（2）The Origin of the Palm-Leaf Buddhist Manuscripts
　　The earliest Buddhist sutras were written on leaves of the talipot palm tree and are known as the palm-leaf manuscripts. The talipot or fan palm trees are tropical plants.
　　Talipot palm is found mainly in India, Sri Lanka, Burma and the southwest region of China. In Taiwan, it is also called the “temple tree,” for the locals believe that its flowers, which are commonly known as “egg flowers” for their white petals and yellow centers, have the power to protect a temple with their profuse fragrance and golden colors.
　　Why were the Buddhist sutras written on leaves of the talipot palm tree? At that time in ancient India, paper had yet to be invented, so the leaves were used as a medium for writing. Why weren't other types of leaves utilized? It was because the leaves of the talipot palm were tougher, more pliable and thus more suitable for writing.

Palm-Leaf Buddhist Manuscripts／ Laos	Before the introduction of paper, monks would recite the palm-leaf manuscripts.	The Oldest Buddhist Manuscript in Nepal

（3 ）The Process of Making the Palm-Leaf Manuscripts
　　After the leaves were cut from the palms, they were blanched (boiled in a cauldron), dried and polished to a gloss on both sides. The prepared leaves were then trimmed and pierced through the middle, with the text inscribed on the leaves with a stylus and colored with ink. Finally, the finished strips were bounded and secured with cord or twine.
　　Even after the introduction of paper as a medium for recording Buddhist sutras, the sheets of paper were still being bounded in the same way as the palm-leaf manuscripts. Besides paper, other materials were also used, such as sheets of copper and birch bark. They are still called “palm-leave manuscripts.”

B. Most Commonly Used Dharma Instruments in Buddhism

　　What are Dharma instruments? They are not only implements, tools or utensils of Buddhist functions used in prayers, offerings and various services, but also instruments used by practitioners in their daily practices.
　　In a temple, there are Dharma instruments, such as the bell, the drum, the big bell-bowl and the wooden fish. However, they are not intended for casual striking because they are the eyes and ears of celestial guardians and heavenly kings as well as signals for the masses to follow. Their sounds can only be heard during Dharma services or morning and evening chanting. Therefore, we must remember not to touch any of the Dharma instruments on display at a temple.
　　There are many kinds of Dharma instruments according to their size, use and shape. Generally speaking, we can divide them into the following three categories:
1. Dharma instruments used in making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, including incense burner,
　flower vase, and lamp.
2. Dharma instruments used in Buddhist chanting and recitation, including the big bell-bowl, the wooden fish,
　and the bell.
3. Instruments used by the monastics in their daily practices, including prayer beads, staff, and alms-bowl.