Sanchipat
| Sanchipat | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Sanchi manuscript |
| Place of origin | Assam, 1st-7th century CE |
| Language(s) | Assamese, Ahom |
| Material | Bark of Aquilaria malaccensis |
| Size | Typically 9-27" by 3-18" |
| Format | Strung, as palm-leaf manuscript |
| Script | Assamese alphabet, Ahom script |
| Illumination | Painting of Assam |
| Exemplars | |
Sanchipat (Assamese: সাঁচিপাত, sāncipāt/sān̐cipāta, lit. 'sanchi leaves'; pronounced "bancipat") or sanchi manuscripts (Assamese: sanchi puthi) are Assamese-culture manuscripts made from the bark of the sānci aloe tree, Aquilaria malaccensis. Strips or 'leaves' of bark (agarutvak) are centrally perforated and strung together, similar to a palm-leaf manuscript. Sanchipat are used prominently in traditional Assamese literature, Hindu texts, and Assamese manuscript painting. The manuscripts' material construction is pest-resistant and resistant to decomposition.