Showing 15 results

Archival description
SC73 · Fonds · May 1816

Sketch indicating multiple routes in red ink between the hilly villages of Adjuntah (Ajanta) and Lackenwarrie (Lakhanwada) in the present-day Maharashtra state, India, with references of all routes on the left of the sketch. Annotation in ink near the heading reads ‘M. Lo. Schoofflnsign H. M. 67th foot’.

Drawn on a scale of 2 miles to 1 inch. Mounted on linen with red border. Measures 94 cm wide x 33 cm high.

Unknown
GB 891 SC34 · Fonds · [1800 - 1899]

A Collection of Dharanis transcribed in Sanskrit, Chinese and Korean is a woodblock printed book with side-stitched binding comprising of wrapped-back sheets of paper and a plain outer cover. The title of the volume is written on the front cover along with a Royal Asiatic Society stamp. No other identifiers in English are available. The place and date of production are unknown but presumably precedes the common adoption of western binding techniques in the 1920-1930s.

Unknown
GB 891 SC71 · Fonds · [Early 19th century]

A map of the southern coast of China, in the form of a scroll, covering the area of present-day Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi. Labels various major towns and smaller islands along the coast, including Guangzhou, Chaozhou, present-day Hong Kong and Macao and more, with a scale bar and legend. Also indicates locations of settlements and military structures such as towers and forts, with text describing the depth of water and distance from the coast at various points. Measures 40cm high and 485cm wide. The map was removed from its original wooden case which is now kept together.

An accompanying typed note refers the item as 'Ch'ou hai t'u pien' (籌海圖編), No. 429 on page 75 of Samuel Kidd's catalogue and a donation by Sir George Staunton. This catalogue reference appears to be incorrect, as it does not correspond to Kidd's Catalogue of the Chinese Library of the Royal Asiatic Society (1838), but Henry Holt's A Catalogue of the Chinese Manuscript in the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society (1890). However, Holt's entry describes a set of 8 volumes of 'Ch'ou hai t'u pien' published in 1624, instead of a single map, and this scroll could not have been part of the volumes.

It is possible that this map was adapted from those originally published in 'Ch'ou hai t'u pien', with extra information added to it, and was specially made for Staunton. Another source from which this map might have taken reference is 'Ya nhai quan tu' (沿海全圖), part of 'Hai guo wen jian lu' (海國聞見錄), compiled by Chen Lunjiong in 1730.

Unknown
GB 891 SC49 · Fonds · [1840 - 1850]

The 'Index to the Mythological Box of Hindu Paintings' is a manuscript index intended to accompany images collected into a "mythological box" to educate about the deities of the Hindu pantheon. The text covers 203 pages and gives descriptions and comments on the various deities. The images are not with the book and it is unsigned. One copy has been attributed to Reverend Charles Lacey, but it unknown if this copy also belonged to him.

Unknown
GB 891 SC69 · Fonds · unknown

13 sheets of ink rubbings of inscriptions of steles in Chinese dating to the Han dynasty, many of which are illegible. Among the identified ones there are two sheets of rubbings of the memorial stele for Kong Jun (漢孔君碑), the 19th generation descendent of Kong Qiu, Confucius, erected in the year of 155; one sheet of rubbing of the Shi Chen Stele (史晨碑) erected in 169; and one sheet of rubbing of the Ritual Vessels Stele (禮器碑) erected in 156. These steles are now held at the Temple of Confucius, Qufu, China.

Unknown
GB 891 SC74 · Fonds · [19th century]

A collection of palm-size printed chanting lyrics booklets, utaibon (謡本), of the Hosho school (宝生流) of Noh, a form of traditional Japanese theatre. The booklets, in thread binding with yellow paper covers, are divided into two sets, including 10 booklets for uchi-hyakuban (内百番), referring to common chants, and 11 booklets soto-hyakuban (外百拾番), referring to uncommon chants. A title label pasted onto the cover of each booklet indicates the chants included in it. There are lyrics for 220 chants in total. Each booklet measures 8.8 cm (w) x 12 cm (h).

Originally housed in a wooden box with two compartments. Handwritten RAS label on the lid reads: ‘Japanese Print. 2 collections of Po[sins]. Taka Sago and Ho Show Kawa’ and on the underside of the lid is a printed list of all chants included in the booklets. The wooden box is probably made specifically to house the booklets after they came into the possession of the Library as the divider in the box is annotated ‘division’.

Unknown
Journal of Compass Bearings
GB 891 SC9 · Fonds · [1800 - 1899]

A journal containing detailed lists of compass bearings from various locations in India. The journal is untitled and bears no name of its author. It measures 35cm by 24cm with a brown cardboard cover which has become detached from the pages.

Unknown