The project to decipher the manuscripts of the collection was undertaken by the ADCA, a Chinese non-profit organization that began its work in 1997. Its main goal is to help preserve the ancient Dongba heritage of China, and actively promote the understanding of Dongba culture, arts and traditions both nationally and internationally. In its endeavours, the ADCA has received encouragement from both the Central Government of China, the Beijing Municipal Government and the Government of the Lijiang Naxi Autonomous County. The ADCA has received the long-term support of UNESCO.

From 2008 to 2012, with the support of the Beijing Federation of Social Sciences Circles, the ADCA conducted a five-year research project to study Dongba manuscripts around the world. Ancient books were searched for, collected, and fieldwork was conducted in Naxi areas. In 2008, the ADCA first digitized the collections of the École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO), the Guimet Museum, and the The Bibliothèque nationale de France, and subsequently deciphered and translated 49 volumes of Dongba manuscripts held in the EFEO in 2009. An international sharing mechanism for digitized ancient Dongba manuscripts was then launched for the first time.