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Temple Inscription

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 SC78-SC78/1

Publication status

Published

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

1 rubbing, 4 sheets

Date(s)

  • 19th Century (Creation)

Context area

Name of creator

William W. Rockhill
(1854-1914)

Biographical history

William Woodville Rockhill was an American diplomat, author, and scholar of Chinese and, in particular, Tibetan studies. He served as United States Ambassador to Greece, Serbia, Romania, China, and Russia, and was known for helping to formulate the Open Door policy toward China advanced by the United States in the late 19th century. He became a member of the Society in 1882 and published an article on the geography, ethnography, and history of Tibet in the JRAS in 1891.

Repository

Royal Asiatic Society Archives

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This item consists of four sheets of rubbings, each featuring Buddhist verses written in Chinese and Siddham characters, including such as the Breaking Hell mantra and the Nectar mantra. Based on the Chinese text, the inscription appears to be located in Tiankai Temple (天開寺), a Buddhist temple in Beijing, China and date to AD 1106 (the sixth year of the Liao dynasty). An accompanying note identifies the item as ‘inscriptions at a temple 5 miles N. E. of Peking. A Dharani’ and records it as a donation by William W. Rockhill on 28 November 1893. Each sheet measures approximately 33cm (w) x 90cm (h).

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the Archivist.

Language of material

  • Chinese
  • Sanskrit

Additional information

Language and script notes

The Sanskrit is written in Siddham script.
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