[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Indian Epigraphy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965) › c9.t5.3 # Indian Epigraphy c9.t5.3 Indian Epigraphy c9.t5.3 - **Language:** English ### [c9.t5.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t5.3) The \*phalaka\*, mentioned in the Jātaka stories in connection with young learners in elementary schools, was apparently wooden slabs or planks while the \*Vinayapiṭaka\* refers to the early use of wooden boards or bamboo chips as writing material.² Bamboo chips called \*śalākā\*, with the names of the bearers incised on them, served as passports to Buddhist monks. Kātyāyana and Daṇḍin speak respectively of plaints written on boards with \*pāṇḍu-lekha\* (chalk) and of royal declarations written on a varnished board.³ A large number of wooden sheets with Kharoṣṭhī writings have been discovered in Central Asia. They are mostly of the nature of letters.⁴ Some of these wooden records are wedge-shaped (called \*kila-mudrā\* in the documents themselves) and some are rectangular tablets.⁵ - [Previous: c9.t5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t5.2) - [Next: c9.t5.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t5.4) - [Up: c9.t5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t5) ## Cites (2) - [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka) — Pāli - [Vinayapiṭaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.vp) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t5.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.sircar-1965.c9.t5.3) · Pramāṇa