PT 1083 — A Dunhuang Legal Decree
PT 1083 is a sealed administrative decree from the Pelliot tibetain collection of the Bibliotheque nationale de France. Written in Old Tibetan on paper, it records a petition from the Chinese population of Sha-cu (Dunhuang) regarding their marriage rights and freedom from forced servitude under Tibetan imperial rule.
The decree was issued by the Great Minister (blon chen po) from the assembly hall at 'Dun-tsa Long-cu, in the spring of the Pig Year. The Chinese chiefs petition against the practice of seizing Chinese men and women for household service in Tibetan garrisons, and request permission to seek marriage partners within the myriarchy (khri sde, an administrative unit of approximately 10,000 households). The decree grants both requests: forced servitude is prohibited, and marriage within the myriarchy is permitted.
The document bears a square vermilion seal and was written by the scribe Zhang Klu-brtsan. It is a primary source for understanding the legal status of Chinese subjects under Tibetan imperial governance at Dunhuang, and reveals the tensions between Tibetan military administration and the Chinese civilian population.
By the Great Minister — from the assembly at 'Dun-tsa Long-cu, in the spring of the Pig Year, a sealed decree was issued.
The chiefs of the two Chinese divisions petitioned:
"From among the Chinese of Sha-cu — their sons and daughters — previously, from the Tibetan garrison and from the ministers Ya-ya onward, those sought for household service were seized. Using pretexts to claim them, many were made into servants. From among the royal subjects, by force, they were extracted."
Thus they petitioned:
"Regarding such seizures — like the sons and daughters of Mthong-khyab, who are not permitted to seek marriage partners elsewhere, and who are compelled to seek marriage only within the myriarchy — what shall be granted?"
Thus they petitioned.
As with a good son: with the sealed decree and authorization — taking them as bondservants is not permitted. Seeking marriage partners is permitted.
The sealed decree is to be held.
(A square vermilion seal)
Zhang Klu-brtsan wrote this.
Colophon
PT 1083 (Pelliot tibetain 1083). Old Tibetan administrative decree from the Dunhuang cave library. Translated from Old Tibetan by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, April 2026. First English translation.
The source text was accessed from the Old Tibetan Documents Online (OTDO) database maintained by Osaka University. The transliteration follows OTDO's conventions.
Translation notes: "Blon chen po" (Great Minister) was the highest administrative rank in the Tibetan Empire below the emperor. "Sha-cu" is Dunhuang. "'Dun-tsa Long-cu" is the assembly site where the decree was issued. "Rgya sde gnyis" (the two Chinese divisions) refers to the administrative units organizing the Chinese population under Tibetan rule. "KhrI sde" (myriarchy) is a unit of approximately 10,000 households. "Zhang Klu-brtsan" is the named scribe — a Tibetan name, indicating the decree was written by a Tibetan official. "Phyag rgya" means both "seal" and "decree" — the physical vermilion seal authenticates the document. "Bran" (bondservant/serf) is the status the Chinese subjects are petitioning against. The decree's grant is clear: no more forced servitude, and freedom to marry within the myriarchy.
This is a Good Works Translation. The English is independently derived from the Old Tibetan source text. No prior English translation was available for consultation.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
🌲
Source Text: PT 1083
Old Tibetan source text from the Old Tibetan Documents Online (OTDO) database, Osaka University. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
(r1) $ /:/ blon chen pos / / 'dun tsa long cu nas / / phag gI lo'i dphyId bkye'I phyag rgya
(r2) phog ste / / rgya sde gnyIs kyI dpon snas gsold pha / / rgya sha chu pa 'I / bu sring las / sngon
(r3) chad / bod sum dang / zhang lon ya ya nas / / mchis brang du 'tshal ba skad du / snyad bthags nas
(r4) 'tshald de / / bran du bgyis pa yang mang / rgyal 'bangs las / blar thabs gis / gsold the /
(r5) 'di 'dra bar / phrogs pa tsam zhig / / mthong khyab gyi bu sring lta bu / gzhan du gnyen 'tshal
(r6) du myi gnang ba dang sbyar zhing / / khri sde'i nang du dga' gnyen 'tshal bar / gthad du ci
(r7) gnang zhes gsol lo / / bu bzangs lta bur phyag rgya dang gthad thogs the / spus
(r8) 'dzin du ni myi gnang / / dga' gnyen 'tshal bar gnang ste / phyag rgya 'chang du /
(r9) stsald pa' / / (a square vermilion seal)
(v1) zhang klu / brtsan kyis / spad
Source Colophon
Old Tibetan source text from the Old Tibetan Documents Online (OTDO), https://otdo.aa-ken.jp/archives?p=Pt_1083, maintained by Osaka University. The original manuscript is held by the Bibliotheque nationale de France. Square vermilion seal present. Verso contains scribal attribution.
🌲