20 rare materials held by the Main Library, including restored “大般若波羅蜜多経”, have become digitally available

Twenty titles of rare materials held by the Main Library, including restored “大般若波羅蜜多経”, have been newly digitized and released.  As of March 8, 2021, Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive provides 1,638,715 images of 20,340 titles.

The Main Library’s “大般若波羅蜜多経” (Daihannyaharamitta-kyo or the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra) in the scroll and folding book forms had long been unavailable for users because of serious worm damage throughout the materials. As the restoration of these materials was completed in the beginning of 2020, we have digitized them and released the images in Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive.

The restoration was done by using techniques called sukihame (漉き填め) and urauchi (裏打ち). Sukihame is an application of one of the washi-making techniques, nagashisuki (流し漉き), pouring solution including the same fiber as the original paper into its wormholes and tears. The method neither harms the original material, nor affects its color, feel or texture, and above all, it is reversible. On the other hand, urauchi adds a lining made of washi or cloth on the back of the material to support it. It may have an effect to smooth out wrinkles.

The restored materials are now ready for your curious eyes in Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive.