Chinese experts have restored a deteriorating 700-year-old handwritten copy of the Koran, the nation's oldest, in northwest China's Qinghai Province.
The 867-page, two-volume set is written in Arabic and stored in the Jiezi mosque in Xunhua County.
The Koran was brought to China when the Salar ethnic group moved east from Maracanda, the ancient name of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, about 700 years ago. Experts believe it was written between the eighth and the 13th century.
"This copy was handwritten by Arabian Muslims, while other ancient copies in China where written by Chinese Muslim," deputy director of the Qinghai Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau, Ma Weimin said.
The copy is a valuable research tool for the study of the origin and history of the Salar ethnic group, he said.
The books had to be repaired and restored as they had seriously deteriorated and were in danger of rotting, Ma was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
The restoration began with a scientific analysis of the paper and ink, cleaning and removing mildew, and mending of damaged pages.
The restored Koran will be preserved in a special box where the temperature and humidity are fixed and ultraviolet rays and harmful gases are kept out.
China jacks up charges on reclaiming land from sea
Publish Date : 3/5/2007 7:17:00 AM
China has hiked charges on reclaiming land from sea to curb an upsurge of the practice that has damaged the oceanic environment.
China-Sri Lanka ties enter new stage: Chinese Premier
Publish Date : 3/1/2007 8:31:00 AM
Sino-Sri Lankan relations have entered a new stage of comprehensive cooperation, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here today, a day after the two sides inked eight agreements to cement their friendship.
China expels three lawmakers, 2 advisors linked to corruption
Publish Date : 3/1/2007 8:22:00 AM
China today expelled three lawmakers from parliament and two senior advisors for their alleged involvement in corruption.
China's oldest handwritten copy of Koran restored
Publish Date : 2/26/2007 8:33:00 AM
Chinese experts have restored a deteriorating 700-year-old handwritten copy of the Koran, the nation's oldest, in northwest China's Qinghai Province.
Chinese police capture 'corridor robber'
Publish Date : 2/26/2007 8:32:00 AM
One of China's most wanted criminal, suspected of murdering three women and assaulting many others during a robbery spree in northeast Liaoning Province has been arrested, police said today.
Wife lured ex-lover to his death, court told
Publish Date : 2/26/2007 8:31:00 AM
A couple has been charged with the murder of an Indian-origin man who allegedly had an affair with the wife.
Gender imbalance, work pressure to leave many men single
Publish Date : 2/24/2007 8:42:00 AM
Chinese men born after the 1970s could find it difficult to find a spouse as baby boys have been outnumbering girls since the 1980s, according to a report by the China Juvenile Research Centre (CJRC).
China steps up diplomacy on Iranian nuclear issue
Publish Date : 2/24/2007 8:36:00 AM
Amid an adverse IAEA report on Iranian nuclear issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing today spoke to his Iranian counterpart on the need to find a "peaceful" solution through diplomacy on Tehran's atomic ambitions.
Japan PM's approval ratings decline
Publish Date : 2/5/2007 8:35:00 AM
Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dipped to a low of 40 per cent, almost 25 percentage points down from when he first took office, a new poll showed.
China's closes national museum for major overhaul
Publish Date : 2/1/2007 9:45:00 AM
The National Museum of China here has been closed for a three-year overhaul that will make it the world's largest arts and history museum.
Total Results : 48
More News (Opens in New Window) : [1] 2 3 4 5 Next Page
|