[3] The manuscript consists of 534 folios, sized 22.6 x 15.5cm, largely comprising dyed, gold-flecked paper manufactured in Ming China.

Infused with lead white, the paper is described as having a soft and silk-like texture.

It is variously coloured pink, purple, cream, orange, blue and turquoise, with some pages containing depictions of landscapes, flora and birds.

[1] The sale of the manuscript was condemned by several academics, who argued that doing so undermined its historical, cultural and spiritual value.

[4] Questions were also raised over its provenance, with critics stating that concealment by Christie's of its details before the 1980s could obscure possible instances of looting and trafficking.