Bases

Manuscript

Inscription

Characteristic

It is handwritten records of the past.

It is not written but engraved records of the past.

Material

It is written on the surfaces of palm leaves, the bark of birch tree, vellum, papyrus, parchment, etc.

It is engraved record of kings and important events on surfaces like rocks, stones, walls of caves, pillars etc.

Preservation

It has written on the soft surfaces of palm leaves, the bark of the birch tree, vellum, papyrus, parchment, etc. Hence, difficult to preserve.

It has engraved on hard surfaces such as rocks, stones, walls of caves, pillars etc. Hence, it durable, and no special effort is needed for preservation.

Creation

It can be easily created.

As it is engraved on the hard surface. Thus require a lot of time and effort.

Durability (Longevity)

It has short lifetime, if it is not preserved properly.

It is engraved on the hard surface. Hence, it has longer life.

Modification

It can be easily modified because it is written on soft surface such as paper, tree bark etc.

It cannot easily modified because it is engraved on hard surface such as stone etc.

Example

Veda, Purana, Works of Kalidasa, Sangam Literature, Arthshastra of Kautilya

Ashoka Inscriptions, Alahabad Pillar, Bodhgaya inscription of Mahanaman, Iron pillar of Delhi, Rishtal inscription, Dhaneswar Khera Buddha image inscription

The inscriptions and manuscripts are the basis of the study for later generations and helped in reconstructing history. The rulers of the past had attached importance of recording events for the benefit to posterity by engraving the developments on stones, copper plates and palm leaves. For Example- The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka as well as boulders and cave walls made by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire during his reign from 269 BCE to 232 BCE. These inscriptions were dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and represent the first tangible evidence of Buddhism.

Study Material on Modern India |Medieval India |Ancient India

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Manuscripts vs. Inscriptions

Manuscripts and inscriptions are both forms of written records, but they have some key differences that set them apart.

Manuscripts

- Manuscripts are handwritten documents or texts that are usually written on parchment, paper, or other materials.
- They are typically created for personal use, religious texts, literature, or historical records.
- Manuscripts are often created by scribes or authors and can be decorated with illustrations or other artistic elements.
- They are usually stored in libraries, archives, or museums for preservation and research purposes.

Inscriptions

- Inscriptions are writings or carvings on hard surfaces such as stone, metal, or wood.
- They are usually created for commemorative, informational, or religious purposes.
- Inscriptions can be found on monuments, gravestones, buildings, coins, and other objects.
- Unlike manuscripts, inscriptions are typically created by engraving or carving rather than handwriting.

Main Differences

- Manuscripts are handwritten documents on flexible materials, while inscriptions are carved or engraved on hard surfaces.
- Manuscripts are usually created for personal or literary purposes, while inscriptions are often created for public or commemorative purposes.
- Manuscripts are more portable and can be easily stored and transported, while inscriptions are typically fixed in place.
- Manuscripts are often decorated with illustrations or decorative elements, while inscriptions are more focused on the text itself.

In conclusion, manuscripts and inscriptions are both important forms of written records, but they serve different purposes and are created using different methods.