Determining the Authenticity of Dunhuang Colophons: Practical Procedures Derived from a Study of Three Colophons Employing Similar Templates

Abstract Addressing the perennial problem of forged colophons to Chinese Buddhist scriptures in Dunhuang manuscripts, I suggest some general procedures for identifying such items. Some of these approaches include comparing the date of the colophon with the time when the scripture was translated into Chinese, and comparing the script of a dubious colophon and the scripture title(s) enumerated in this colophon with the other colophons appended to the same set of scriptures. To ground these observations, I investigate the authenticity of three colophons that were composed based on similar templates. They are appended to scriptures in manuscripts BD 15076, Nakamura51, and Nakamura65, respectively, which were purportedly found in the Dunhuang area. The colophons of BD 15076 and Nakamura65 are probably forged, possibly produced by imitating the colophon of Nakamura51 or other similar colophons that are yet unknown to us. These approaches will help scholars avoid drawing faulty conclusions based on dubious colophons, and thus help to provide a more solid foundation for future research.