Conservation and Restoration of Malay Manuscripts
MASTERS RESEARCH PROPOSAL
CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF MALAY MANUSCRIPTS
By
SHARIFAH TAHIRAH BT SYED KAMARULZAMAN
Introduction
1.1 Background of Research
In the classical sense, the term ‘Manuscripts’ refers to a document handwritten by an author. Manuscripts are found in every part of the world where human beings put their thoughts and experiences into a written form. Human beings over the year have used plant material, stone, metal and parchment as writing supports. This plant material can either be a leaf that has been taken from a tree or plant to be written upon, or it can be a leaf that has been specially prepared for writing. The plant material can either be from the bark of trees or it can be from the pulp of plant that has been dried in the form of thin sheets which is called the traditional handmade paper. In recent years, writing material is in the form of thin sheets of paper manufactured & processed in modern paper factories. The earliest writing material produced from plant is acknowledged to be the papyri of the third millennium BC, from the Old Kingdom of Egypt. In India, palm leaves and tree bark were the principal writing supports that slowly began to replace by paper once it was introduced into southern Asia in the eleventh century AD (National Mission for Basic standard on Manuscripts; p1).
Additionally, the origin of Middle Eastern manuscripts stems are from the time when Muslims wanted to transmit the Qur’an via the written word rather than through an oral tradition that had been the case for centuries. Muslim devotion was expressed in fine binding, beautiful calligraphy and exquisite illumination. Indeed, these crafts were elevated to such a level to be worthy of the divine revelation. Particular attention was given to calligraphy, which was an attempt to make a spiritual connection to Islam through the written word. According to Al-Mucizz ibn Badis, the Prophet Muhammad said:
‘Beautiful writing gives to truth more
CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF MALAY MANUSCRIPTS
By
SHARIFAH TAHIRAH BT SYED KAMARULZAMAN
Introduction
1.1 Background of Research
In the classical sense, the term ‘Manuscripts’ refers to a document handwritten by an author. Manuscripts are found in every part of the world where human beings put their thoughts and experiences into a written form. Human beings over the year have used plant material, stone, metal and parchment as writing supports. This plant material can either be a leaf that has been taken from a tree or plant to be written upon, or it can be a leaf that has been specially prepared for writing. The plant material can either be from the bark of trees or it can be from the pulp of plant that has been dried in the form of thin sheets which is called the traditional handmade paper. In recent years, writing material is in the form of thin sheets of paper manufactured & processed in modern paper factories. The earliest writing material produced from plant is acknowledged to be the papyri of the third millennium BC, from the Old Kingdom of Egypt. In India, palm leaves and tree bark were the principal writing supports that slowly began to replace by paper once it was introduced into southern Asia in the eleventh century AD (National Mission for Basic standard on Manuscripts; p1).
Additionally, the origin of Middle Eastern manuscripts stems are from the time when Muslims wanted to transmit the Qur’an via the written word rather than through an oral tradition that had been the case for centuries. Muslim devotion was expressed in fine binding, beautiful calligraphy and exquisite illumination. Indeed, these crafts were elevated to such a level to be worthy of the divine revelation. Particular attention was given to calligraphy, which was an attempt to make a spiritual connection to Islam through the written word. According to Al-Mucizz ibn Badis, the Prophet Muhammad said:
‘Beautiful writing gives to truth more
References: Ahmad Jamal, Syed. 1992. Rupa dan jiwa. (2nd ed.) Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Gallop. Annabel Teh. 1990. Early Malay printing; an introduction to the British Library collection Gallop, Annabel Teh Gallop. Annabel Teh. 2005. The spirit of Langkasuka? Illuminated manuscripts from the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. Indonesia and the Malay World. 33 (96), 113-182 Gallop, Annabel Gallop, A. Teh and B. Arps. 1991. Golden letters; Writing traditions of Indonesia Jones, R Agrawal, Barkeshli. 1997. Conservation of books, manuscripts and paper documents Peter Springborg.2003 Philip Luner. TAPPI Press, Atlanta, 1990.Paper Preservation: Current Issues and Recent Developments.