It was just unfortunate that the manuscripts came to light at the height of the wave of enthusiasm among Western scholars for archaeological research in Central Asia at the end of the nineteenth century. With the chaotic Ching court possessing neither the means nor motivation to preserve the historical relics, close to half were bought--or misappropriated--by foreigners and scattered throughout the West.
只可惜絹本寫經出現的時空「陰錯陽差」，十九世紀末西方學者正熱中中亞考古；動亂的清廷又鞭長莫及，無暇顧及史料保存，使近半文物被外人或買、或盜、或索的帶走，散佚四方。