lost or inaccessible.
The center’s work is critical as it seeks to preserve the region’s cultural heritage and facilitate access to historical information for researchers, scholars, and the general public. The center’s restoration efforts have also contributed to the conservation of the Tibetan language, which has been identified as an endangered language by UNESCO. The preservation of ancient documents is, therefore, vital to the survival and continued use of the language.
Given the significance of the work that the center is doing, it is no surprise that it has garnered attention and support from the government, the public, and various international organizations. The center has received funding from both the central and local governments, enabling it to carry out its restoration work on a large scale.
the Tibetan Ancient Documents Restoration Center has achieved significant milestones in its restoration work, playing a crucial role in preserving the region’s cultural heritage and facilitating access to historical information. The center’s work is vital in protecting an essential aspect of Tibetan culture and ensuring that future generations can learn from and appreciate their cultural heritage.
In addition to the significant restoration work, the Tibetan Ancient Documents Restoration Center has also played a crucial role in the preservation of documents in the Potala Palace and Norbulingka Park since 2018. Tselo notes that the center has completed the census and registration of 4,739 volumes of ancient documents from the Potala Palace and 1,757 volumes of ancient documents from the Norbulingka park.
The center has also taken steps to disseminate information on the preservation of Tibetan ancient documents. In recent years, they have edited and published a series of books related to the preservation of Tibetan ancient documents. The census statistics have been published in the form of a catalogue, providing an essential resource for individuals to learn about the status of their collection and distribution in the region.
The books, including The Outline of Introduction to Tibetan Ancient Documents and The Catalogue of Tibetan Ancient Documents, have become vital references for academics and textbooks for colleges in China. These publications have played a significant role in raising awareness about the importance of preserving and protecting Tibetan cultural heritage.
Apart from the census and restoration projects, the center has been actively working on the digitalization and utilization of ancient documents. The center recognizes the importance of making these documents accessible to a wider audience, and digitization offers an efficient means of achieving this objective. By digitizing ancient documents, the center can ensure that the information contained therein is preserved for posterity and can be accessed by future generations.
The center’s digitalization work has been complemented by the development of advanced technologies to enhance the readability and quality of the digitized documents. These technologies have made it possible to restore and improve the quality of ancient documents, making them more legible and accessible to a wider audience.
The center’s work on the digitalization and utilization of ancient documents has been instrumental in the dissemination of Tibetan cultural heritage globally. The availability of these documents in digital form has enabled researchers, scholars, and the public to access and learn about the rich cultural heritage of Tibet, regardless of their location.
The Tibetan Ancient Documents Restoration Center’s work on the preservation, restoration, and digitalization of ancient documents has played a critical role in safeguarding the region’s cultural heritage. The center’s publications, statistics, and digitalization efforts have contributed to the conservation and dissemination of Tibetan cultural heritage, making it accessible to a wider audience.
Since 2018, the Tibet Autonomous Region‘s library has been undertaking a digitalization project of its collection of ancient Tibetan documents. The project has so far completed the digitalization of 390 volumes of ancient Tibetan documents, which are accessible to anyone visiting the library. Tselo notes that this project is an effective means of addressing the issue of valuing the collection but neglecting the use of ancient documents.
The center plans to complete the digitalization of more than 30,000 pages of ancient Tibetan documents by the end of this year. Additionally, the center has been helping various institutes improve their storage conditions for ancient documents. The census conducted across the region revealed that many institutes with ancient document collections had poor storage conditions, making it difficult to preserve these rare documents without damage or loss.
The center has proposed the allocation of special funds to improve the storage conditions of these institutes. The center has worked with 17 such institutes as of the end of last year, contributing to the safer storage of ancient documents.
Furthermore, the center has been working towards the development of a modern cataloging system for its collection of ancient documents. According to Tselo, the traditional way of cataloging and reference is challenging, and the center recognizes the need for a modern cataloging system to enhance access to the collection.
The efforts of the center in digitalization, storage improvement, and cataloging system development have contributed to the preservation and accessibility of ancient Tibetan documents. By digitizing the documents, the center can ensure their preservation and make them accessible to a broader audience, while efforts to improve storage conditions have helped to safeguard these rare documents. The development of a modern cataloging system is also expected to enhance access to the collection and improve the efficiency of reference.
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