Preserving Palm-Leaf Manuscripts in Southwestern China : หน้า 98/141

Conclusion Numerous palm-leaf and sa-paper manuscripts exist in the Dai regions in Southwestern China. These Buddhist manuscripts, copied and inscribed in Pāli and the Dai language using traditional Dai Dhamma script, show the spread of Theravāda Buddhism into China, and are of great importance for the study of ancient Buddhism in the region. However, there has been little research into this field until recently. The publication in 2010 of The Complete Collection of Chinese Palm-Leaf Scripture, a selected anthology of an anthology of these manuscripts made it possible for research into these manuscripts to begin. Recent projects to collect and collate these manuscripts by the The Administrative Department for the Religious Affairs of the People's Government, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture mean that more manuscripts will be discovered and brought to public knowledge. To protect these valuable palm-leaf manuscripts, China will need to learn from the experiences of neighboring countries like Thailand and Laos that have already developed projects to digitalize their palm-leaf manuscripts. The activity of preservation of China’s national heritage in Sipsong Panna will encourage the development of harmonious links across national borders. As it is said; “there is a grand task to perform and a long way to go”!