Sogdian documents

Inventory of Sogdian manuscripts from Tajikistan

The following table gives an overview of a selection of Sogdian documents from Mount Mugh, Khotan, Turfan, and Dunhuang. We have grouped the information according to the depository or library in which the manuscripts are currently located. The metadata is drawn from the following sources:

 

Livshits, Vladimir A. 2015. Sogdian Epigraphy of Central Asia and Semireche’e. tr. Tom Stableford, ed. Nicholas Sims-Williams. London.

Sims-Williams, Nicholas 1976. “The Sogdian Fragments of the British Library.” IIJ 18: 43-74.

Nicholas Sims-William and James Hamilton 2015. Turco-Sogdian Documents from 9th-10th Century Dunhuang. tr. N. Sims-Williams, with an appendix by Wen Xin. London.

Bo Bi and Nicholas Sims-William 2010. “Sogdian documents from Khotan, I: Four economic documents.” JAOS 130.4 (2010): 497-508.

Bo Bi and Nicholas Sims-William 2015. “Sogdian Documents from Khotan, II: Letters and Miscellaneous Fragments.” JAOS 135.2 (2015): 261-282.

Yoshida, Yutaka and Takao Moriyasu 1988. “Kikushi kōshōkoku jidai Sogudo bun jodorē baibai monjo.” 麹氏高昌国時代ソグド文女奴隷売買文書 [The Sogdian Contract for the Purchase of a Slave Girl from the Kingdom of Gaochang during the rule of the Qu family] Nairiku ajia gengo no kenkyū 内陸アジア言語の研究 [Studies on the Inner Asian languages] 4 (1988): 1-50.





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
Pelliot Sogdien 1 Buddhist text Dunhuang paper
DTS A, Pelliot Chinois 3134 Commercial: list of transaction of textiles with people from various places, including Khotan and Karashahr Dunhuang 9-10th century paper Sims-Williams and Hamilton, 2015: 27-36
DTS B, Pelliot Sogdien 29 Accounting record of oil and garments Dunhuang 9-10th century paper Sims-Williams and Hamilton, 2015: 37-42
DTS C, Pelliot Sogdien 26 Dedication surrounding the two Buddha images that records the name of the artist and the donor Dunhuang 9-10th century paper Sims-Williams and Hamilton, 2015: 43-45
DTS D, Pelliot Chinois 2782 Dating formula Dunhuang 9-10th century paper Sims-Williams and Hamilton, 2015: 47-48
DTS E, Pelliot Sogdien 28 The writer complains of the financial difficulties during his travels Dunhuang 9-10th century paper Sims-Williams and Hamilton, 2015: 49-59





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
DTS F, Or.8212/86 A letter sent from Sergius the priest to El Bars Qutluγ Alp tarxan concerning cotton cloth Dunhuang 9-10th century paper Sims-Williams and Hamilton, 2015: 61-73
DTS G, Or.8212/89 A letter sent by a sovereign named Tämär Quš, presumably from Ganzhou to a certain George 
on affairs of state concerning the Aža people, and a news of “partnership” in the “fortunate Uygur kingdom”, 
referring to the region of Ganzhou, probably at the end of the year 884, connected to S 389. Dunhuang
Fragment 2a, Or.8212/88 Dunhuang paper
Fragment 3, Or.8212/80B Dunhuang paper
Fragment 4, Or.8212/84 Manichean tale on Zoroaster’s Encounter with the God, and the first two lines are the Ašəm vohū prayer in a form of Old Sogdian.  Dunhuang ?? paper Sims-Williams 1979, 46-48; Gershevitch apud Sims-Williams 1979, 75-82
Fragment 5, Or.8212/83 Manichean text on the five sins Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 48-51
Fragment 6, Or.8212/82 Manichean text on the five sins Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 48-51
Fragment 7 Or.8212/111 (A) Homage to Buddhist deities Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 51-53
Fragment 8 Or.8212/111 (B) Homage to Buddhist deities Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 51-53
Fragment 9 Or.8212/111 (C) Homage to Buddhist deities Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 51-53
Fragment 10 Or.8212/111 (D) Homage to Buddhist deities Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 51-53
Fragment 10a Or.8212/111 (E) Homage to Buddhist deities Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 51-53
Fragment 11 Or.8212/177 Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 53
Fragment 12 Or.8212/113 Manichean text Mazar Tagh, Khotan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 53-54
Fragment 13 (Rustam) Or.8212/81 A Tale of Rustam Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 54-61
Fragment 14 Or.8212/87 Toyuk, Turfan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 61-62





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
Fragment 15 Or.8212/74 Mazar Tagh, Khotan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 62
Fragment 16 Or.8212/112 Mazar Tagh, Khotan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 62
Fragment 17 Or.8212/152(c) Probably a list of the giants of Mani’s Kawān Toyuk, Turfan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 62-63
Fragment 18 Or.8212/182 Part of a Christian Sogdian oracular text Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 63-65
Fragment 19 Or.8212/194(f) Buddhist Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 65
Fragment 20 S. 1084 Buddhist Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 65
Fragment 21 S. 4083 Buddhist Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 66
Fragment 22 = DTS H = S.1360 Graffito. A few clumsy lines surrounding an obscene picture Dunhuang paper Sims-Williams 1979, 66-67
DTS H = Fragment 22 = S. 1360 Graffito. A few clumsy lines surrounding an obscene picture, referring the naked man as Tämär Quš Dunhuang 9-10th century paper Sims-Williams and Hamilton, 2015: 93-96
Fragment 23 Or.8212/114 A letter to the author’s son Mazar Tag, Khotan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 67-68
Fragments 24 and 25 Or.8212/1689 A Buddhist text concerning Yakshas Gaochang, Turfan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 68-70
Or.8210/S.5863 Jātaka or avadāna concerning two brothers of differing qualities Dunhuang paper
Or.8212/158 Padmacintāmaṇi-dhāraṇī-sūtra fragment Dunhuang paper
Or.8212/159 Part of the Vimalakīrtinirdeśasūtra Dunhuang paper
Or.8212/160 ?? Dhūta-sūtra Dunhuang paper





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
Or.8212/175 Dunhuang paper
Or.8212/176 Vajracchedikā fragment Dunhuang paper
Or.8212/191 End of the Sūtra of the condemnation of intoxicating drink Dunhuang paper
Or.8212/80A Dunhuang paper
Or.8212/85 Part of the Buddhadhyānasamādhi-sāgara-sūtra Dunhuang paper
Fragment 26, Or. 8212/1824 Yar-khoto, Turfan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 70
Fragment 27, Or.12452/7 Mazar Tagh, Khotan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 70-71
Fragment 28, Or.8212/1793 Toyuk, Turfan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 71
Fragment 29, Or.12452E(6) paper Sims-Williams 1979, 71
Fragment 30, Or.8212/1778 (A) Mazar Tagh, Khotan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 72
Fragment 31, Or.8212/1813 paper Sims-Williams 1979, 72
Fragment 32, Or.8212/1680 Manichean text Gaochang, Turfan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 72-73
Fragment 33, Or.8212/1763 Commercial document Mazar Tagh, Khotan paper Sims-Williams 1979, 73
Fragment 34, Or.8212/1811 Medical  paper Sims-Williams 1979, 73-74





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
BH4-136 Khotan Late eighth century paper





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
No.1 / GXW0116 List of payments Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2010: 498-499
No.2 / GXW0438 List of persons and amounts of certain commodities Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2010: 499-501
No.3 / GXW0432 List of the capital possessed by various persons Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2010: 501-502
No.4 / GXW0434 Account of sales of ’cotton cloth’. Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2010: 502-507
No.5 / GXW0114 Letter concerning business from Takhsichvande to Anyan   Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 262–270
No.6 / GXW0435 Letter to Taksin Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 270-271
No.7 / GXW0436 Letter to Taksin Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 271-272
No.8 / GXW0115 Letter to a lady from čankša (= Chin. Zhǎngshǐ ? probably not) Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 272-274
No.9 / GXW0117 Letter to Ghomet from Kamsarch Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 274-275
No.10 / GXW0433 Letter to Zar-farn and Dhugh-pash from Rust Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 276-277
No.11 / GXW0437 Concerning Taksin  Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 278
No.12 / GXW0284 Fragment; Verso, a date in Chinese Khotan 790 ? paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 278-279
No.13 / GXW0125 List  Khotan Late eighth century paper Bi and Sims-Williams, 2015: 280





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
?? Letter from Afshun, the sovereign of Rōst, to Kartē Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 107-108





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
1.I Letter to Dhēwāshtīch from ʻAbd al-Raḥmān b. Ṣubḥ Mount Mugh 720-721 or earlier Paper Livshits, 2015: 88-93





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
A-1 R letter to framāndār Awat from ‘his slave Āpānak’; V a record of the issue or receipt of skins Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 119-124
A-2 Letter from Dhēwāshtīch to framāndār Awat on issuing grain Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 112-114
A-3 Letter from Dhēwāshtīch to framāndār Awat on issuing grain Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 114-115
A-4 Mount Mugh
A-5 Summary of expenses made at various times Mount Mugh Leather  Livshits, 2015: 161-166
A-6 Letter to framāndār Awat from ‘his slave Khamir’ Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 118-119
A-7 Receipt of six skins issued by δp’γ to Anutch Mount Mugh ? Leather Livshits, 2015: 62-63
A-8 Mount Mugh
A-9 Letter. The names of the addressee and the sender are missing.  Mount Mugh ?? Leather Livshits, 2015: 74-82
A-10 Receipt of hides issued by əKhushmarīk to Kachak Mount Mugh ? Leather Livshits, 2015: 60-61
A-11 Record of expenses Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 166-167
A-12 Mount Mugh
A-13 Letter from From the councillor and commune of Penjikent to the tarxān and Vaghēfarn Mount Mugh ? Livshits, 2015: 55
A-14 Letter to Dhēwāshtīch from Fatufarn concerning his mission to Chach Mount Mugh 720-722 Paper Livshits, 2015: 65-74
A-15 Letter to the sovereign Āzatghrīw Mount Mugh paper Livshits, 2015: 143-145
A-16 Copy of a letter from Dhēwāshtīch to framāndār Awat on wine for a Turkish man Mount Mugh 28 July 722 Paper Livshits, 2015: 115-118
A-17 Letter fragment Mount Mugh paper Livshits, 2015: 150-151





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
A-18 Letter from Dhēwāshtīch to framāndār Awat on issuing grain Mount Mugh Paper Livshits, 2015: 109-112
A-19 Two fragments of a letter  Mount Mugh paper Livshits, 2015: 153
A-20 Mount Mugh
B-1 Mount Mugh
B-2 Mount Mugh
B-3 Receipt of 4 goat hides issued by framāndar Awat to əKhushmarīk Mount Mugh ? Leather Livshits, 2015: 56-60
B-4 Agreement for the lease of three mills Mount Mugh 4th April 721 or 4th April 722 Leather Livshits, 2015: 44-52
B-5 Mount Mugh
B-6 Mount Mugh
B-7 Letter from Asptak, with a hue of Buddhism Mount Mugh leather Livshits, 2015: 145-150
B-8 Agreement for the sale of half a cemetery building Mount Mugh Before 708 Leather Livshits, 2015: 37-44
B-9 R letter to Zakātch from Afshun, sovereign of Rōst; V record of the sale of six rubies Mount Mugh leather Livshits, 2015: 136-141
B-10 Letter to Dhēwāshtīch. Sender missing Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 85-88
B-11 Mount Mugh
B-12 Mount Mugh
B-13 Mount Mugh
B-14 Letter to Afshun, the sovereign of Khāksar from ‘his despicable and insignificant slave Rēwak’  Mount Mugh Paper Livshits, 2015: 105-107
B-15 Letter to ‘the sovereign of Vurzwādhak’ from ‘his slave Rēwākhshyān, the sovereign of Pārtan Mount Mugh paper Livshits, 2015: 141-143





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
B-16 Letter to Afshun, the sovereign of Khāksar from ‘his despicable and insignificant slave Rēwak’ Mount Mugh Paper Livshits, 2015: 102-105
B-17 Letter from Dhēwāshtīch to Afshun, the sovereign of Khākhsar Mount Mugh 717-718 ？ Paper Livshits, 2015: 93-99
B-18 Letter from Dhēwāshtīch to Afshun, the sovereign of Khākhsar Mount Mugh Paper Livshits, 2015: 99-102
B-19 Mount Mugh
Nov. 1 Mount Mugh
Nov. 2 Letter to Dhēwāshtīch from Rēwākhshyān, the sovereign of Pārtan. Mount Mugh summer 721- spring 722 Leather Livshits, 2015: 82-85
Nov. 3 Marriage contract of Ot-tegin/Nidhan and  Dhughdghōnch/Chata Mount Mugh 27th April, 711 Leather Livshits, 2015: 17-37
Nov. 4 The Groom (Ot-tegin)’s responsibilities to the bride’ guardian, Chēr, the ruler of Nawēkat Mount Mugh 27th April, 711 Leather Livshits, 2015: 17-37
Nov. 5 Letter fragment Mount Mugh leather  Livshits, 2015: 151-152
Nov. 6 Record of 6 monetary transactions over the 10th, 12th, and 13th years of Dhēwāshtīch Mount Mugh Leather Livshits, 2015: 167-170
Nov.7/8 Mount Mugh
No.23 Mount Mugh
Б-1 Mount Mugh
Б-2 Mount Mugh
Б-3 Mount Mugh
Б-4 Mount Mugh





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
Б-5 Mount Mugh
Б-6 Mount Mugh
Б-7 Letter to Wishtām, the sovereign of Kshtut from the sovereign of Martushkat Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 156-157
Б-8 Mount Mugh
Б-9 Mount Mugh
Б-10 Mount Mugh
Б-11 Letter to framāndār Awat from ‘his slave əSpādhak’ Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 126-129
Б-12 Mount Mugh
Б-13 Letter to framāndār Awat from ‘his slave əSpādhak’ Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 124-126
Б-14 Mount Mugh
Б-15 Letter to framāndār Awat from ‘his slave əSpādhak’ Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 129-131
Б-16 Letter to the sovereign of the settlement of Krūt from his nephew. Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 157-159
Б-17 Letter, The names of the sender and addressee have not survived. Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 159-161
Б-18 Letter to framāndār Awat from əKhufarn, the arspan of əZrāwadh Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 133-135





Catalogue no. Content summary: Origin Date: C.E. Writing surface 2ndary literature
Б-19 Perhaps a letter to framāndār Awat from ‘his slave əSpādhak’ Mount Mugh willow stick Livshits, 2015: 131-133
Б-20 Mount Mugh
Б-21 Mount Mugh
Б-22 Mount Mugh
Б-23 Mount Mugh
Б-24 Two fragments of a letter Mount Mugh leather Livshits, 2015: 154-155
Б-25 Mount Mugh
Б-26 Four scraps of a letter Mount Mugh paper Livshits, 2015: 155-156
Б-27 Mount Mugh