[Khmer] Buddhist prayer books made of leaves

Last update: Monday, 17/05/2010

VietNamNet Bridge – Some Khmer-styled pagodas in the southern province of An Giang [Moat Chrouk] are preserving prayer-books written on “sach tra” leaves, which are similar to palm leaves.

The XvayTon pagoda is said to own the highest number of prayer-books on “sach tra” leaves [in Khmer called Sastra Sleuk Rith]. Chief monk Chau Soc Pholly said that the oldest books are over 100 years old and the latest books were written in 1963 by a monk named Chaoty. Sach tra trees are very rare in An Giang now.

The technique to produce sach tra books is complicated, according to monk Chau Soc Pholly. Artisans had to choose young leaves, which are flat, cut them down and pressed them by wood boards to make them flatter. The leaves were then dried under the sunlight until they are withered. Artisans cut leaves into peaces of 6cm wide, 60cm long.

“Artisans had to use sharpen iron pens to carve scripts on leaves then rub ink on the scripts, cleaned the ink and preserve the books. Only senior monks can read the old scripts on these books,” he said.

Books on sach tra leaves are up to 1kg in weight. Each leaf is sufficient for five lines of script. An artisan could write a “page” each day.

Sach tra books have been preserved for over 100 years and they are not attacked by book worms.

The XvayTon was recognized as a historical site in 1986.

The pagoda, which is located in Tri Ton town, An Giang, is recognized by the Vietnam Record Book Centre as having the highest number of prayer books on sach tra leaves in the country.