Drangsong No. 039

1. Text number

Drangsong 039

2. Text title (where present) in Tibetan

No title

3. Text title (where present) in Wylie transliteration

4. A brief summary of the item’s contents

A protective amulet, unclear.

5. Number of folios

1

6. Scribe’s name

None

7. Translation of title

8. Transcription of colophon

9. Translation of colophon

10. General remarks

11. Remarks on script

None

12. Format

Single sheet folded twice into a square of half the former’s size and then again several times, notably along the diagonals of the square, so as to be carried as a protective amulet.

13. Size

27.5 × 26.2 cm

14. Layout

This stained square piece of paper is painted with an unidentified yantra diagram composed centrally.

15. Illustrations and decorations

This stained square piece of paper is painted with an unidentified yantra diagram. It was folded twice into a square of half the former’s size and then again several times, notably along the diagonals of the square, so as to be carried as a protective amulet.

The yantra diagram is composed of two concentric octagons following the cakra type and an outer range of flames separated from each other by bands painted pink. The paper of the inner octagon is apparently reserved, while the background of the outer one is painted pink. The latter octagon possesses four blue, red, green, and yellow petal-like blades indicative of the cakra’s destructive power. Outside burn blue, yellow, red, green, and white tongues of fire, which represent wisdom and protect from negative forces.

16. Paper type

Woven, 1 layer

17. Paper thickness

0.18–0.22 mm

18. Nos of folio sampled

f. 1 (single sheet)

19. Fibre analysis

Daphne sp.

20. AMS ¹⁴C dating

21. XRF analysis

Main elements: Ca, Fe, K

Trace elements: Si, S, Cl, Al, Mn, Ti

22. RTI

A)    Rendering mode:  Default                    B) Rendering mode: Diffuse Gain

23. GCMS