This project aims at studying the codicological aspects of Dunhuang manuscripts. The main argument that apart from merely reading the texts, it is just as important to pay attention to the physical appearance, such as book form, size, colour, layout, colophons, punctuation or correction marks. These details provide additional information about the manuscript and may help us to shed light on who, when, where, why and for what purpose produced the manuscripts. In addition, the comparison of the Chinese material with manuscripts in other languages from sites along the Silk Road may reveal otherwise unnoticed contacts with other cultures.