Ho trai

For many centuries, the sacred Tipiṭaka scriptures had been written on palm leaves.

To preserve the scriptures against humidity and against termites, the library was often built on columns to raise the storage from the ground.

Sometimes the ho trai would be built, especially for this reason, above man-made ponds.

These stacks are kept pressed between two pieces of teakwood which is then wrapped in cloth and stored in a special bookcase.

These bookcases are sometimes exquisitely crafted with mother-of-pearl inlay or with gold leaf applied on black lacquer.