国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

PLATE XV

PAINTING FROM BEZEKLIK

Bez. iii. N—V

ROM the west wall of the corridor. It is the surviving portion of two subjects,

similar in composition to those reproduced in several preceding plates,

divided by a vertical band of repeating cloud-scroll flowers. The portion of

the picture on the right is reproduced in colour, in plate xvi, and is described in

the note on that plate.

It is not necessary to describe in full detail the subject on the left. The composi-

tion shows unimportant variations on those previously dealt with and the colour-

ing follows generally the same scheme. Here, the field of the vesica behind the

Buddha is composed of closely packed ribbon-like radiating petals, with the tips

curled over to form a border. The colours are red, yellow, red, and green, repeating

in this order, and each petal has a light midrib and edges. The outer border of zig-

zag bands of colour is similar to the field of the vesica in Bez. iii. S—U, in plate

XVIII.

The right hand of the Buddha, raised in vitarka mudrá, is well and delicately drawn

and shows clearly the web between thumb and first finger. The Vajrapáni on the

left is not in his usual place at the top, and he does not appear to be armed with the

vajra. Of the two monks on the right, the younger has his black hair trimmed in

sharp angles. The other is much older, has bushy eyebrows, and his dark grey hair

is disposed in curves. A difference in the ears is also noticeable; and although each

wears a red (saffron?) robe, that of the elder is differentiated by being barred with

green.

The wig-like hair of the devatá just below the older monk is grey, outlined

against the face with bright red. It appears to be plaited, with a lozenge-shaped

gold stud at each twist.

Every face in this picture seems to have been damaged deliberately.

The lower part, which showed donors with camel, mule, and horse, is probably

in Berlin, and is described in Grünwedel's Altbuddhistische Kultstátten in Chinesisch--

Turkistan.

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