
Aims and objectives
This project will survey manuscript holdings and manuscript cultures in the capital city of Vientiane, Laos, and in the two neighbouring provinces of Vientiane and Bolikhamsay. Some 18,500 manuscripts (in approximately 135 known collections) were catalogued in these areas during previous surveys in the 1980s and 1990s, following which only isolated inspections have taken place. There is now a need to revisit the previously surveyed collections, using these records as a baseline to reveal changes over the past 25-30 years, as well as to survey smaller collections not previously included but which may also hold valuable manuscripts.
Outcomes
The project surveyed the manuscript holdings of 166 temples within Vientiane using data from previous surveys as a baseline to reveal changes. As anticipated based on prior isolated inspections, the project confirmed significant manuscript losses had taken place over the past 20-35 years (depending upon the date of the previous surveys). The overall findings show that out of total of 21,383 manuscripts based on previous survey records (and in some cases including newly added manuscripts), only 12,457 remain in 2022, i.e. the number of manuscripts lost is 9,179 or 42.93% of the expected total. The overarching reason for this very significant loss is neglect, compounded by termites, rain damage, fire, etc. This project highlighted the need to reconsider existing policies and practices for manuscript preservation in Laos.
In addition to a detailed comparison of previous records with current holdings, the project also built on the basic manuscript catalogue data to include information at the repository level, conservation data, records of microfilming or digitisation, contact details of resource persons for the production and use of manuscripts, a photographic record of conditions before and after preservation work, and causes of manuscript loss. The resulting database provides the foundation for a comprehensive ‘national database of Lao manuscript cultures’ to be used as a tool for future preservation, digitisation, and research efforts.
A sample of 28 manuscripts (3,108 images) from 4 locations were digitised during the survey project, with dates from 1770 to 1973. The records have been catalogued as:
- EAP1319/1 Vat Misainyalam Collection (1770-1999)
- EAP1319/2 National Library of Laos Collection (1900-1999)
- EAP1319/3 Vat Khok Nin Collection (1900-1999)
- EAP1319/4 Vat That Khao Collection (1900-1999)
Survey
READ ME for EAP1319 Survey Data
The following temple surveys were submitted as part of the project outputs:
- Vat Ong Tue (010101)
- Vat In Paeng (010102)
- Vat Can (010103)
- Vat Sisaket (010104)
- Vat Siang Nyuen (010105)
- Vat Misainyalam (010106)
- Vat Haisok (010107)
- Vat Khua Luang (010108)
- Vat Thong Tum (010109)
- Vat Hong Kha Nathalam (010110)
- Vat Sikhun Viang (010111)
- Vat Savangthammavat (010112)
- Vat Thepnimit (Vat that Fun) (010113)
- Vat Sibunhueang (010114)
- Vat Sisavat (010115)
- Vat Sidamduan (010116)
- Vat Thong Sang Nang (010117)
- Vat Phon Tong Savat (010118)
- Vat Commani (010119)
- Vat Phon Tong Commani (010119)
- Vat Nong Tha Tai (010120)
- Vat Nong Tha Nuea (010121)
- Vat Huai Hong Kham (010122)
- Vat Don Daeng (010123)
- Vat Nong Ping (010125)
- Vat Pong Kaeo Vanalam (010126)
- National Library of Laos (010129)
- Vat Upmung (010201)
- Vat Khunta (010202)
- Vat Tai Noi Lattanamungkhun (010203)
- Vat Sikhai (010204)
- Vat Mueang Va Phothinyalam (010205)
- Vat Pak Thang Nuea (010206)
- Vat Nya Pha (010207)
- Vat Com Tai (010208)
- Vat Sibunhueang (010209)
- Vat Sok Sai (010210)
- Vat Nong Duang (010211)
- Vat Sisomsuen (010212)
- Vat Kaeo Pa (010213)
- Vat Pa Nong Bua Thong (010214)
- Vat Pa Thipvalalam (010215)
- Vat Santitham (010216)
- Vat Phutthabat (010217)
- Vat Nong Niao (010218)
- Vat Udomphon (010219)
- Vat Nong Buek Kang (010220)
- Vat Nong Buek Tai (010221)
- Vat Don Taniang (010222)
- Vat Lak Hin (010223)
- Vat Som Sa-ngat (010224)
- Vat Phosai (010225)
- Vat Nong Bon (010301)
- Vat Phon Sa-at (010302)
- Vat Phon Kheng (010303)
- Vat Phon Phanao (010304)
- Vat Phonsai (010306)
- Vat Nasai (010307)
- Vat Som Sa-ngat (010308)
- Vat Som Sa-ngat (010309)
- Vat That Luang Nuea (010311)
- Vat That Luang Tai (010312)
- Vat Lue Sisangvon (010313)
- Vat Viang Saen Phonthanlam (010314)
- Vat Phon Than Tai (010315)
- Vat Sibunhueang (010316)
- Vat Sisavat (010317)
- Vat Na Khuai Kang (010318)
- Vat Hua Khua Nuea (010319)
- Vat Non Kho (010320)
- Vat Na Sueak (010322)
- Vat Pa Mimalai (010323)
- Vat Non Vai (010324)
- Vat Non Savang (010331)
- Vat Nong Niang (010332)
- Vat Hong Suphap (010333)
- Vat Sam Khe (010334)
- Vat Sok Kham (010335)
- Vat Vang Sai (010336)
- Vat Sok Noi (010338)
- Vat Sok Nyai (010339)
- Vat Pa Sok Nyai (010340)
- Vat Phon Thong (010341)
- Vat Dung Nyai (010342)
- Vat Na Hai (010344)
- Vat Na No (010345)
- Vat Dung Kang (010346)
- Vat Na Bian (010347)
- Vat Haisok (010401)
- Vat Phiavat (010401)
- Vat Kao Nyot (010402)
- Vat Khok Nin (010402)
- Vat Comthong (010403)
- Vat Simueang (010403)
- Vat Dong Pa Lan (010404)
- Vat Phon Sinuan (010405)
- Vat Saphanthong Nuea (010406)
- Vat Bueng Khanyong (010407)
- Vat That Khao (010408)
- Vat Phasai (010409)
- Vat Sok Pa Luang (010410)
- Vat Sala Daeng (010411)
- Vat Saphanthong Tai (010412)
- Vat Nakha (010501)
- Vat Sengsouliyalam (010501)
- Vat Amphavan (010502)
- Vat Sivilai (010502)
- Vat Silikhodom (010503)
- Vat Sithammalat (010503)
- Vat Keomukda (010504)
- Vat Phutthabat Phon Khong (010504)
- Vat Ban Ilai (010505)
- Vat Phosainyalam (010506)
- Vat Lattanalam (010507)
- Vat Pasaninyomvalavat (010601)
- Vat Pha Khao (010601)
- Vat Visutthalam (010602)
- Vat Dong Dok (010603)
- Vat Sithep Thammakhun (010603)
- Vat Nong Phanya (010604)
- Vat Sibunhueang Kang (010604)
- Vat Phosisomphon (010605)
- Vat phosai (010606)
- Vat Sivilai (010606)
- Vat Sisomseun (010607)
- Vat Na Khae (010608)
- Vat Saen Sum (010608)
- Vat Sisomsuen (010609)
- Vat Lattana-amphalam (010610)
- Vat Saphang Muek (010610)
- Vat Na Thom (010611)
- Vat Ban Sai (010612)
- Vat Dan Sang (010614)
- Vat Dong Mak Khai (010615)
- Vat Ban Duea (010617)
- Vat Silasalalam (010618)
- Vat Kaeo Thun Philam Na Son Dong (010620)
- Vat Ban Hai (010621)
- Vat Phao Nuea (010622)
- Vat Pathommaphosainyalam (010623)
- Vat Nong Phu Viang Thong (010625)
- Vat Sisomsuen (010625)
- Vat Khanthavalam (010626)
- Vat Voen Khaen (010627)
- Vat Na Tham (010628)
- Vat Sili Sung Khung (010701)
- Vat Thong That (010701)
- Vat Sibunhueang (010702)
- Vat Sisomsuen (010702)
- Vat Ciam Pang (010703)
- Vat Sibunhueang (010703)
- Vat Saeng Pha Can (010704)
- Vat Santi Tham (010704)
- Vat Ho Pha (010705)
- Vat Sisavat (010705)
- Vat Pa Sam Pak Haet (010706)
- Vat Phosai (010706)
- Vat Com Thong (010707)
- Vat Phon Lao (010707)
- Vat Amphavan (010708)
- Vat Pa Fang (010709)
- Vat Don Kaeo Pha Lam Sai (010710)
- Vat Pho Ngoen (010712)
- Vat Si Saeng Pha Can Sainyalam (010718)
- Vat Thakhaek (Vat Nyai) (010719)
- Vat Pathommaphosi (Vat Na Son) (010901)
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