About chronoreferencing the MBM monasteries' data (v. 1.0)

This document is now superseded by
the version no. 2.0 of the specifications

About chronoreferencing the MBM monasteries' data (v. 1.0)
T. Matthew Ciolek
Document created: 27 Sep 2012; Last updated: 14 Nov 2012

1. Objectives of the MBM's chronoreferencing

  • The MBM project aims to annotate with chrono-tags all catalogued by it Buddhist monasteries that have been known to operate at any time during the 1,000 years long period between 200 AD and 1200 AD.
  • These chrono-tags tags need to be short, unambiguous and informative.
  • The chrono-tags shall refer not to a specific date, or to the overall period/duration/stretch of time between the Start and End date, but - instead- to a consecutive series of 20 years-long sequences of time during which a given monstery was known/assumed (on the basis of the available data) to operate.
  • The 20-years interval is detailed enough to provide a reasonably precise anchor in time. Also, it is sufficiently general so that the MBM project is not burdened by an oversupply of chronological tags. For example, an individual tag for each a century within our study period creates a total of 10 tags. Likewise, an attempt to distinguish between the first and second part of each century generates 20 tags. Also, a distinction between individual decades of each century generates 100 tags. Morever, each of these tags may have up to two distinct variants (i.e. Confirmed vs. Probable period - see the paragraph below that deals with the question of suffixes). Thus, a series of tags that flag five periods of 20 years each, for each of the ten centuries (= a maximum of 5x10x2 tags or 100) seems to be a reasonable compromise between precision and prolixity.
  • These chronoreferencing tags annotate all data pages. Pages with any chronological data found to be missing are suitably tagged.
  • The chrono-tags enable a researcher to ask the MBM wiki to display a list of all monasteries that have been known to be contemporary with one another, i.e. known to operate during the same 20 years period, say between 320 and 339 AD, or 1140 and 1159 AD.

2. The preferred format for the MBM chrono-tags

  • Possibility 1 - an Extra Long format HCDY-HCDY = Hundreds-of-centuries, Century, Decade, Year, Hyphen, Hundreds-of-centuries, Century, Decade, Year - eg. 0800-0819 (= a 20 years long period from 800 AD till 819 AD).
  • Possibility 2 - a Long format HCDY-DY - eg. 0800-19 (= a 20 years long period from 800 AD till 819 AD).
  • Possibility 3 - a Short format HCDY - eg. 0800 or 0820 (= tags with implied a 20 years long period from 800 AD till 819 AD, or from 820 AD till 839 AD, respectively).
  • Upon consideration, the author of the scheme - T. Matthew Ciolek - believes that the long format (i.e. the Possibiity 2) for chrono-tags is preferred for use by the MBM project. It is shorter than the extra long scheme, and more explicit than the short scheme. The value of its informativeness-at-a-quick-glance outweights the cost of its length (7 chars vs. 4).
  • All these chrono-tags need to be additionally enhanced with one of the following suffixes:

3. Suffixes for individual chrono-tags

"c" for Confirmed use of a given monastery (= a specific year within the 20 year period is known), e.g. code = 0280-99c
"p" for Probable use of the monastery in question (= the dating is uncertain/approximate only), e.g. code = 0260-79p

Special situations:

  • Sudden late dates (say, in the case of destruction of a given monastic institution) are indicated with a single 20 years-long period and marked "c"
  • Gradual late dates (say, in the case of abandonment of a given monastic institution), are indicated with three 20 years-long periods, all marked "p". Example: the Anuradhapura monasteries in Sri Lanka were gradually abandoned from 1070 A.D. onwards when for strategic reasons the capital (together with its civilian population and monks) has shifted from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruva - Kulatunga (1999:3-4). Thus the relevant tags here would be "1060-79p 1080-99p 1100-19p".
  • Very early OR very late periods - Do not add any c/p suffixes to the chrono-tags marking periods that are earlier than 200 AD or later than 1200 AD. Thus, the appropriate tags are <=0200 & 1200=>, respectively.

Normal situations:

  • When the data refer to the entire century (e.g. "a place X was established in 5th century AD") - use the chrono-tag at the mid point of such a century, e.g. "0440-59" and add the "p" suffix. Thus, "0440-59p".
  • References are given to the early part of century (e.g. "the place X was established in early 7th century AD") - start the chrono-tag at the 20s point, e.g. use the code, say "0620-39" and add the "p" suffix. Thus, the complete code will read "0620-39p".
  • References are given to the late part of century (e.g. (e.g. "the place X was established in late 7th century AD") - start the chrono-tag at the 60s point, e.g. use the code, say "0660-79" and add the "p" suffix. Thus, the complete code will read "0660-79p".

Furthermore,
(1) if it is an early date, only the tagged period itself and the two following periods are stated and marked "p". In other words, use 3 tags, all marked "p".
(2) if it is an intermediate date, then the tagged period itself, two preceding periods as well as the two following periods are stated and marked "p". In other words, use 5 tags, all marked "p".
(3) if it is a late date, then the tagged period itself and the two preceding periods are stated and marked "p". In other words, use 3 tags, all marked "p".

4. The suggested MBM chrono-tags

  • The recommended duodecadal codes used to annotate the chronological dimension of events are:

Earlier time periods
Use the tag:
<=0200

3rd century AD/CE
for the years 0200 AD/CE till 0219 AD/CE use the tag 0200-19c
for the years 0220 AD/CE till 0239 AD/CE use the tag 0220-39c
for the years 0240 AD/CE till 0259 AD/CE use the tag 0240-59c
for the years 0260 AD/CE till 0279 AD/CE use the tag 0260-79c
for the years 0280 AD/CE till 0299 AD/CE use the tag 0280-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0200-19c 0220-39c 0240-59c 0260-79c 0280-99c

4th century AD/CE
for the years 0300 AD/CE till 0319 AD/CE use the tag 0300-19c
for the years 0320 AD/CE till 0339 AD/CE use the tag 0320-39c
for the years 0340 AD/CE till 0359 AD/CE use the tag 0340-59c
for the years 0360 AD/CE till 0379 AD/CE use the tag 0360-79c
for the years 0380 AD/CE till 0399 AD/CE use the tag 0380-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0300-19c 0320-39c 0340-59c 0360-79c 0380-99c

5th century AD/CE
for the years 0400 AD/CE till 0419 AD/CE use the tag 0400-19c
for the years 0420 AD/CE till 0439 AD/CE use the tag 0420-39c
for the years 0440 AD/CE till 0459 AD/CE use the tag 0440-59c
for the years 0460 AD/CE till 0479 AD/CE use the tag 0460-79c
for the years 0480 AD/CE till 0499 AD/CE use the tag 0480-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0400-19c 0420-39c 0440-59c 0460-79c 0480-99c

6th century AD/CE
for the years 0500 AD/CE till 0519 AD/CE use the tag 0500-19c
for the years 0520 AD/CE till 0539 AD/CE use the tag 0520-39c
for the years 0540 AD/CE till 0559 AD/CE use the tag 0540-59c
for the years 0560 AD/CE till 0579 AD/CE use the tag 0560-79c
for the years 0580 AD/CE till 0599 AD/CE use the tag 0580-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0500-19c 0520-39c 0540-59c 0560-79c 0580-99c

7th century AD/CE
for the years 0600 AD/CE till 0619 AD/CE use the tag 0600-19c
for the years 0620 AD/CE till 0639 AD/CE use the tag 0620-39c
for the years 0640 AD/CE till 0659 AD/CE use the tag 0640-59c
for the years 0660 AD/CE till 0679 AD/CE use the tag 0660-79c
for the years 0680 AD/CE till 0699 AD/CE use the tag 0680-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0600-19c 0620-39c 0640-59c 0660-79c 0680-99c

8th century AD/CE
for the years 0700 AD/CE till 0719 AD/CE use the tag 0700-19c
for the years 0720 AD/CE till 0739 AD/CE use the tag 0720-39c
for the years 0740 AD/CE till 0759 AD/CE use the tag 0740-59c
for the years 0760 AD/CE till 0779 AD/CE use the tag 0760-79c
for the years 0780 AD/CE till 0799 AD/CE use the tag 0780-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0700-19c 0720-39c 0740-59c 0760-79c 0780-99c

9th century AD/CE
for the years 0800 AD/CE till 0819 AD/CE use the tag 0800-19c
for the years 0820 AD/CE till 0839 AD/CE use the tag 0820-39c
for the years 0840 AD/CE till 0859 AD/CE use the tag 0840-59c
for the years 0860 AD/CE till 0879 AD/CE use the tag 0860-79c
for the years 0880 AD/CE till 0899 AD/CE use the tag 0880-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0800-19c 0820-39c 0840-59c 0860-79c 0880-99c

10th century AD/CE
for the years 0900 AD/CE till 0919 AD/CE use the tag 0900-19c
for the years 0920 AD/CE till 0939 AD/CE use the tag 0920-39c
for the years 0940 AD/CE till 0959 AD/CE use the tag 0940-59c
for the years 0960 AD/CE till 0979 AD/CE use the tag 0960-79c
for the years 0980 AD/CE till 0999 AD/CE use the tag 0980-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 0900-19c 0920-39c 0940-59c 0960-79c 0980-99c

11th century AD/CE
for the years 1000 AD/CE till 1019 AD/CE use the tag 1000-19c
for the years 1020 AD/CE till 1039 AD/CE use the tag 1020-39c
for the years 1040 AD/CE till 1059 AD/CE use the tag 1040-59c
for the years 1060 AD/CE till 1079 AD/CE use the tag 1060-79c
for the years 1080 AD/CE till 1099 AD/CE use the tag 1080-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 1000-19c 1020-39c 1040-59c 1060-79c 1080-99c

12th century AD/CE
for the years 1100 AD/CE till 1119 AD/CE use the tag 1100-19c
for the years 1120 AD/CE till 1139 AD/CE use the tag 1120-39c
for the years 1140 AD/CE till 1159 AD/CE use the tag 1140-59c
for the years 1160 AD/CE till 1179 AD/CE use the tag 1160-79c
for the years 1180 AD/CE till 1199 AD/CE use the tag 1180-99c
"C" tags for the century with confirmed existence of a given monastery. Replace the suffix "c" with "p" to indicate probable dates.

Range: 1100-19c 1120-39c 1140-59c 1160-79c 1180-99c

Later time periods
Use the tag:
1200=>

  • Therefore, the complete list of duodecadal chrono-tags for the one thousand year period 200 AD-1200 AD is as follows:

0200-19c 0220-39c 0240-59c 0260-79c 0280-99c 0300-19c 0320-39c 0340-59c 0360-79c 0380-99c 0400-19c 0420-39c 0440-59c 0460-79c 0480-99c 0500-19c 0520-39c 0540-59c 0560-79c 0580-99c 0600-19c 0620-39c 0640-59c 0660-79c 0680-99c 0700-19c 0720-39c 0740-59c 0760-79c 0780-99c 0800-19c 0820-39c 0840-59c 0860-79c 0880-99c 0900-19c 0920-39c 0940-59c 0960-79c 0980-99c 1000-19c 1020-39c 1040-59c 1060-79c 1080-99c 1100-19c 1120-39c 1140-59c 1160-79c 1180-99c

5. Types of dates

  • A page with data about monastery may have information about one of the following dates:
  • EARLY date - a date, which - in the light of available information - is as close as possible to the time a given monastery has been established.
  • INTERMEDIATE date - self-explanatory.
  • LATE date - a date, which - in the light of available information - is as close as possible to the time a given monastery has ceased to exist. Such a terminal event can be linked to a disaster (e.g. accidental fire, earthquake) or abandonment (sudden or gradual) or, most commonly, deliberate destruction by enemy troops or pillagers.

6. Practicalities of the allocation of chrono-tags to the monastic data pages

  • 1. Invoke a tag "untimed" to identify pages which still require the MBM editor's attention and chrono-tagging
  • 2. For each "untimed" page with data on a monastery determine the monastery's chronological parameters and then follow the instructions given in the Table below:
SCENARIO Situation Data page tagging Bottom line tagging
0. No time pegs no dates are given no chrono-tags, nor suffixes to be allocated use the bottom tag: "undated"
1a. One time peg only an "early" date is given (1) mark the "early date" 20 yrs period with the relevant chrono-tag and add "c" or "p" suffix, as appropriate; (2) mark the next 80 years with the relevant chrono-tags, apply the "p" suffixes use the bottom tag: "dated-e" (= dated using early date)
1b. One time peg only an "intermediate" date is given (1) mark the "intermediate date" 20 yrs period with the relevant chrono-tag and add "c" or "p" suffix, as appropriate; (2) mark the previous 40 years with the relevant chrono-tags, apply the "p" suffixes; (3) mark the next 40 years with the relevant chrono-tags, apply the "p" suffixes) use the bottom tag: "dated-x" (= dated using an intermediate date)
1c. One time peg only a "late" date is given (1) mark the "late date" 20 yrs period with the relevant chrono-tag and add "c" or "p" suffix, as appropriate; (2) mark the previous 80 years with the relevant chrono-tags, apply the "p" suffixes use the bottom tag: "dated-l" (= dated using late date)
2a. Two time pegs both the "early" & "late" dates are given (1) mark the early and late dates with "c" or "p" suffixes, as appropriate; (2) mark the balance of the period between and including the "early" and "late" dates with the relevant chrono-tags, apply "c" suffixes use the bottom tag: "dated-el" (= dated using early & late dates)
2b. Two time pegs only the "early" & "intermediate" dates are given (1) mark the early and intermediate dates with "c" or "p" suffixes, as appropriate; (2) mark the balance of period between these two dates with the relevant chrono-tags, apply "c" or "p" suffixes, as appropriate; (2) mark the next 80 years following the "intermediate" date with the relevant chrono-tags and apply the "p" suffixes use the bottom tag: "dated-ex" (= dated using early and intermediate dates)
2c. Two time pegs only the "intermediate" & "late" dates are given (1) mark the intermediate and late dates with "c" or "p" suffixes, as appropriate; (2) mark the balance of the period between the "intermediate" and "late" dates with the relevant chrono-tags & apply "c" suffixes; (2) mark the 80 years preceeding the "intermediate" date with the relevant chrono-tags & apply "p" suffixes use the bottom tag: "dated-xl" (= dated using the intermediate and late dates)
3. Three time pegs the "early", "intermediate" & "late" dates are given (1) mark the early and late dates with "c" or "p" suffixes, as appropriate; (2) mark the balance of the period between and including the "early" and "late" dates with the relevant chrono-tags, apply "c" suffixes use the bottom tag: "dated-el" (= dated using early and late dates)
  • 3. All chrono-tags need to observe the following format:

The "chrono-tag with the suffix - editor/name date" (dd Mmm YYYY)
for instance:

  • MBM chrono-tag: 0940-59p - tmciolek 27 Oct 2012
  • 4. See, for example, tags given to Jokhang monastery, (in) Lhasa, Xizang, CN. Note that the site is known to be established circa 650 AD, and it was still in use in 2012:

Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 0640-59c - tmciolek 28 Sep 2012
  • 0640-59c 0660-79c 0680-99c 0700-19c 0720-39c 0740-59c 0760-79c 0780-99c 0800-19c 0820-39c 0840-59c 0860-79c 0880-99c 0900-19c 0920-39c 0940-59c 0960-79c 0980-99c 1000-19c 1020-39c 1040-59c 1060-79c 1080-99c 1100-19c 1120-39c 1140-59c 1160-79c 1180-99c 1200=> dated-el

Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 26 Oct 2012

7. Practicalities of the allocation of chrono-tags to the bottom tag line of monastic data pages

  • 1. In late Sep 2012 all data pages were tagged with a keyword "untimed". This was to mark the pages as documents ready for inspection and chrono-tagging.
  • 2. Following the determination of each monastery's temporal boundaries the "untimed" tag for a given monastery's page is changed as indicated in the "Bottom line tagging" column of the table above.

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