Paper fragments from the Tibetan Samye Monastery: Clues for an unusual sizing recipe implying wheat starch and milk in early Tibetan papermaking

Exploring the potential of pyrolysis-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the characterization of Chinese inks of ancient manuscripts

“…Furthermore, the accumulation of dibenzofuran, 4-methyl-, pyroglutamic acid and β-D-Glucopyranose, 1,6-anhydro-detected in fruits and pomegranate peels strengthen this assumption [44]. However, phenol-2,6-dimethoxy and β-D-Glucopyranose, 1,6-anhydro-(levoglucosan) are currently identified as lignin and cellulose markers of paper [39,45,46] and could be in fact coming from the manuscript. PK AS 8B presents three compounds not detected in the three other manuscripts: β-sitosterol acetate, Ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-yl acetate, Lupeol acetate.…”

“…While this study cannot give the reader answers on the reasons explaining the disappearance of these nine compounds, our data reveals the importance of taking into account this possible loss of information when interpreting the results of the analysis of inked manuscripts. Furthermore, while it is not the case in our reference samples of Kozo paper, manufactured from the fibers of Broussonetia kazinoki with no sizing, sizing agents based on proteinaceous materials are expected as a ground layer applied to the paper before painting and inking in ancient East Asian papers [39][40][41]. Pyrolysis products issued from sizing compounds are part of compounds regarded as likely detected during our analysis of the ancient manuscripts from the Pelliot Collection.…”

Chemical profiling of a 130‐year‐old manuscript reveals the early use of synthetic lead white correction fluid in ancient China

“…Handmade papers have a rooted cultural and diversified development in the East Asian region, such as in China (Han, Niang, et al, 2021; Shi & Li, 2013), the Korean Peninsula (Go et al, 2021; Han, Vilmont, et al, 2021) and Japan (Han et al, 2017; Lee et al, 2023). Handmade papers became the predominant knowledge carrier in ancient China since the late fourth century AD in fully replacing other writing materials (e.g., bamboo slip, silk, metals).…”

Reproducing ancient Chinese ink depending on gelatin/chitosan and modern experimental methodology

“…Gelatin is a form of hydrolyzed collagen and is essentially a product of collagen decomposition; it is similar to collagen in composition and structure and is expected to replace animal collagen when added to the ink to improve the writing experience [9,10]. Chitosan (CS) is a partially deacetylated product of the natural polysaccharide chitin, which has many functions, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, bacteriostasis, and enhancement of immunity [11][12][13]. It is widely used in food additives, textiles, agriculture, environmental protection, beauty and health care, cosmetics, antimicrobial agents, biomedical fields and drug development and in many other fields and other chemical industries.…”