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 XXV

PAINTINGS FROM BEZEKLIK

Bez. x. P, Q

HIS is from the inner end of the east wall of the cella. Although badly

damaged and with considerable portions missing, there remain some

interesting details. The subject seems to be the triumphal progress of an

important person riding a high-stepping horse and attended by a mixed retinue.

Unfortunately the rider himself is missing and identification therefore impossible,

but from the nature of his entourage it may be assumed that he is a Lokapála, and

perhaps Vaisravana. Running between the legs of the horse is a long-tailed, sleek

hound, his head thrown back and jaws wide open, exposing a curled tongue. A

grelot bell swings from his collar. Standing at the wayside is a curious round-

shouldered man, wearing extravagantly wide-legged trousers, gazing up at the

approaching rider. It is one of the very few examples of a face in profile. His left

hand rests on the head of a bamboo staff and at his side is slung a tiger-skin bow

case. Behind, to the right, is an earth goddess dressed in the typical long, rich red

robe with extravagant pendent sleeves and complicated coiffure, the hair cut in

sharp angles over the ears. On a raised platform is another similarly dressed

figure with the right arm upraised. Her coiffure is different and seems to be

studded with pearls. An unusual feature with both goddesses is the sharp contrac-

tion of the eyebrows, giving a stern and rather masculine appearance. In the fore-

ground, on the right, is a kneeling demon with streaming hair, an agonized expres-

sion, and tightly clenched fists. Traces of red and green remain on his cloak and

dhoti, which through abrasion are now merged into one mass. Of the two rather

brainless-looking advance guards, one carries a sword against his shoulder. These

and the other figures are easily distinguishable. The plump demons with flaming

hair, and with tushes at the corners of the mouth, seem to be officiating as police-

men and enjoying it. The stars with which they are spotted were probably origin-

ally white or gold.

Discoloration, particularly in several of the faces, is perhaps mainly caused by

the use of pigment sensitive to atmospheric action. The double contour lines,

especially in the faces of the demons, are attributable to this, one of the lines having

been a high light, brilliant when applied but now changed to black. Wherever the

flesh has not discoloured it is probable that the older, less brilliant, but more stable

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