Restoration and reconstruction of ancient manuscripts requires precision and authenticity in its methods and processes. The task faces even more complications when the manuscript is damaged and fragmented, as is the case with the documents found in Seokga 釋迦 (Śākyamuni) Pagoda in the Bulguk Temple 佛國寺 located in Gyeongju 慶州 , South Korea. A lump of paper documents was excavated from Seokga Pagoda in 1966. Because the paper documents were folded many times in order to reduce its size, it had become a lump of matted, sticky paper that was partly destroyed after close to a thousand years of deterioration. Detaching the lump of paper into separate strips had been completed by 1997, and the process of reconstruction for decipherment was launched in May 2007 and finished in February 2009. The intent of this article is to illustrate the reconstruction process on the fragmented paper documents detached from the lump. It primarily aims to demonstrate that the process of reconstruction was scientific and to acknowledge the significance of the reconstruction experience. The discussion is divided into two parts. The article first explains how the fragmented pieces of paper detached from the lump were correctly assembled, then describes how the size of the gaps between the paper strips were measured. The assembly order is determined by analysis of the paper folds, and the spacing is verified by the following indicators: the length of a single sheet of paper, traces from the bal 1 on the paper, and the stains of contamination left by use of adhesives. Overall, it is concluded that scientific and systematic procedures are imperative in reconstructing ancient manuscripts, and that this unique experience has proved to be a successful case.
1. Introduction
2. Conditions and Classification of Paper Strips
3. Assembly of Paper Strips and Method of Folding Paper
4. Adjustment to Measurement of Paper Strips
5. Conclusions
(0)
(0)