The Tibet Autonomous Region has worked out a plan to beef up the protection of rare Buddhist scriptures written on pattra leaves, and a leading group will be formed to coordinate efforts in this regard.

The group will also make a thorough survey of the collection of Sanskrit scriptures on pattra leaves in various Tibetan temples and train a wealth of experts specializing in Sanskrit research.

Luosang Zhaxi, an official of the Tibet Regional Cultural Relics Bureau, said the region keeps approximately 1,000 hand-written copies of pattra-leaf scriptures introduced from India dating back to the seventh century. Some volumes are the original version which Sanskrit scholars use as a reference in translation.

In ancient India, Buddhists wrote scriptures in Sanskrit with stencil pens on pattra leaves because of the light and wear-resistant qualities of the leaves. Characters written on the leaves can be seen distinctly 1,000 years later. Tibet has one of the world's largest and most complete collection of Buddhist scriptures written in Sanskrit on pattra leaves.
 
(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2004)