Citation: Jun Cai, Wen Li, Mei Shi, Wenbing Hu. Interdisciplinary Application of Chemistry in Archeology: Dominant Element Identification via pXRF in Buddhist Blood Scriptures from the Tang Dynasty[J]. University Chemistry, ;2022, 37(12): 211108. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202111085 shu

Interdisciplinary Application of Chemistry in Archeology: Dominant Element Identification via pXRF in Buddhist Blood Scriptures from the Tang Dynasty

Jun Cai ^1,2,, ,
Wen Li ³ ,
Mei Shi ⁴ ,
Wenbing Hu ¹

1.
State Key Laboratory of Coordinate Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;
2.
Public Instrument Center, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;
3.
School of History, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;
4.
University Museum, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

Corresponding author: Jun Cai, caijun@nju.edu.cn
Received Date: 29 November 2021

In this study, we introduce an in situ, non-destructive method of chemical element identification utilizing a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF) to identify the dominant elements of heavy metals in two volumes of Buddhist scriptures from Tang Dynasty collected by Nanjing University Museum. By detecting the ratio of mercury to iron in the scripture marks, and studying the color, we authenticated that the light words on one volume referred to the “blood scripture” were scripted in a mixture of blood and cinnabar. To validate the selection of pXRF rather than the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) as the chosen detection method, we first analyzed the mercury and iron contents of ancient red pigment cinnabar powder (containing mercury), iron trioxide powder (containing iron), 50 : 50 and 99 : 1 mixtures of the two, and dried animal blood in the laboratory. The results confirmed that pXRF performed well in differentiating the relative contents of mercury and iron, even the trace levels of iron present in the blood sample. Following this check, we used pXRF to detect the dominant elements in the scripture marks of both volumes of Buddhist scriptures at the University Museum. The results indicated that the dark words on one volume referred to the “cinnabar scripture” were written in cinnabar; the light words on the most marks of the blood scripture were written in a mixture of blood and cinnabar, while the dark words on the few marks of the blood scripture were repaired by cinnabar. This study serves as a good example of the interdisciplinary application of college chemistry, providing a reliable, in situ, non-destructive method for element identification in blood scriptures that can be considered cultural relics.
- Blood Buddhist scripture,
- Chemical element identification,
- Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF)
1. [1]
2. [2]
3. [3]
4. [4]
5. [5]
6. [6]
7. [7]
8. [8]
  Baird, J. B. Can. Soc. Forensic. Sci. 1978, 11 (2), 83.
9. [9]
  Loy, T. H. Science 1983, 220, 1269.
10. [10]
11. [11]
12. [12]
13. [13]
14. [14]
15. [15]
16. [16]
17. [17]
18. [18]
19. [19]
20. [20]
21. [21]
22. [22]
23. [23]
24. [24]
25. [25]
26. [26]
  Shackley, M. S. Archaeolo. Southwest Mag. 2012, 26 (2), 1.
27. [27]
1. [1]
  Chun-Lin Sun , Yaole Jiang , Yu Chen , Rongjing Guo , Yongwen Shen , Xinping Hui , Baoxin Zhang , Xiaobo Pan . Construction, Performance Testing, and Practical Applications of a Home-Made Open Fluorescence Spectrometer. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(5): 287-295. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311096
2. [2]
  Junyu Peng , Delong Kong , Huanhuan Cui , Chunyan Yan , Feng Wang . Construction and Implementation of an Exploratory Teaching Model Based on Problem-Guided Preview: Taking Inorganic Chemistry experiments of Element properties as example. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(2): 73-81. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202503047
3. [3]
  Yan Li , Fei Ding , Jing Wang . Application of Self-Constructed Raman Spectrometer in Instrumental Analysis Experiment Teaching. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(3): 363-372. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202505047
4. [4]
  Xiaohong Li , Huanjiang Wang , Fang Tan , Xiaohua Cai , Yingchun Luo , Yanli Leng , Guoyong Zhou , Zhu Wen . Research on the Project-Driven Teaching Model in the Context of New Engineering: A Case Study of the Development of a “Portable Metal ions and Pesticide Residues Intelligent Detection System”. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(1): 204-212. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202510037
5. [5]
  Wei Li , Guoqiang Feng , Ze Chang . Teaching Reform of X-ray Diffraction Using Synchrotron Radiation in Materials Chemistry. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(3): 29-35. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202308060
6. [6]
  Xiangli Wang , Yuanfu Deng . Teaching Design of Elemental Chemistry from the Perspective of “Curriculum Ideology and Politics”: Taking Arsenic as an Example. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(2): 270-279. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202308092
7. [7]
  Gaihua Li , Donglian Liu , Xiuge Wang , Shuang Liu , Ning Zhang , Xuerui Tian . Teaching Design of Elemental Chemistry under the Concept of “Curriculum Ideology and Politics”: a Case of Mercury. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(2): 45-53. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202502025
8. [8]
  Lingling Li , Zhe Chen . Charge transfer mechanism investigation of S-scheme photocatalyst using soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(4): 100215-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100215
9. [9]
  Yanan Fan , Jingjing Huang . Interactive Electronic Courseware Facilitates the Development of Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Instrumental Analysis Laboratory Courses: A Case Study of UV-Vis Spectroscopy Analysis Experiment. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(10): 282-287. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202411009
10. [10]
  Yonghui Wang , Weilin Chen , Yangguang Li . Knowledge Construction of “Solubility of Inorganic Substances” in Elemental Chemistry Teaching. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(4): 261-267. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202312102
11. [11]
  Huan Zhang , Linyu Pu , Wei Wang , Yatang Dai , Xu Huang . Curriculum Development and Blended Teaching Practice in the Graduate Course on Elemental Inorganic Chemistry. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(6): 166-173. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202402010
12. [12]
  Zhengli Hu , Jia Wang , Yi-Lun Ying , Shaochuang Liu , Hui Ma , Wenwei Zhang , Jianrong Zhang , Yi-Tao Long . Exploration of Ideological and Political Elements in the Development History of Nanopore Electrochemistry. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(8): 344-350. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202401072
13. [13]
  Yang Lv , Yingping Jia , Yanhua Li , Hexiang Zhong , Xinping Wang . Integrating the Ideological Elements with the “Chemical Reaction Heat” Teaching. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(11): 44-51. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202402059
14. [14]
  Ying Wang , Quanguo Zhai , Zhiqiang Wang , Qingjuan Lei , Shengli Gao . 无机化学中“碱金属元素”教学内容的重构. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(6): 85-92. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202407049
15. [15]
  Yajun Jian , Quanguo Zhai , Quan Gu , Shengli Gao . Reconstruction and Practice of the Teaching Content of “Carbon Group Elements” in Inorganic Chemistry to Reflect Comprehensive Education Function. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(11): 96-107. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202403006
16. [16]
  Xiaoyu YANG , Yejun ZHANG , Yu ZOU , Hongchao YANG , Jiang JIANG , Qiangbin WANG . Research progress of inorganic X-ray nanoscintillators. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(10): 1929-1952. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250122
17. [17]
  Yanhui Sun , Junmin Nan , Guozheng Ma , Xiaoxi Zuo , Guoliang Li , Xiaoming Lin . Exploration and Teaching Practice of Ideological and Political Elements in Interface Physical Chemistry: Taking “Additional Pressure on Curved Surfaces” as an Teaching Example. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(11): 20-27. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202402023
18. [18]
  Xinxin Wu . 基础有机化学教学中自由基重排反应的课程设计及其课程思政元素的融入. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(6): 316-325. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202408055
19. [19]
  Linlin Chai , Abulizi Xiao kaiti . Discussion on the Teaching of Experimental Courses Organically Integrated with Ideological and Political Elements: A Case of Analytical Chemistry Experiment Teaching at Xinjiang University. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(3): 262-267. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202504083
20. [20]
  Siyao Zhan , Yajiao Wang , Zhihuan Cai , Ayizhada Maimaitiyumier , Tilan Duan , Xiangfeng Wei , Qi Wang , Jiehua Liu , Xianghua Kong . Exploration of the Chemical Elements across Time and Space. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(9): 5-10. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202403071

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(10)
Abstract views(1389)
HTML views(287)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142