This article throws new light on the methodology for studying medieval manuscripts,and points out new approaches.The author argues that it is necessary to utilize multiple tools from many disciplines(e.g.,history,archaeology,religion,material culture study,book history,art history,and intellectual history) to gain a comprehensive perspective on the tradition of Chinese manuscript culture,and to achieve knowledge thoroughly from the age of manuscript to the age of print,and comparative studies on manuscripts of the East and West.These new research fields will open vast vistas.
