Friday, September 01, 2006

Chinese to Repair Historic Koran Manuscript

According to the People's Daily Online, China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage has provided 440,000 yuan (about $55,000) to the Cultural Relics Bureau of Qinghai Province to fund conservation and restoration of the country's oldest known manuscript of the Koran. The work, in thirty volumes, is believed to date from the 14th century, "however, poor management and the absence of conservation practices have placed the book in danger of being stolen and of rotting."

(h/t Shelf:Life)